Sunday Morning Leftovers - The Baptism and Temptation of Christ

Southbrook Church's focus on Sunday January 26th, 2014 was on the Baptism and Temptation of Jesus. 

At first I thought that these two events were somewhat isolated from each other. But as we continued to study and learn, we were able to see that these events are not only inextricably linked, but that they reflect back to other temptation accounts in the Bible.

We had time in the service to show that the three temptations that Jesus encountered in Matthew 4 were actually echoes of earlier temptations regarding God's people and Moses.  Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy Chapters 6 and 8 -while resisting Satan's temptations.  In Deuteronomy Chapters 6-8 Moses is about to lead the people into the Promised Land.  They had just spent the previous 40 years in the Wilderness and Moses wanted to remind the people that they failed when tested. Jesus, by quoting Deuteronomy Chapter 6-8 is declaring that he is unlike all those who came before him.  He is unlike the nation of Israel, unlike any of the Prophets or Kings that preceded him.  He is a king unlike any the world has seen before; because he was able to resist the temptations that came his way.

But there is more...  Think of the first temptations that were given to the first people.

In Genesis Chapter 3v1, Satan tempts Eve to eat of the tree.  By appealing to her physical appetite, we see a link to the first temptation that Jesus experienced, 'turn the stones into bread.'

In Genesis Chapter 3v4, Satan's second temptation is to tell Eve that 'you will certainly not die.' Satan appeals to Eve's personal gain, which links us directly to the second temptation of Jesus, 'you will not hurt your foot.'

In Genesis Chapter 3v5, Satan's final temptation is to tell Eve that she can be like God.  By appealing to her personal power and glory, we can see the final link to the last temptation that Christ experienced, which was for him to have all the world's kingdoms.

The first humans had a perfect environment possessing everything they wanted.  Yet they lost it all, plunging the world into chaos and death.  

Jesus is called the 'second Adam.' Instead of the perfect environment, he had the isolation of the wilderness.  He was hungry and alone.  Adam and Eve lost it all in the garden, but Jesus won it all on the Cross.  Destruction came because of Adam, but Salvation comes from Jesus.

The depth and beauty of God's Word...!