Jesus Measured – His Response to the First Trial

Satan has leveled upon the “Son of God” a trial which seeks to encompass His faith in doubt and shroud His trust in His Father within the shell of unanswered questions.  “If you are the Son of God command that these stones be made into bread.”  Satan’s logic goes something like this:  “Why, if you are God’s Son, has He abandoned you and left you starving in this desolate place?  If you really are His Son, use your power to satisfy your own need for obviously this Father of yours is not interested in taking care of you.”

This study looks at how the Lord responds to that first trial.  How he addresses the “logic” (corrupt as it is) of Satan.  We will discover three “Victory Factors” which are the foundation of Jesus’ success against the evil one:

• The Word  – Jesus will show the significance of God’s Word has in defeating trials.  Trails always present themselves with an apparent logic or reasonableness.  However, Jesus knows the disguised nature of evil’s logic.  So, His “first responder technique” was to go to the source of true reasoning and absolute truth – the Word. 
• Humility –  Jesus also makes use of personal humility in finding God’s way of escape during this first trial.  Satan’s appeal is leveled upon the “Son of God.”  Jesus response is that “man” cannot live by bread alone.  Jesus confronted this temptation within the humility of his humanity.
• Decisiveness –  Jesus also shows no hesitancy, no doubt, no wavering.  His response is one of great certainty.  Why?  Because evil operates without being hesitant and with great forcefulness.  The only way to defeat evil is with equal decisiveness.

These three strategies as shone successful by the man, Jesus.  As one whom Scripture says “was tempted in all ways like us” (Heb. 4:15), we must conclude that Jesus met this trial within the fullness of His humanity.  Jesus went toe to toe with the Tempter and used the very tools available to you and I.  And those tools are proven effective, efficient and sufficient by the Son of Man.  Those walking as Jesus walked will find their own victory secured if they but follow in His steps.

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