Lesson 96: THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

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INTRODUCTION. Immediately following his baptism, Jesus was taken by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for forty days where He was tempted by the devil. This event revealed the humanity or human side of Jesus. This is in contrast to his baptism where his Divine nature was revealed by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the Father's voice from heaven.

When Jesus became flesh (John 1:14), born of a woman (Gal. 4:4), He also became human and endured temptation in the same manner as all men and women. It was necessary that Jesus be tempted, for his mission was to overcome and defeat Satan. By resisting the temptations offered by Satan, Jesus demonstrated He was stronger than Satan.

As a man, Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, but He withstood the temptations without sinning (Heb. 4:15). Since Jesus himself suffered by being tempted, He is able to succor or help us when we are tempted (Heb. 2:18).