“At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan.” (Mk 1:12)
Understanding Satan’s Opposition
Before Jesus could declare his message to the world, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matt. 4:17), he had to declare it to his chief adversary on earth, Satan. Satan is the leader of the fallen angels and the ruler of this world.
The Reality of Temptation
At all times, Satan opposes God the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The primary way he opposes God is through the continual temptation of God’s people. Temptation by Satan is real, and it always begins in the human heart. The story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert shows us that Satan will tempt us in both subtle and significant ways.
Recognizing the Nature of Temptation
Temptation is often about acquiring something we desire, and for each person, that thing is different. It is essential to be cautious about wanting something so badly that it gives Satan a foothold in our hearts.
Learning from Jesus’ Response
Jesus teaches us how to respond to temptation. Our response should be to turn to Scripture and pray to God for release from Satan’s grip. If Jesus, as the Son of God, needed to confront temptation with Scripture, how much more do we need to! When we resist temptation, as Jesus did, we demonstrate our allegiance to Him.
