“Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.'” Luke 4:8
Why would anyone ever consider that the act and attitude of worship resembles establishing a beachhead in a military conflict? When Jesus was led by the Spirit to go into the wilderness after His baptism, there was spiritual conflict, a storm that awaited Him. Though the wilderness experience was a time of aloneness with His Father, and deep fellowship with Him, it was also a time when the foundations of man’s relationship with God would be tested in a most blatant manner. The wiles of Satan would be exercised to their utmost in seeking to put Christ in a position where He would forfeit his fellowship with the Father for some gain of His own. Primary, and central, to the very issue of Christ’s devotion to the father, was the pinnacle of true worship. Satan’s aim was very clear, and direct. The temptation was very simple, and yet all-encompassing. He offered Christ the “power” over all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. He specifically declared: “If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.” (Luke 4:7) Why would Satan exchange the kingdoms of the world for Christ’s worship of him? It has to do with the breach, or denial of the truth, something Christ would and could not do. Jesus Christ was, and IS, the truth. To acknowledge another object of worship other than the Father, would be to deny God, and the truth, forfeiting the very basis of His relationship with the Father. Why talk specifically of worship, and not just the matter of submission? Worship is the highest, and most elevated means by which the creature can give to the Creator, and Redeemer, the praise and exaltation that He is worthy to receive. None other is so holy as the triune God. None other is perfectly good and faithful. None other is the Maker of us all, and the Redeemer of our souls. Satan’s direct assault on the matter of worship was intended to diminish forever the high and lofty, elevated, position and Person, that sits on the throne of heaven. His specific attack on Christ was to dissuade Him from holding the Father as supreme, and worthy of all adoration, and consequent service. It is for this reason, that Christ will have NONE of Satan’s ruse, nor efforts to persuade Him. His attitude is categorical: “Get thee behind Me, Satan.” There is in that declaration a resolve and disposition that was not present in the Garden of Eden, when Eve listened to the serpent. Christ rebukes the very essence and nature of the tempter, for he is the antithesis of who and what God is. It is then that the Lord Jesus lays before us a map…a very simple map of devotion to God, and one which has withstood the assaults of Satan and time. He responded to Satan by adding: “For it is written: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him ONLY shalt thou serve.” (4:8) With regard to worship, Christ puts it at the pinnacle of the mountain of devotion to God. It is that blessed means which God has provided so that man can “rise to that sublime abode.” It is there in the sanctuary, the dwelling place of God, with the Father on the throne, that man can approach boldly and take his rightful place, at the feet of his Maker, to offer to Him the praise and blessing He is worthy to receive. There is in that approach to God, a certainty and promise that is extraordinary. God has provided with great certainty, a “new and living way” in Christ, by the sacrifice of Himself, specifically by His precious blood. When approaching the Father by the Spirit, in faith, trusting only in the merits of Christ, there is certainty of an audience with God. Therein is great blessing also. The Lord Jesus calls it the “reward” that the Father gives to them who come individually, in faith, to Him.
Dear Father, Grant to us grace to come boldly to worship Thee, by the Spirit and in truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.