“And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1
After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, anointed with the Spirit, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Why? Was it for the purpose of being tempted by Satan? There is no doubt that Satan chose to come when Christ was alone, also, when the Lord Jesus was very hungry, having been without food for a long period of time. Why was Christ alone at this very critical time and moment? He had been called by His Father, set apart to become the Messiah and Savior of mankind. The weight of responsibility, and the difficulty involved, in achieving His goals, which were those of the Father, were, from a human standpont, impossible. Before Him lay difficulties, suffering, opposition, hatred, malicioius manovering by His enemies to kill him, and eventually the cross. Was it not necessary before going into battle, a warfare that would last for over three years, to be perfectly established with regard to His fellowship with the Father, and the specifics of His mission? Was it not necessary in the quiet before the storm, the calm before battle, to be still and become perfectly clear, convinced, and committed to the Father’s will? It would take forty days, in the wilderness, among wild beasts, to understand clearly “the Father’s business” in sending Him into the world, and that which would face Him, to oppose Him, as He would go into battle. Most certainly, as we see the pattern revealed in Scripture, Jesus’ aloneness with the Father during this time was fathomless and overwhelmingly blessed and wonderful, for the Great Rewarder who sees in secret rewards openly.
However, there would come another individual upon the scene, one that would oppose all that is of God, and in particular, all that pertained to the redemption of men by the blood of Calvary. His target was the Son of God. His objective was not to openly, directly destroy Him, but to deceive Him, desiring to cause Him to compromise His absolute devotion to the Father. Satan knew that with regard to Christ, he only needed to effectively tempt Him at one point, in one way, at one moment in time. Then the Son would become like all of mankind, sinful. There would not be then one worthy to save, nor be capable of saving from sin. What was Satan’s strategy, and was it effective?
In looking at the manner and means of addressing the Lord Jesus, Satan does not take a frontal position of attack. He does not tell the Lord to obey him, only to consider a possibility: “IF Thou be the Son of God…” Satan calls into question the true identity of Christ, and all that that means with regard to His inherent authority and power. Also, he does not address Christ as God, only the possibility that He is the Son of God. The temptation is very clever, and subtle. The Lord Jesus does not need to prove to anyone who He is, especially by listening to and submitting to someone or thing other than His Father. Satan sought to create a crevice in the wall of absolute faith. Christ’s answer to Satan was the word of God coming from the Father. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Satan then addresses the Lord Jesus with the same consideration using the word “IF.” “If Thou be the Son of God.” This time Satan uses scripture to draw out the Lord Jesus to act independently of his father. Christ’s answer immediately brings the conversation back to the Scriptures, as it relates to His Father: “It is written AGAIN, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matt. 4:7)
Lastly, Satan uses for a third time the word “If.” He calls Christ to consider the possiblity of receiving the kingdoms of this world independently of the Father’s authority. Christ’s answer: “IT IS WRITTEN.”
Dear Father, Give us to worship and serve Thee alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.