#023 - Merchants Driven from Temple by Jesus (John 2:13-25) - Life of Christ = Week 05 - Wednesday

Merchants Driven from Temple (Jerusalem) (April A.D. 27) First Passover
John 2:13-25

Jesus’ First Cleansing of the Temple

John 2:13–25

¹³The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴In the temple complex He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves^†, and He also found the money changers sitting there. ¹⁵After making a whip out of cords, He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. ¹⁶He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a marketplace!^†”

¹⁷And His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”

¹⁸So the Jews replied to Him, “What sign of authority will You show us for doing these things?”

¹⁹Jesus answered, “Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days^†.”

²⁰Therefore the Jews said, “This sanctuary took forty-six years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?”

²¹But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. ²²So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

²³While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many trusted in His name when they saw the signs He was doing. ²⁴Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them, since He knew them all ²⁵and because He did not need anyone to testify about man; for He Himself knew what was in man.^[1]

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^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 36–37). Holman Bible Publishers.

Two Cleansings of the Temple?

John places Jesus’ cleansing of the temple at the beginning of His public ministry. But the other Gospel writers report that He cleansed the temple as His ministry drew to a close about three and one-half years later (see segment 158, “Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Cleanses the Temple,” p. 185).

Were there two separate cleansings of the temple or only one? Scholars disagree on this issue. Some believe that Jesus cleansed the temple only one time. They theorize that John placed this event early in Jesus’ ministry to show that He clashed with the Jewish religious leaders from the very beginning, while the writers of Matthew, Mark, and Luke wanted to show that this event sealed Jesus’ doom.

Other scholars point out that two separate cleansings of the temple are a distinct possibility. For example, A. T. Robertson in his A Harmony of the Gospels declares: “There is no inherent difficulty in the repetition of such an act when one reflects on the national indignation of Jesus at the desecration of the temple on his visits during his ministry and considers that Jesus may have wished to make one last protest at the close of his ministry. Certainty, of course, is not possible in such an argument one way or the other” (p. 25).

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Other Resources: 

Pure Hearts John 2 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/john/2/

https://youtu.be/nsrEQkt3QmY

#022 Miracles - Jesus Turns Water into Wine (John 2:1-12) - Life of Christ = Week 05 - Tuesday

Jesus Turns Water into Wine
John 2:1-12

Jesus’ First Miracle: Water into Wine

John 2:1–11

¹On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and ²Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. ³When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.”

⁴“What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.”

⁵“Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants.

⁶Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification^†. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons.

⁷“Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. ⁸Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” And they did.

⁹When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom ¹⁰and told him, “Everybody sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

¹¹Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory^†, and His disciples believed in Him.

Jesus Visits the City of Capernaum in Galilee

John 2:12

¹²After this He went down to Capernaum, together with His mother, His brothers^†, and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.^[1]

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^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 34–36). Holman Bible Publishers.

The Seven Signs of John’s Gospel

According to the Gospel of John, this miracle of the turning of water into wine was the first of seven signs that signified Jesus was the divine Son of God. This sign showed that Jesus was the source of life. The other six signs and their meaning are:

•    healing of a nobleman’s son, emphasizing Jesus as master over distance (4:46–54);

•    healing of a paralyzed man in Jerusalem, showing Jesus as master over time (5:1–9);

•    feeding of the five thousand, demonstrating that Jesus is the bread or sustenance of life (6:5–14);

•    walking on the water, showing Jesus’ mastery of nature (6:15–21);

•    healing of a man born blind, emphasizing Jesus as the light of the world (9:1–7); and

•    the raising of Lazarus, indicating that Jesus has power over death (11:38–44).

Two days later Jesus' mother was a guest at a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee, and Jesus and his disciples were invited too. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, and Jesus' mother came to him with the problem.
"I can't help you now," he said. "It isn't yet my time for miracles."
But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you to."
Six stone waterpots were standing there; they were used for Jewish ceremonial purposes and held perhaps twenty to thirty gallons each. Then Jesus told the servants to fill them to the brim with water. When this was done he said, "Dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies."
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants did), he called the bridegroom over.
"This is wonderful stuff!" he said. "You're different from most. Usually, a host uses the best wine first, and afterwards, when everyone is full and doesn't care, then he brings out the less expensive brands. But you have kept the best for the last!"
This miracle at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first public demonstration of his heaven-sent power. And his disciples believed that he really was the Messiah.
After the wedding, he left for Capernaum for a few days with his mother, brothers, and disciples.

