Luke 4:1,2 “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Holy Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil…..”Hebrews 2:18 “For since He (Jesus) Himself was tempted in that which He suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” Hebrews 4:15,16 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”
I used to think that the devil only tempted Jesus three times as is recored is scripture. However, several years ago the Holy Spirit stared giving me some insight I desperately needed. The truth He conveyed was that Jesus was actually tempted the whole forty days that He was in the wilderness. Hebrews tells us that He was tempted in all things just like we are yet He didn’t give in to them and sin. Meaning, every single sin that I was enticed with He allowed Himself to be allured with as well. As scripture says, He did so in order that He could come to my aid, or rescue. Also during that time, the Holy Spirit gave me a vision of a boxing ring. Jesus spoke to me and said, “Craig, if the enemy can get you in that boxing ring to fight against him, he will wear you down, but if you invite me into that ring, I will defeat him every time.” Of course, the boxing ring was the battle ground of my thoughts and will where I fought against the enemy. I can’t tell you how liberating that revelation was to me. Even to this day, I’ll say, “Come Lord Jesus or hurry My Beloved,” when the tempter is hurling his arrows at me. Truthfully, Jesus defeated the enemy two-thousand years ago. When you and I ‘take thoughts captive’ we are bringing them to the finished work of the cross. Jesus wins because He has already won. He is an awesome High Priest who comes and ministers His finished work in our experience. (Note: When I say tempted I don’t only mean just pride, greed, lust, anger, bigotry, murder, etc., but also our identity and who we are as children of God as well. Jesus was hit with the whole gamut.)
Grace and Peace,
Craig