We ended chapter 3 with Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist, which launched His public earthly ministry.
When the Spirit descended like a dove, it filled Jesus and the Spirit remained with him.
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.”
Luke 4:1-2 NIV
Satan tempts Jesus with food, impatience, pride, and lack of trust.
Jesus quotes scripture when he is tempted, and he sets a great example of what we should do when tempted. We should dig into our Bible and quote scripture that is good and just.
“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”
Luke 4:13 NIV
Notice that the devil doesn’t quit, he just waits for any opportunity. Be sure you are always on the lookout for the enemy.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Jesus passed the testing of the flesh. But only because he was in tune with the Holy Spirit. He was careful to carve out time to be alone daily and reconnect. He never let the fleshly desires overtake him. Even when he was being mobbed.
The truth is hard to hear. When he confronted the people in his hometown about their sins, they actually tried to kill him.
“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.”
Luke 4:28-29 NIV
Now here’s where something quite miraculous occurred. I find that this little known story carries a lot of information.
“But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Luke 4:30 NIV
No one rescued him from this lynch mob. He simply walked away through the crowd that was trying to kill him.
I find two important concepts here.
1 – It’s a glance into the actual willpower it took for Jesus to accept the suffering and torture of the cross. He could have simply walked away at any point in time. But he CHOSE to accept the punishment for our sins. That’s amazing love.
2 – When we are facing an angry mob, it’s ok to simply walk away. Jesus knew these people’s hearts. He understood that he was in a losing situation. He didn’t worry about proving his point. He simply walked away.
Then he moved on. He went to Capernaum, a town that wanted to hear his teaching. Here he cast out demons, healed many people, and taught about God. He had a full schedule.
But he didn’t allow the brevity of his ministry and the enormity of the task before him to keep him from alone time.
“At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place.
The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.”
Luke 4:42 NIV
Jesus had to get alone with his Heavenly Father to clarify his mission. This was the first time he had a huge bout of popularity. He could have remained there for a long time, enjoying the gifts and praise he was receiving. But he realized the bigger picture.
His goal wasn’t his own comfort.
His goal was to spread the word of God to as many as would hear it.
“And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”
Luke 4:44 NIV
Dr Vet Sonya 