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

God's Way
Mary was probably not asking Jesus to do a miracle; she was simply hoping that her son would help solve this major problem and find some wine. Tradition says that Joseph, Mary's husband, was dead, so she probably was used to asking for her eldest son's help in certain situations. Jesus' answer to Mary is difficult to understand, but maybe that is the point. Although Mary did not understand what Jesus was going to do, she trusted him to do what was right. Those who believe in Jesus but encounter situations they cannot understand must continue to trust that he will work in the best way. Mary submitted to Jesus' way of doing things. She recognized that he was more than her human son—he was the Son of God. When we bring our problems to Christ, we may think we know how he should take care of them. But he may have a completely different plan. Like Mary, we should submit and allow Christ to deal with the problem as he sees fit.


Beyond mere superhuman events, miracles demonstrate God's power. Almost every miracle Jesus did was a renewal of fallen creation—restoring sight, making the lame walk, even bringing the dead back to life. When the disciples saw Jesus' miracle, they believed. The miracle showed his power over nature and revealed the way he would go about his ministry—helping others, speaking with authority, and being in personal touch with people.

Other Resources: 

Pure Hearts John 2 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/john/2/

#021 Jesus' Early Work (John 1:35-51) - Life of Christ = Week 05 - Monday

The First Followers
Andrew and Simon Peter
John 1:35-42

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

John 1:35–51

³⁵Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples^†. ³⁶When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”

³⁷The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. ^38aWhen Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, “What are you looking for?”

^38bThey said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?”

³⁹“Come and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about ten in the morning.

⁴⁰Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two^† who heard John and followed Him. ⁴¹He first found his own brother Simon^† and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which means “Anointed One”) ^42aand brought him to Jesus.

^42bWhen Jesus saw him, He said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which means “Rock”).^[1]

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^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 32–33). Holman Bible Publishers.

The following day as John was standing with two of his disciples, Jesus walked by. John looked at him intently and then declared, "See! There is the Lamb of God!" Then John's two disciples turned and followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" he asked them. "Sir," they replied, "where do you live?"
"Come and see," he said. So they went with him to the place where he was staying and were with him from about four o'clock that afternoon until the evening. (One of these men was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.)
Andrew then went to find his brother Peter and told him, "We have found the Messiah!" And he brought Peter to meet Jesus.
Jesus looked intently at Peter for a moment and then said, "You are Simon, John's son—but you shall be called Peter, the rock!"

God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?

We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?

 

I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I

 

You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Names of Jesus
These new disciples used several names for Jesus: Lamb of God (1:36), Messiah (1:41), Son of God (1:49), and King of Israel (1:49). As they got to know Jesus, their appreciation for him grew. The more time we spend getting to know Christ, the more we will understand and appreciate who he is. We may be drawn to him for his teaching, but we will come to know him as the Son of God. Although these disciples made this verbal shift in a few days, they would not fully understand Jesus until three years later (Acts 2). What they so easily professed had to be worked out in experience. We may find that words of faith come easily, but deep appreciation for Christ comes with living by faith.

One of the two disciples was Andrew (1:40). The other was probably John, the writer of this book. These were Jesus' first disciples, along with Peter (1:42) and Nathanael (1:45).

Philip and Nathanael
John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and told him, "Come with me." (Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown.) Philip now went off to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the Messiah!—the very person Moses and the prophets told about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth!"
"Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from there?"
"Just come and see for yourself," Philip declared. As they approached, Jesus said, "Here comes an honest man—a true son of Israel."
"How do you know what I am like?" Nathanael demanded.
And Jesus replied, "I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you."
Nathanael replied, "Sir, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!"
Jesus asked him, "Do you believe all this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater proofs than this. You will even see heaven open and the angels of God coming back and forth to me, the Messiah."

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Don't Miss Jesus

When Nathanael heard that the Messiah was from Nazareth, he was surprised. Philip responded, "Come and see for yourself." Fortunately for Nathanael, he went to meet Jesus and became a disciple. If he had stuck to his prejudice without investigating further, he would have missed the Messiah! Don't let people's stereotypes about Christ keep them from his power and love. Invite them to come and see the real Jesus.

