A King Who Can Stand the Test

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Onto the pages of Scripture walks John the Baptist—a curious person who neither looked nor acted like a typical preacher. All John ever claimed to be was a voice crying in the wilderness, “Get ready for the Lord!”

John had a mission, and people from every region went to the wilderness to hear about it. He baptized people who confessed their sins, who left their old lives and turned to a new one. He had no patience with the religious leaders whose lives didn’t match their words. His instruction: “If a tree isn’t bearing fruit, then put an axe to its root.”

One day, out of crowds at the Jordan River where John preached, walked Jesus Himself. When Jesus asked John to baptize Him, John objected. Jesus did not need to repent. But Jesus wanted to completely identify with sinful mankind, like a king who took off his crown and robe and experienced life with his subjects. Jesus, the King—totally undefiled and separate from sin—identifies with His people. Oh, what a king He is!

Immediately after this, the Spirit draws Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus was born as a king and baptized as a king. Now the question: Is this king able to withstand a test? Is He able to overcome temptation?

We’re told throughout the Bible that God doesn’t tempt man with evil (James 1:13). Instead, He tests our faith. Here in the wilderness, Jesus endured a test that proves He is qualified to be our Savior. He had to prove He could not be broken down. There’s a limit to what we can bear. But even when the pressure increased, He never gave in.

The devil tempted Jesus in three ways.

First, Jesus was tested physically. After He had fasted for 40 days and nights, the devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread. But Jesus doesn’t budge.

The second temptation was spiritual. Satan wanted Jesus to be a religious leader through a miracle rather than through the Cross. But the Cross was God’s plan and God’s will.

Satan’s third temptation was psychological. Satan promised to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world—and the glory of them. On one condition: If Jesus will worship him. For the third time, Jesus combats the temptation to sin by quoting Scripture.

The Lord answered Satan from the Word of God every time. Every time, He used the sword of the Spirit to meet the enemy of God. And for the child of God, that’s enough for us to do, too.

The 40 days of temptation in the wilderness revealed that Jesus is a king who can stand the tests. He can meet the devil on his turf and can overcome, using the Word of God as His weapon.

1. What purpose do you think John’s appearance had in the message he was to deliver? Did it help or distract?

2. John called on the religious leaders to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” In other words, to show evidence of an inward change through outward actions. Are there any fruits of repentance in your life?

3. What can we learn about who God is from the baptism of Jesus?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on Matthew 2:1-11 and Matthew 2:12-3:9.