Horizons — Jesus is tested, Luke 4:1-13

Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ
Rhashell D. Hunter’s Horizons Bible Study
Lesson 3: Jesus is tested, Luke 4:1-13

We have all been tested in some way: on knowledge in school, in road tests to get our driving licenses, or perhaps in our performance at sports. When we are grown, we leave behind school exams and (often) team sports, but we still face trials and temptations. Even Jesus gets tested.

After his baptism, Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit drives him into the wilderness to test the depth of his reliance on God. He doesn’t eat for 40 days, and he is famished. The devil – whether a voice in his head or a personal adversary – encourages Jesus to turn a stone into bread. We can hear the dialogue: “Come on, Jesus, you are starving. God doesn’t want people to go hungry. Think how much good you could do.”

Jesus responds, “It is written; one does not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4).

The second temptation is an offer to have the kingdoms of the world, if only Jesus will follow the politics of power and oppression. Jesus responds that we are to worship only God. The third test involves something spectacular, such as throwing himself off the top of the temple and having angels save him. Jesus again rejects the temptation to use his power for himself and replies, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (v.12).

With each trial, Jesus digs deep into his knowledge of Scripture, his connection with God and his identity affirmed at his baptism that he is beloved by God as God’s own child. Jesus must determine the strength of his resolve to do God’s will above his own.

All of us will face a temptation to put our will above God’s will.

Let’s think about normal trials, like interacting with people who rub us the wrong way. One woman told me that she always got headaches when her in-laws planned to visit. When they arrived, her stomach started to churn. Instead of losing her temper or deciding to run a very, very long errand, she set her mind to be as kind as she could. I encouraged her to take quiet walking breaks and pray about the situation. She reported that prayer helped.

Several people have told me that praying for patience is always dangerous because God will inevitably put us in situations that test our patience. The children or grandchildren are driving us crazy, or a co-worker must always have the last word. The trial is whether we will lose our tempers, get even or say something snarky. One gentleman told me he had to make it a daily discipline to pray for the irritating person at work and pray that he could emotionally step back.

Moral dilemmas abound. Do we use our money to secure our own futures only, or do we work to better others’ lives? Do we teach our children and grandchildren that those who are poor are also children of God? Do we keep silent at injustice? Will we forgive people who have wronged us?

One gentleman – I will call him Sandy – shared in Bible study that he faced a terrible situation. He knew that his boss had changed the figures to benefit the company after a contract was proposed but before it was signed. The boss believed that few people would re-read the contract and catch the mistake. Sandy and his wife both worked to provide for their three children. Sandy saw three choices. 1. Do nothing. 2. Talk to his boss about his cheating the customers, and risk firing. 3. Find a new job. I don’t know what he chose, but he asked for our prayers for God’s guidance. What would you have done?

People who face times of trial and come through them with their integrity or their ministry intact build resilience. They rely on Scripture and prayer, as well as support from friends, colleagues and the Holy Spirit. Resilience grows when we face challenges with God’s help, make it through, and, thus, become stronger.

Jesus’ temptations help us remember that we have an advocate who has known hunger, thirst, feasting, friends, abandonment, laughter, and the testing of his resolve to follow God. In times of trouble, we can turn to Jesus because he has faced all that life could throw at him, and through this, he can help us survive.

You can purchase the PW/Horizons Bible study book through the PC(USA) Church Store.