Nazareth was despised by the Jews because a Roman army garrison was located there. Some have speculated that an aloof attitude or a poor reputation in morals and religion on the part of the people of Nazareth led to Nathanael's harsh comment. Nathanael's hometown was Cana, about four miles from Nazareth.

Other Resources:

Having A Personal Relationship With Jesus John 1 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/john/1/

https://youtu.be/2h0UZkjw-us

#020 John the Baptist Proclaims Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:29-34 ) - Life of Christ = Week 04 - Friday

John Says Jesus is Christ

John 1:29-34 

John Identifies Jesus as the Messiah

John 1:29–34

²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ ³¹I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel.”

³²And John testified, “I watched the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested upon Him. ³³I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting—He is the One baptizing in the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!”^[1]

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^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 31–32). Holman Bible Publishers.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the world's sin! He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Soon a man far greater than I am is coming, who existed long before me!' I didn't know he was the one, but I am here baptizing with water in order to point him out to the nation of Israel." Then John told about seeing the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending from heaven and resting upon Jesus. "I didn't know he was the one," John said again, "but at the time God sent me to baptize he told me, 'When you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting upon someone—he is the one you are looking for. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' I saw it happen to this man, and I therefore testify that he is the Son of God."

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

The Lamb of God
Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the Temple for the sins of the people (Exodus 29:38-42). Isaiah 53:7 prophesied that the Messiah, God's servant, would be led to the slaughter like a lamb. To pay the penalty for sin, a life had to be given—and God chose to provide the sacrifice himself. The sins of the world were removed when Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice. This is the way our sins are forgiven (1 Corinthians 5:7). The "world's sin" means everyone's sin, the sin of each individual. Jesus paid the price of your sin by his death. You can receive forgiveness by confessing your sin to him and asking for his forgiveness.


John the Baptist's baptism with water was preparatory, because it was for repentance and symbolized the washing away of sins. Jesus, by contrast, would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He would send the Holy Spirit upon all believers, empowering them to live and to teach the message of salvation. This outpouring of the Spirit came after Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven (see 20:22; Acts 2).

Other Resources:

Having A Personal Relationship With Jesus John 1 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/john/1/

#019 John Declares His Mission (John 1:19-28) - Life of Christ = Week 04 - Thursday

John Explains His Ministry (Bethany)
John 1:19-28

John Identifies Jesus as the Messiah

John 1:19–34

¹⁹This is John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites^† to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰He confessed and did not deny, declaring, “I am not the Messiah.”

^21a“What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?”

^21b“I am not,” he said.

^21c“Are you the Prophet?”

^21d“No,” he answered.

²²“Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”

²³He said, “I am ‘A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord’—just as Isaiah the prophet said.”

²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

²⁶“I baptize with water,” John answered them. “But among you stands Someone you don’t know. ²⁷He is the One coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.”

²⁸All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.^[1]

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^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 31–32). Holman Bible Publishers.

The Jewish leaders sent priests and assistant priests from Jerusalem to ask John whether he claimed to be the Messiah.
He denied it flatly. "I am not the Christ," he said. "Well then, who are you?" they asked.
"Are you Elijah?"
"No," he replied.
"Are you the Prophet?"
"No."

Then those who were sent by the Pharisees asked him, "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?"
John told them, "I merely baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you have never met, who will soon begin his ministry among you, and I am not even fit to be his slave." This incident took place at Bethany, a village on the other side of the Jordan River where John was baptizing.

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Who Was John the Baptist?
In the Pharisees' minds, there were four options regarding John the Baptist's identity: He was (1) the prophet foretold by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15), (2) Elijah (Malachi 4:5), (3) the Prophet (the Messiah), or (4) a false prophet. John denied being any of the first three personages. Instead he called himself, in the words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, "A voice from the barren wilderness, shouting, 'Get ready for the coming of the Lord!'" (Isaiah 40:3). The leaders kept pressing John to say who he was because people were expecting the Messiah to come (Luke 3:15). But John emphasized only why he had come—to prepare the way for the Messiah. The Pharisees missed the point. They wanted to know who John was, but John wanted to point them to Jesus. Believers need to be like John, preparing the way for the Savior. What can you do to point people to Christ?


