The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 4:1-2a,
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil."
For forty days Jesus was tempted by the devil. We are told of three of the temptations: one based on hunger, one based on avarice and one based on testing God. In all the devil's temptations of Jesus not one was successful. Jesus Christ was found to be beyond sin, demonstrating that he was truly one with the Father.
John, in his gospel, says that Jesus Christ was with God the Father - as God the Son - before time began. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1-2. The "Word" here is a reference to Jesus Christ, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14. As a member of the godhead, Jesus Christ, God the Son, would not be found to be sinful and no exposure to temptation could have an effect on him. As the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:14-15.
This is important to me because it speaks of the perfect sacrifice Jesus made of himself for my sin. Since Jesus Christ was God in the flesh and therefore not subject to sin, his death became a perfect and sinless sacrifice that could pay for my sin. Peter tells us, "You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:18-21.
This "lamb without blemish or defect" paid for my sins and yours. Peter points to the importance faith plays in this sacrifice being credited to our account with God. It frees us from God's judgment for the sins we have committed!
I don't know about you, but for me this is vital. In my life I have done all I need to earn God's judgment, a judgment that finds its fulfillment in a horrific fiery lake. That is why it is called "good news"! It certainly is good news for me!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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