Because Jesus…
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil…” (Matthew 4:1)
Take a moment and travel in your imagination to the end of time—to the great day of judgment. The record books are open and you are standing before God the judge. Imagine that God says to you, ‘Why should I spare you hell and welcome you to heaven? Why should I give you life and not death?” What would be your answer to that question? Perhaps you might say: “Well, God should accept me because I’ve lived a moral life. I haven’t been perfect, but I’ve stayed out of trouble and I’ve served my community well. I’ve even taught Sunday School.” Instinctively, many of us would begin our answer: “Because I….” But if we understand Matthew’s Gospel properly, it will convince us that our answer must begin with these words: “Because Jesus…”
Matthew 4 describes the temptation of Jesus Christ. But it is not actually designed to be a how-to manual on fighting temptation against the devil. Matthew is still introducing Jesus to us and his central concern is the character and identity of Jesus—that we might believe in Him. We’re meant to see here that Jesus is totally sinless and perfectly pleasing to the Father. Notice that Matthew 3 ends with the Father declaring from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 4 goes on to show that the Son is pleasing to the Father because He is totally sinless, thoroughly righteous, and perfectly faithful under trial. This is relevant to us today, and it is good news indeed.
Isn’t it interesting that when a nation goes to war and wins, the citizens back home who didn’t actually fight in the battle declare, “We won!” The citizens claim victory because the soldiers who did the actual fighting represent them. Similarly, Jesus is our representative who wins the battle with sin. In Matthew 4, Jesus is presented as the faithful Israel. Notice that, during His testing, Jesus quotes Scripture that refers originally to Israel’s wilderness wanderings recorded in Deuteronomy. The Israelites failed in their 40 years in the wilderness, but Jesus succeeded in His 40 days in the wilderness. When Israel faced hunger and remembered the food in Egypt, their physical hunger set the stage for grumbling and sin. But Jesus, after fasting for 40 days and nights, resisted the temptation to turn stones into bread and said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Matt. 4:4) When the people of Israel quarrelled at Massah, they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” (Ex. 17:7) But Jesus, when confronted with the devil quoting Psalm 91 and challenging Him to throw Himself down, resisted and replied, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matt. 4:7) When Israel was presented with the opportunity to worship a false god, it fell down and worshipped a golden calf. But Jesus, when offered all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for the worship of the devil, refused and declared, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matt. 4:9)
Be encouraged today: Jesus is your representative and He won the battle. His victory is your victory. Jesus is sinless and He died in your place, on the cross, for your sin. His sacrifice on the cross was acceptable to the Father because He was unblemished. The good news is that God will welcome you into heaven and it is only and entirely because Jesus, the Faithful Israel, entered the battle on our behalf and came out in glorious victory!