The priests and assistant priests were respected religious leaders in Jerusalem. Priests served in the Temple. These leaders that came to see John were Pharisees. Many of them outwardly obeyed God's Laws to look pious, while inwardly their hearts were filled with pride and greed. They believed that their own oral traditions were just as important as God's inspired Word.

To Forgive Sins

John was baptizing Jews. The Essenes (a strict, monastic sect of Judaism) practiced baptism for purification, but normally only non-Jews (Gentiles) were baptized when they converted to Judaism. When the Pharisees questioned John's authority to baptize, they were asking who gave John the right to treat God's chosen people like Gentiles. John said, "I merely baptize with water"—he was helping the people perform a symbolic act of repentance. But soon one would come who would truly forgive sins, something only the Son of God—the Messiah—could do. Jesus can forgive your sins, no matter how big or small they may be. Have you accepted his forgiveness? Confess to Christ.

John the Baptist said he was not even worthy to be Christ's slave. But according to Luke 7:28, Jesus said that John was the greatest of all prophets. If such a great person felt inadequate even to be Christ's slave, how much more should we lay aside our pride to serve Christ!

Other Resources:

Having A Personal Relationship With Jesus John 1 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/john/1/

#018 Jesus Faces Temptations (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12,13; Luke 4:1-13) - Life of Christ = Week 04 - Wednesday

Devil Tempts Jesus (Mountain in the Wilderness)
Matthew 4:1-11
Mark 1:12,13
Luke 4:1-13

Jesus Tempted by Satan

Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13

^{Lk 4:1a}Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit. ^{Mk 1:12–13}Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. ¹³He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals^†, and the angels began to serve Him. ^{Lk 4:2b}He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.

^{Mt 4:3}Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴But He answered, “It is written: ‘Man must not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

⁵Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning you,’ and, ‘In their hands they will lift you up, so you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷Jesus told him, “It is also written: ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

⁸Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You must worship the Lord your God, and you must serve Him only^†.’ ”

^{Lk 4:13}After the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. ^{Mt 4:11b}And immediately angels came and began to serve Him.^[1]

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^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 30–31). Holman Bible Publishers.

Other Resources:

Temptation Matthew 4

If you were the emperor of the world, what would be your first decree?
Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread. "It will prove you are the Son of God," he said. But Jesus told him, "No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won't feed men's souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need."
Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple. "Jump off," he said, "and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare, 'God will send his angels to keep you from harm,'… they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below." Jesus retorted, "It also says not to put the Lord your God to a foolish test!"
Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. "I'll give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel and worship me." "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "The Scriptures say, 'Worship only the Lord God. Obey only him.'" Then Satan went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.


#Temptation

Footnotes:  
Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world.
Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament.
temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship.
synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, a study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings.

Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• Define “temptation.” Distinguish life’s tests and discipline from things that Satan uses to draw people into evil (James 1:12-15).
• "Straightway” after what? (Mark 1:12) Why is it important that we notice the time of our Lord’s temptation?
• Are we to conclude the Holy Spirit led Jesus into temptation? (Mark 1:12) Explain.
• What can we learn from Jesus' temptation? What does the word “drove” mean to you? (Mark 1:12-13) Was Jesus tempted during the entire forty days? (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).
• Are we to understand there were actual animals with Jesus in the wilderness? Discuss. (Mark 1:13) Just what was the ministry of the angels to Jesus?
• Under what circumstances (Luke 4:1-2) was Jesus tempted: After a spiritual high? At a weak moment? At a new stage in life?
• Satan is the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2). How did he achieve such a status in God’s world?
• Why was it necessary for Jesus to have this dramatic encounter with Satan?
• Read 1 John 2:15-16 and explore the areas Satan uses to tempt. Which of these did Satan use to tempt Christ?
• What was the essence of the Eden temptations? What about Jesus’ wilderness temptations?
• In each temptation, what was it's appeal? Its price? How does Jesus resist them? How does Satan's use of Scripture differ from the way Jesus uses it?
• How are the 3 temptations similar? Different?
• Why were the temptations directed at Jesus immediately after he was affirmed by God at his baptism (Luke 3:22)?

Reflective Questions for a Response — Live it today.

