HOFC Sermon Archive: Gospel of Mark Part 4: Temptation of Jesus

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SERMON TIMELINE

1. Introduction

2. John the Baptist

3. The Baptism of Jesus

4. Temptation of Jesus

Today is Sunday. January 26^th, 2025

INTRODUCTION

One of the greatest blessings of Jesus as our Lord and Savior is His ability to comfort and aid those who are tempted because He too was tempted (Hebrews 2:18)

Jesus is sympathetic and can provide mercy and grace to help in your time of need if you turn to Him and put your trust in Him. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

One of the greatest temptations Jesus faced was at the beginning of His public ministry, just after His baptism. (Mark 1:9-11)

This takes place just before His preaching ministry (Mark 1:14-15)

Study of the temptation of Jesus can teach us Jesus understands our own temptations.

It reveals to us how we can be successful in overcoming temptations.

It shows us that when we are saved, Satan tries to tempt us to stop us from serving God’s will.

Because if we cannot overcome temptations as Jesus shows us, then Satan has a hold of us, and we cannot effectively serve God while under Satan’s control.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 1:12-13

“And immediately the Spirit *drove Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.”

Matthew and Luke give more details about this encounter.

I. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

a. The setting of the temptation

i. The Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness (Mark 1:12)

1. Likely the wilderness of Judea, a very desolate place

2. Why would the Holy Spirit do this? To tempt Jesus?

3. James 1:13-14 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”

4. James 1:3-4 “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various temptations, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. 4 And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect [spiritually mature] and complete, lacking in nothing.”

5. No. God does not tempt anyone, but He does test us so that we may persevere through His strength and grow spiritually mature.

6. Who would want to be tested?

a. David sought God’s testing, asking Him to examine his heart and mind and see that they were true to Him. (Psalm 26:2; Psalm 139:23)

b. Abram was tested by God in the matter of sacrificing Isaac, Abram obeyed (Hebrews 11:17-19), showing to all the world that he is the father of faith (Romans 4:16)

c. In both the Old and New Testaments, the word test means “to prove by trial.”

7. When God tests His children, His purpose is to prove our faith is genuine. Not that God needs to prove it to Himself since He knows all things, but He is proving to us that our faith is authentic, that we are indeed His children, and that no trial will overcome our faith.

ii. For 40 days and nights, Jesus fasted like Moses and Elijah (Matthew 4:2; Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:18)

1. 40 is the number of testing and trials in scripture, and Jesus was tempted during this time.

2. But you said, James 1:13-14 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”

a. Jesus was tempted by His own lust?

iii. Satan tempts us with things we desire. Otherwise, it would not be a temptation to us.

1. For example, Satan would not try and tempt me with potato pancakes…I despise them.

2. “his own lust” in James refers to desire. A desire above other desires. What someone would desire more than anything else at that point in time.

b. The temptation

i. What would Jesus “lust” after or desire after 40 days and 40 nights of fasting?

1. Matthew 4:1-4 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

ii. What else did Jesus desire more than anything? For people to know He was the Son of God who had come to redeem man.

1. Matthew 4:5-7 “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[Psalm 91:11-12]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[Deuteronomy 6:16]”

iii. Finally, what else did Jesus desire to accomplish? To regain the world which was lost to sin.

1. Matthew 4:8-11 “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

c. The ending of the temptation

i. Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”

1. After tribulation came consolation!

2. Luke 4:13 “And when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.”

ii. With each temptation, Satan aimed for the greatest desire the flesh of Jesus could want, while Jesus responded to each temptation “It is written…”

1. How important is it for you to know the word of God?

2. Satan cloaked his temptations in SCRIPTURE, making it appear as if it were God’s will and good.

3. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

4. Unless you read the word of God, study it, and know it, you will not be able to “rightly divide the word.”

When Satan sees your desires (lusts) and wants to put an end to your serving God, he will bring to you a great temptation, cloaked in scripture to make it more appetizing and appealing, wanting you to believe what he offers is “God approved”

All the while working to get you to obey him. Because that is what we do when we give in to temptations, we become obedient to Satan and a slave once more to sin.

That’s what Satan wants, to keep you in slavery to sin. Convincing you to put the chains back on that Jesus has removed through the cross.

II. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS APPLICATION

a. We have the same adversary

i. Jesus was tempted by the devil, and so are we (1 Peter 5:8-9)

ii. Revelation 12:17 tells us that the devil now directs his rage against the disciples of Christ.

iii. Ephesians 6:12 warns us not to treat him lightly, for our spiritual conflict is real.

b. We have similar temptations

i. Satan tempts our lusts (greatest desires) just as he did Jesus

1. Hunger (lust of the flesh)

2. Materialism (lust of the eyes)

3. Lust of self and arrogance (boastful pride of life)

ii. If we are to have the love of the Father, we MUST overcome these.

1 John 2:15-16 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

c. We have the same tools to overcome

i. Jesus recalled the Word of God, and so can we! The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God! (Ephesians 6:17)

ii. Jesus had faith and put His trust in the plan of God (victory through suffering). We can do the same with the Shield of Faith (Ephesians 616; Hebrews 10:35-39)

iii. Jesus teaches;

Matthew 26:41 “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The word of God, faith, and prayer leads to victory in Jesus!

d. We have the opportunity to learn essential lessons

i. Food for our bodies is not enough to live. We need the spiritual food of God’s Word for our spirit!

ii. We are called to trust in the Lord. However, we should never tempt Him

1. Deuteronomy 6:16-17 “You shall not put Yahweh your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah. 17 You should diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you.”

2. We tempt God when we do not keep His commands, challenge His promises, and question His provision.

iii. We need to remember even Satan can quote scripture.

1. 2 Peter 3:15b-16 “Just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

2. False doctrines are formed from the written word

3. False teachings, not of God, are “proved” with the written word

4. The majority of cults will use the written word

5. Satan quoted the written word when tempting Jesus

6. We need to do more than just “memorize” scripture or use it for our purposes. Instead, we need to RIGHTLY handle the word of God as a terribly strong weapon that requires our constant attention when used.

Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have an account to give.”

Scripture can easily be abused and misused…be mindful

The way to victory is not quick and easy but long and difficult. (Acts 14:22; Romans 2:7)

CONCLUSION

One of the greatest lessons we can learn from the temptation of Jesus is that we have a Savior who was made like us in all things.

Hebrews 2:17-18 “Therefore, He had to be [LIT: obligated to be] made like His brothers in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to help those who are tempted.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

There are times when we, too, will be tempted by Satan, not with things that seem plain and mundane but with things that are desirable to us and appear to be good for us in our lives.

Look at Jesus’ example to overcome.

Look to Jesus as your High Priest when you approach God in prayer and receive mercy and grace.

Hebrews 12:2-3 “Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting in heart.”

Your faith will be strong, and you will not grow weary of facing temptation if you turn to Jesus in your hour of temptation. Rely on Him. His mercy and grace and the power of the Holy Spirit will see you through ANY temptation.

NEXT WEEK: “Part 5: The Preaching of Jesus I”

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