Mark 1:9-15
January 9, 2007
WHY ARE WE TEMPTED?
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Have you ever wondered why you feel the same way that St. Paul did when he said, "I do the things that I should not do and don’t do the things that I should do." Because of the close relationship that he had with God, Paul knew the answer and I am sure that you also know. Simply put, we are tempted to do what we should not do, and we are tempted to not do what we should.
Knowing that, we are led to another question. If God loves me, then why does He allow me to be tempted? If we ask that question, we must also ask, "Why did God allow His Son, Jesus, to be tempted?"
In the Garden of Eden God told Adam and Eve that everything was for their use except they could not eat from that certain tree. God did not say that it would be impossible to eat from it. He did not build a wall around it so they could not get to it. He just said that He didn’t want them to eat from it. God expected obedience. How many parents have given children certain do’s and don’ts? These parents expect obedience.
For some reason, we, like Adam and Eve, cannot keep from doing that which we should not do or be diligent in doing the things we should do. Like Adam and Eve, we are tempted and yield.
After Jesus was baptized and the Spirit came upon Him, He went into the wilderness for forty days and was tempted. He did not give in. He did not yield to temptation. We are told that the angels came and ministered to Him.
There are two important things here.
1. Jesus resisted the temptations that we do not resist. He won that victory over Satan even before He went to the Cross.
2. As Jesus was holding fast to the teachings of His Father, the angels came and ministered to Him. Those same angels are waiting to minister to you if you face difficult times resisting temptation. I fear that they are seldom called upon for help.
WHY ARE WE TEMPTED? James answers that question best in the first chapter of his Epistle:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. JAMES 1:2-4 (NKJV)
WHY ARE WE TEMPTED? Maybe we have not sought the help that we need. When is the last time that you prayed words similar to these from Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers? "Let Thy Holy Angel have charge concerning me that the wicked one have no power over me.
WE PRAY. Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to fight the battle over temptations for us. His victory over Satan in the wilderness and His Victory on the Cross are all that we need to hold on to as we look toward Life Eternal with you. AMEN