• If the devil had three shots at you, what three temptations would he use?
• Name some ways that you believe Satan is working to destroy the things that are precious to God in our time.
• What can help you resist? What encouragement does this story provide?
• What does it mean to you that all the authority and splendor of the kingdoms of the world has been given to Satan (Luke 4:5-6)?
• Jesus told his disciples to pray: “Deliver us from the evil one.” Consider taking some time now to offer this prayer for yourself and others.
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
• How does this equip us to be better disciples and help empower us to “make disciples”?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kRWOiwKh0

Series: Be Different “Making Transformative Moves” Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Title: Different Desire

Bookmark: Click Here

Opening Thoughts: To be truly different means to crave eternal things -- the things that matter most -- rather than simply feeding on a constant diet of immediate gratification and temporary happiness. For what do you hunger?

v  What do you want?

o   Order anxiety

o   Largest menu = 1,800 in Budapest Hungry

o   Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

o   Romans 7:21-23 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

===============================================================

Text: Luke 4:1-13

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

³ The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

⁵ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

⁹ The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you carefully;
¹¹ they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

¹² Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

¹³ When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

 

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Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.

v  Review and retell the story.

Reflections for applications:

v  Jesus resisted every temptation

o   The greatest enemy of hunger for God s not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. – John Tyson

o   What do you want?

o   What does God want?

o   John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

o   What if the desires of God’s heart were the desires of your heart?

o   To be filled with the Spirit means to first be emptied of self.

o   Fasting

§  Will you consider making a commitment to fast this week?

 

Digging Questions:

·         How will you respond in being different? What transformative move needs to be made?

·         What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?

·         What is God calling us to do?

Take Away Challenges

·         What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?

·         Whom do you know who needs to hear this?

·         What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?

Hash tags #Desire #Focus #

Sunday sermon link https://youtu.be/X2kRWOiwKh0

Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources:       Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes

Comments and resources with some more resources:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A1-13&version=NIV

 




Temptation

The devil, also called Satan, tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden; here he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Satan is a fallen angel. He is real, not symbolic, and is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan's temptations are strong, and he is always trying to get us to live his way or our way rather than God's way. One day Jesus will reign over all creation, but Satan tried to force his hand and get him to declare his kingship prematurely. The devil's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride. If Jesus had given in, his mission on earth—to die for our sins and give us the opportunity to have eternal life—would have been lost. But Jesus did not give in! When temptations seem especially strong, or when you think you can rationalize giving in, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God's purposes for your life or for someone else's life.

Jesus was tempted by the devil, but he never sinned! Although we may feel dirty after being tempted, we should remember that temptation itself is not sin. We sin when we give in and disobey God. Remembering this will help us turn away from the temptation.

The Whole Truth
Satan used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin! Sometimes friends or associates will present attractive and convincing reasons why you should do something you know is wrong. They may even find Bible verses that seem to support their viewpoint. Study the Bible carefully, especially the broader contexts of specific verses, so that you understand God's principles for living and what he wants for your life. Only if you really understand what the whole Bible says will you be able to recognize errors of interpretation when people take verses out of context and twist them to say what they want them to say. Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew Scripture, he also obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Satan had memorized Scripture, but he failed to submit to it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.

The Temple was the religious center of the Jewish nation and the place where the people expected the Messiah to arrive (Malachi 3:1). The Temple was the tallest building in the area, and this "roof" was actually a pinnacle on the corner wall that jutted out of the hillside, overlooking the valley below. From this spot, Jesus could see all of Jerusalem behind him and the country for miles in front of him.

The Test
This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of God, able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person has not shown true obedience if he or she has never had an opportunity to disobey. We read in Deuteronomy 8:2 that God led Israel into the wilderness to humble and test them. God wanted to see whether or not his people would really obey him. We too will be tested. Because we know that testing will come, we should be alert and ready for it. Remember, your convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure!

Did the devil have the power to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world? Satan may have been lying about his implied power, or he may have based his offer on his temporary control and free rein over the earth because of humanity's sinfulness.

Other Resources:

Step Up to the Challenge June 5, 2022 Glenn Robb

https://vimeo.com/717378001

Tempting Jesus (Luke 4:1-13 Toby Levering

Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness

https://youtu.be/0WPvEKuToa8

Death By Natural Causes // September 8, 2024

Preacher: Wayne Roberts

https://youtu.be/_GZ9HrWGypM

Further Reading:
Jesus in the Wilderness
Lenten Reflection: Luke 4:5-8