Background: Test of Jesus
Exegetical idea: This passage talks about the Test of Jesus.
Traditionally there has also been confusion reading the word TEST and
Temptation.
But I would like to use the word Test.
• The narrative of the testing of Jesus is closely related to the
preceding narrative concerning the Baptism of Jesus.
• Jesus Identifies himself with Israel, it was not Jesus required for Jesus
to be baptized.
• Jesus is proclaimed as the son of God in the events immediately
following the baptism and now he is called to display the qualities of a
son
• So Does the son of God exhibit those qualities that are called for
the sonship to Yahweh
Earlier ONE SON FAILED
• Indeed, in this passage we encounter a most interesting parallel to
the experience of Israel in the wilderness.
• Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
Israel was led by God
Isreal was in Wilderness
Test for 40 years
Testing is an common aspect of the Christian Life.
Exam/Test us how much we know.
I think not everyone likes Test, especially children who are in school,
college.
But we need to think, everything which has some sort of useability has
to be tested.
The clothes we love, the phones we loves, everything has to go through
Test to prove its worth.
Testing is an common aspect of the Christian Life.
As Christians we say that we Follow Christ, we Believe in Christ, we Trust
in Christ
But is that Really TRUE?
Life situations Tests us and who we are.
Even Jesus was TESTED
Realized eschatology
An important theme in Jesus’s preaching was kingdom of God………….
Mark 1:
The time has come; the kingdom of God has come near,
Repent and believe in the good news
Two kingdoms
exist parallel
Kingdom of the world VS Kingdom of God.
The coming of Jesus ushered the Kingdom of God however there is a truth
that needs to be acknowledged that the kingdom has come but not
consummated and we need to wrestle with this fact in our daily lives as
we model our life after Jesus’s.
This is one of our test
you and me when we are baptized we are proclaimed as dead to the
world and born again in Christ so we need to display the qualities
of kingdom of God
Argumentation
To which kingdom we belong?
Do we display the qualities of the kingdom of God?
Title: The Marks or Characteristics of a Kingdom Man or women
Transitional sentence: Are we following Jesus?
• Sacrifice Restate
1st main point: v3-4 Repeat
The Tempter came to Him and said “If you are the Son of God, tell these
stones to become bread
Jesus replied, It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but one every
word that comes
Important: Jesus is Fasting and Hungry
But this is the will of God.
The fasting and hunger are the will of the father for the son, to turn the
stones into bread would be in effect to refuse God’s will and involve
disobedience that would belie the sonship of Jesus.
Explanation: This part relates with Israel, they were led into the
wilderness by God to test their obedience and commitment to covenant
relationship,
Jesus is hungry after 40 days of fasting and Satan asks him to turn the stones
into bread
• Did not Jesus multiply the loaves and feed the thousands? Yes he
did
• Does he not have the power to turn the stones in Bread?
Yes he has but he does it only for others not for personal gain.
More important than food is the will of God. John 4:34 – My food is
the will of God.
Thus the son will not exercise his messianic power to satisfy his own
desire: he remains steadfastly obedient to the father and to the
fulfilment of a messianic role involving deprivation and suffering (Heb 5:8).
Illustration: The Israelites also faced a temptation of the same kind. When
they were hungry in the dessert but what was their response? They
rebelled against God.
God has brought us to this place to kills us.
When we also go through tough situations in Life, what is our response?
Do we start Questioning God, Cursing God.
Does our daily living requires us to sacrifice many things for pleasing God?
We are following Jesus
Persevering and Trusting - Restate
Text: V5-7 Repeat
Explanation: the second temptation involves, he is commanded to take a
shortcut to Messiahship.
By refusing to jump, therefore Jesus chooses the path of continuing
danger and hardship.
Satan was not going to make Jesus run but Jesus was going to chase
Satan away.
James 1:2-4 talks how important endurance is in a life of a Christian
believer
Illustration: Jesus the darling of heaven came to this sinful world for the
people, were people rebuked him, spat at him; he was beaten and crucified
at the cross naked and last he said, It is finished., father into your hands I
commit my spirit.
Application: Context of trial: Faith produces perseverance which leads
to maturity and completeness
This is only the test of endurance and trust.
3rd main point: Obedience Restate
Explanation: Worship is not only what we do in the Worship but also what
we do outside.
The biggest challenge to all of us in our daily life is Worship God with all
that we do.
In our offices are we worship God? Is God’s name lifted.
In our schools/colleges are we Lifting God
With our wealth, with our Mobiles, with are clothes, are we offering
worship to God.
You struggle with it and even I struggle with it, but That is True worship.
All the kingdom of this world and their glory means all the kingdoms and
their wealth or all that the world has to offer.
In Deuteronomy, Moses warns the people of Israel to not be tempted to the
riches of Canaan, for it is God who gives wealth.
Brother and sister when we go out to serve the lord, Satan will try to offer us
such offers to divert us from the plan of God and restrict the damage we
can do for his kingdom.
Satan tries to entice Jesus away from his appointed mission, the path of a
suffering servant and offer a shortcut to those rewards.
The devil tries to offer to Jesus all that is already promised to the messiah.
Illustration: The life of Joseph, his life was a roller coaster ride, and when
Potiphar’s wife tries to lure him to in committing adultery. He said was
faithful to his master and most importantly God.
Application: Jesus does receive all power in Heaven and earth (Matt28:20),
but not by seeking it and only when it is given by God.
Conclusion: Finally Satan admits his defeat and leaves.
The newly adopted son of God, Israel experienced temptation for forty
years in the wilderness.
The newly proclaimed son of God experiences temptation for forty days
and forty nights.
Jesus succeeds again where Israel failed and stamps his authority that he
is the true son of God.
The kingdom of this world is coming to end but the kingdom of God is
coming to its fullness.
Restate main points: Selfless, Enduring and Trusting and being
Obedience
Proposition: ARE we following Jesus
Action statements:
Israel in the wilderness failed in obedience and tested God. But where Israel
failed the son is obedient. Let’s follow the model of Jesus this example of
Proposition: You Increase I Decrease
Action statements:
Israel in the wilderness failed in obedience and tested God. But where
Israel failed the son is obedient. Let’s follow the model of Jesus this
example of
11
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.