◄ What Does Matthew 4:1 Mean? ►

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Matthew 4:1(NASB)

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Verse of the Day

John the Baptist had paved the way, and the time had come for Jesus to be baptised. What a momentous occasion, as we see all three Members of the Trinity playing their part in this awesome event. The heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended and rested on the Lord Jesus as God pronounced: "This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."

But before we can take a breath and spend some time enjoying this moment, we immediately we read: "After this, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil." After the Jordan blessing came the wilderness testings.

Jesus was not tempted to prove His worth to the Father, for He had already received Divine approval. Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted of Satan in order to demonstrate His victory over the Devil, who is the enemy of man's soul. The wilderness temptations were to become the very evidence that Satan is and will be forever a defeated enemy. Because the Lord Jesus was victorious over the tempter's wiles, we too can triumph over the devil. Our victory is assured through Christ, for His victory is our victory too.

Christ's wilderness experience prepared the Lord Jesus to be our sympathetic High Priest, for He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. For us, and on behalf of all who are in Christ Jesus, He overcame the Devil and all His wicked ways.

The Lord Jesus has broken the power of Satan, sin, and death in our lives, and because we belong to Jesus, the power of His life-giving Spirit has freed us from the power of Satan.

Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

My Prayer

Loving Father, thank You for Christ's victory over Satan on my behalf. Help me to walk in newness of life in the power of the Spirit. I know that without You, I can do nothing, but in Christ, I have the victory over Satan, sin, the world, and the flesh. Thank You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.