Jesus Our Example

"(1)Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.(2) And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." 
        Matthew 4:1-2

The significance of this one single verse sets up the structure for the rest of Matthew Chapter 4. It begins with Jesus' obedience to the Father who then purposefully led His Son to be tempted by the devil. He handed His Son over into temptation, knowing His obedience to the Lord would withhold against the devil's schemes. This is Jesus, our example. 

Why would God purposefully hand His Son over for Satan to tempt when Jesus was in his weakest and neediest state? To be our example; to be seen as a man leaning on God and able to withstand the schemes of the devil. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness" (Eph. 6:12) God leads Jesus out to show us that man's greatest tool against temptation and sin is His powerful living word. 

Satan goes on to tempt Jesus three times. Each time, Satan asks Jesus to use His mighty eternal and holy power as the Son of God and each time Jesus responds with scripture. How much more can I hold tight to the scripture? Jesus our example. This is a reminder to me how important a daily washing of the word is and how I should treasure and try to 'hide God's Word in my heart.' His Word can fight against all schemes of the devil and man can withstand and fight our temptations. 

As you read through Matthew 4, you see that this interaction caused fatigue. "Then the devil left and behold, angels came and were ministering to him."(Mt. 4:11) Jesus was the Son of God, but also a man holding tight to God and His Word were able to withstand the temptation put before Him and made holier because of it. Immediately after Jesus begins His ministry. He was refined for the Lord's design. Jesus our example.