Following the baptism of Jesus, we find the temptation of Jesus in each of the three synoptic gospels.  Matthew and Luke go into much more detail of this event, whereas Mark just alludes to it here. 

The temptation was necessary to prove that Jesus being God could not sin even in His earthly body.  Theologians have long since asked the question, “Could Jesus have sinned being a man, or was impossible for Him to sin since He is God.”   The truth is that Jesus is the God-Man.  As God, He could not sin, and as Man, He would not sin.  This truth is established in Hebrews 4:14-15, Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Yes, Jesus is our High Priest and won the victory over Satan and sin.  He wants us to see that we can do the same with His help.

The second fact that stands out in these verses is that the 40 days are symbolic of Israel’s time in the wilderness for forty years where they failed their temptation and sinned often instead of trusting the Lord and following Moses to victory.

The third reference is when Jesus was with the wild beasts in the wilderness.  And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts.   Neither Matthew nor Luke makes a statement about this in their telling of the temptation.  The fact that Jesus was with the wild beasts and was perfectly safe shows that He had dominion over the animal kingdom.  Adam and Eve were given that right and lost it when they sinned in the Garden of Eden.  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (Genesis 1:26).  Jesus as the second Adam had regained that dominion as seen many times when He controlled the fish of the sea and the untamed donkey at the Triumphal entry. 

The final part in these verses is in the last phrase, and the angels ministered unto him.  Here we see Jesus, God’s Son, again in the presence of the angels where He had been since the creation of the universe.

Let’s be thankful that we have a great High Priest who is the Victor over sin and who can help us daily as we deal with the temptations of this life until He returns to take us home to be with Him forever.

February 23^rd Numbers 8-10 ; Mark 5:1-20