In the Wilderness: Tested but Triumphant
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” - Matthew 4:1
Three of the Gospel accounts record the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. All of them place this event after His baptism. After Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven - “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” - and then all three Gospels tell us He was led into the wilderness. That’s a pattern we should recognize: after the mountaintop often comes the valley.
But don’t miss this - Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. That means He didn’t just wander out there on His own. God had a purpose in it.
Satan brings 3 temptations. Each one is an attempt to derail Jesus from His mission by offering a shortcut and by sowing doubt.
“If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” (Matthew 4:3) Satan says this after Jesus spent 40 days without food, this hits where Jesus is physically weakest. How does Jesus reply? “It is written…” Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, reminding us that God’s Word sustains more than physical bread. The temptation here is to satisfy legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. But Jesus chooses obedience over appetite.
“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down.” (Matthew 4:6) Satan quotes Scripture, twisting Psalm 91 out of context. This is a temptation to test God rather than trust Him. Jesus responds with Scripture again - “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 6:16). We don’t manipulate God into proving Himself. Faith trusts without force.
“All these I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:9) The ultimate shortcut - glory without the cross. But Jesus knows the road to redemption runs through sacrifice. He declares, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Deuteronomy 6:13)
Luke’s account adds this powerful line: “When the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13) That reminds us - spiritual battles are ongoing and to be expected. But we’re not without weapons. Jesus didn’t respond with opinion or debate. He responded with truth - “It is written.” If Jesus, the Son of God, depended on the Word to fight temptation, how much more should we?
You may feel like you’re in a wilderness - dry, weary, tempted. Remember: being in the wilderness doesn’t mean you’re outside of God’s will. The Spirit led Jesus there. And He leads us, too - not to destroy us, but to strengthen us. It’s an opportunity to grow deeper in our relationship - deeper in our dependence on God, and deeper in our dependence on His Word. In the wilderness temptations we learn to trust Him more.
Think about this:
Are you storing up God’s Word like Jesus did? Are you ready to stand when temptation whispers it’s twisted lies? Get in the Word today. Store up the ammunition for when you’ll need it.
Heavenly Father, help me to recognize the lies of the enemy and respond with the truth of Your Word. Teach me to trust You in the wilderness seasons, and to walk in obedience no matter the cost. Fill me with Your Spirit and strength me in the fight. In Jesus name, Amen.
