Foundational Scripture:
Luke 1.4
“That you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”
The Wilderness
Jesus was led of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, a desert place with no support other than God.
Have you ever had a big moment then immediately it seems like it was taken away and everyone and everything left you?
Jesus can relate.
Jesus went to see his cousin John, the Baptist. Jesus asked John to baptize him. John knowing who Jesus was prophesied to be said Jesus should baptize John.
1. Jesus baptized in the Jordan
Mt 3.13-17, Mk 1.9-11, Lk 3.21-23
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Lamb of God
John 1.29-34
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
It was a big moment. John baptizes Jesus for repentance, when Jesus had nothing to repent. God the Father announces Jesus is His son. The Holy Spirit lands on Jesus and anoints Jesus. You would think this would have been a time for celebration. Instead, …
2. Jesus led by the Holy Spirit into the Wilderness
Mt 4.1-11, Mk 1.12-13, Lk 4.1-13
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Jesus, as a Man, a descendent of Adam, had to be challenged and deprived and win.
When you go through your “desert” places, your challenges, your extreme moments of lack: Jesus can relate.
Note also, it was not a “one and done” event with the devil. The Bible says that satan left for a more opportune time. Which means, the devil would come back to catch Jesus or stop Jesus with trouble. When that happens to you, do what Jesus did.
3. Return in Power
Lk 4.14
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.
4. Preached
Mt 4.17, Lk 4.14-15, Jn 4.1-4
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mk 1.14-15
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
5. Rejected
Lk 4.16-21,28-30, Isa 61.1-2a fulfilled in synagogue
v.16-21:
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
v.28-30
When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.
Even when others, even those closest to you reject you, continue in God. Go and do what God said do according to His word and according to what God has confirmed through His elders and prophets.
Be like Jesus, obey God. Repent for others, intercede for them. Resist the devil. Respond with the Word of God. Preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. And, watch what God does.
Praise God!
Amen?
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Doc Rogers writes.... 