Matthew Chapter 4

The official start of Jesus' ministry has begun! Yesterday we went through His baptism and saw how all three persons of the Trinity were present to give Jesus' ministry a send off. So how does the King of the universe begin His ministry.....by going through a fast for 40 days and nights and being tempted in His humanity by the Accuser! I would have started things off a little differently.......maybe eased into it a bit. Not Jesus. He jumps right into His humanity by suffering in the flesh just like those He created. I don't know about you but when I fast as soon as I start to get hungry my mind plays tricks on me. It tries to talk me out of what I am doing. It comes up with all kinds of excuses of why I should eat and not succumb to hunger. My willpower is extremely weak in this area.....I am a chef after all and food is an idol of sorts to me (one I am constantly battling).

So here Jesus is, the God of all creation in human form, fighting off the hunger and weakness He was sure to be going through when the devil shows up to add insult to injury. He tempts Jesus to meet His fleshly needs by turning stones into bread. Satan even acknowledges Jesus' divinity in His opening salvo. Jesus responds just like we should to temptation, He goes to the Word and finds comfort, solace, and ammunition there. He deflects the enemies attack by quoting Scripture at him. We should take note of Jesus' tactics here and do the same. I encourage you to memorize a verse or two and when the enemy tempts you or tries to confuse you recite and reflect on the Word!!

Next the devil tries to appeal to another desire of the flesh, one for safety. He tells Jesus to prove His divinity but this time he quotes from Scripture also!! This proves that even the enemy knows the Word and he may use it in an effort to confuse you. Be prepared and study the Scriptures. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and ask for discernment so the enemy can not use your own weapons against you!! Jesus again quotes a verse from Deuteronomy and deflects the attack of the evil one.

Satan must be furious by now and he tries one more attempt at appealing to Jesus' flesh. This one is for security. He offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He will just bow down to him. Jesus tells the slimy one to basically get lost because the only one worthy of worship is God Almighty. The enemy leaves and finally Jesus allows Himself to be attended to by His angels.

Why did Jesus go through this trial of His will and His flesh? Why did He allow the enemy to come and tempt Him? I think He did it so that He could feel what it was like for His children to go through the same thing. The three trials He went through are things we are tempted by on a continual basis every day. All you have to to is turn on the television set and watch what they are trying to sell you. Eat this, Eat that, don't go hungry! Your needs are satisfied just a short drive away! we are inundated by advertisements in all forms for food and its entrapment's. It's no wonder we are the most overweight nation in the world. Other marketing tools tell us we need to be safer and have more security. Buy this and you will be alright. Purchase this for the utmost feeling of power and control! Our houses are much too big for what we actually need, our cars are gas guzzling behemoths that are far too impractical, and the only way for us to be truly safe and secure is to have more money and more possessions than the next guy. Temptation, temptation, temptation; every time we turn on the radio or T.V. or open a newspaper or magazine. Well guess what.....Jesus went through the same thing and He came out of it perfect and sinless. But He knows what we go through. He has felt the same pressures as we do. He understands.

Once Jesus left His time of trial and temptation behind His next task was to start picking His disciples. He runs into Peter and his brother Andrew, two local fishermen. He calls out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people."

Picture yourself in the middle of a long workday. You are working hard at your trade doing what you feel is your lot in life. Now some fellow comes walking over to you and says, "Come with me and I will show you how to evangelize!" What on earth would go through your mind? Would you do as Peter and Andrew did? They dropped what they were doing AT ONCE and followed Him. They didn't finish their shift and punch out, they didn't ponder it, they left what they were doing AT ONCE. Then Jesus finds the "thunder brothers" (more on that later) James and John and He calls them in the same way. They IMMEDIATELY left not only what they were doing but also their father behind. IMMEDIATELY. Their dad must have been like, "Where did my boys go?"

When Jesus calls us, whether it is for salvation or for a task that He has for us, how many of us drop what we are doing and follow Him AT ONCE or IMMEDIATELY? I know I don't. I think about it. I weigh my options. I try to decide if it is really Jesus calling. It would be really helpful if He could leave a business card when He ask me to do something so I wouldn't have to spend all this time thinking and wondering and worrying if it is "really" Him or not. What does our hesitation say about our faith? What does the response of the disciples say about theirs? I give the 12 a hard time a lot. After all they screwed up more times than not while Jesus was with them. On more than one occasion even Jesus got frustrated with them and chastised them. But here, in the beginning of what would become an amazing journey for them, their faith was pure. It was blameless. It was willing. I pray for a faith like Peter, Andrew, James, and John. I pray that when Jesus comes calling I answer AT ONCE and IMMEDIATELY.

Once these four where on board Jesus started what would become the three major reasons for His coming down to earth; teaching, healing, and preaching. News of this amazing man traveled far and fast and large crowds started to follow Him. News of Jesus is still traveling far and fast even today and large crowds are still coming to Him. Praise God.

Have a great day.
God bless.