Matthew 4:1-11

New International Version

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

This is our first Sunday in our journey through the season of Lent. Did you notice that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness? It’s important for us to remember that the Spirit is with us and leading us through the journey during Lent as well. In this passage, the devil tempts Jesus three times. Did you notice that the devil says, “if you are the Son of God.” We are often tempted to doubt our identity. We question if we truly are loved and cared for by God. We are tempted to think we don’t have value and don’t have a call or mission in life. On our journey with Jesus this Sunday we will remember who we are, who we belong to, and what the Spirit may be leading us to do. We will fall down and mess up over and over again. Don’t give up, Jesus loves and cares for us! May we journey and grow closer with Jesus during this season. Our focus on Ash Wednesday and again this Sunday is that an inward repentance, renewal and fasting should lead us into outward change and compassion for all of God’s children. Pastor Andy