Yesterday I mentioned that today’s reading includes the Messiah’s Boot Camp. But as I meditated on the passages today, I realized that Jesus went through what every child of God goes through. The heavenly Father puts all of his children through wilderness training.

Israel certainly had the training. Here is what Moses said to Israel as he prepared to say goodbye to them just before they entered the Promised Land:

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord . . . Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.” Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 5

Jesus must have meditated on Deuteronomy out there in the Judean desert because he quoted from it. The difference between Jesus and other people who are trained by hardship is that he passed with flying colors the first time through. He came out of boot camp ready to serve.

“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:17-18

If you are enduring some hardship today, perhaps the example of Jesus will encourage you.

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons, for what son is not disciplined by his father?” Hebrews 12:7

Satan Tempts Jesus

“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

The Bible sums up those forty days in just a couple of verses, but what Jesus was doing during that time?

The Judean wilderness was quite beautiful in places and it was full of animals and birds. There were hills to climb and caves to crawl into for a night’s sleep. Spring-fed streams watered grass and trees.

David fled into the central part of this wilderness when King Saul threatened his life, and an army collected around him there. It was a good place to hide a lot of people and live off the land.

But Jesus didn’t live off the land during those forty days. Tradition tells us that he was at the north eastern edge of the wilderness, near Jericho. He didn’t forage for plants to eat, or catch wild game to roast. He fasted under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

And, unlike David and King Saul, Jesus’ enemy didn’t have any trouble finding him. For forty days the devil stalked Jesus and tempted him relentlessly. He probably exhausted his repertoire of temptations because in Hebrew 4:15 it says,

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

At the end of forty days Jesus was hungry and tired, so Satan brought out his most subtle temptations in the hope of tripping Jesus up.

Jesus Answers Satan

First the devil suggested that Jesus perform a miracle and turn some stones into bread. Jesus was already thinking about bread, and thinking about his Father providing it. God sent manna to Israel in the wilderness and Jesus knew that if his Father wanted him to have bread in this wilderness, he would send it.

So Jesus answered Satan’s words with God’s Word. He quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3.

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

Jesus would rather starve than listen to anyone but his Father.

Next the devil played the pride card with Jesus. He escorted Jesus to the highest point along the roof of the temple and suggested that he do something spectacular to demonstrate his special relationship with God. He could throw himself off and surely angels would catch him so he wouldn’t injure himself. Why not show the world how he ranked with God?

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:16 and replied, “It is written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:7

Jesus knew where he stood with his Father and he would never test the relationship in that way.

Finally the devil offered Jesus a shortcut to winning the nations. Satan had power over all of them because they were full of sinners under his control. If Jesus would worship Satan he could have them all. Jesus answered with a final quote from Deuteronomy 6:13.

“Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:10

The devil had to leave when Jesus sent him away, but he left planning to come back someday.

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Luke 4:13

John the Baptist Identifies Jesus

So many people repented of their sins and got baptized by John that the Jewish leaders tried to find out who he claimed to be. John said he was the prophet pointing the way to the Messiah.

Then one day John saw that Jesus was back from the wilderness and as he passed by John shouted,

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

John testified to the evidence God had given him that Jesus was the One.

“I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John 1:32-34

John and Jesus must have known each other all their lives. They surely knew each other’s birth stories and they probably saw each other at family gatherings during the festivals in Jerusalem. But John didn’t identify Jesus as the Messiah until he had confirmation from heaven itself.

The First Disciples

The first men to follow Jesus were already disciples of John the Baptist. They were with John the second time he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” and without a word they left John for Jesus. (John 1:35-37)

When Jesus noticed them following him he asked what they wanted. They replied, rather presumptuously, that they wanted to see where he was staying. Then Jesus said the magic words, “Come, and you will see.” and they were suddenly invited to follow a rabbi. (John 1:39)

John, Andrew, Simon Peter, Phillip, and Nathanael were in that first group. Andrew recruited his brother Simon and when Jesus personally asked Phillip to follow him, Phillip went and got Nathanael.

This was an unconventional way for a rabbi to gather disciples. He didn’t find them at a synagogue school and no one commended them as promising students. He just walked by and when they showed interest, he invited them to follow him. This was to be Jesus’ method throughout his ministry; anyone who wanted to could follow Jesus.

Jesus Begins to Do Miracles

Not long after Jesus arrived back in Galilee he went to a wedding with his family and new friends. His mother pointed out to Jesus that the hosts had run out of wine during the reception, but Jesus chided her for asking him to do a miracle his Father had not yet approved. It wasn’t long before he acted though, and he turned about 180 gallons of water into fine wine. This was his first miracle and it made his disciples believe in him.

Their belief grew even more when they went with Jesus to the temple for Passover and watched him drive out people who were selling animals and changing money in the temple courts. They listened to what Jesus said, compared it to the Scriptures, and put their faith in him.

While he was in Jerusalem Jesus did many miracles and got a lot of attention. People said they believed in him, but he was careful around them. He knew how fickle people’s hearts could be.

Jesus’ public ministry was now fully underway.