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Key passage
John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus was Tempted (Matthew 4, Mark 1, and Luke 4)
Jesus’ temptation by Satan is a showdown with redemptive implications.
Had Jesus not been able to withstand Satan’s attacks, Christ would not have
been the spotless lamb of God and would not have made for a sufficient
sacrifice for sinners. The gospel hinged on Jesus’ ability to stand firm in
the face of temptation.
Thankfully, Jesus was indeed strong enough to withstand Satan’s scheme. Though we as sinful humans fall daily into sin’s temptations, Jesus
never sinned.
Just as the Old Testament figures Moses, Elijah, and Noah spent 40 days in
difficult, faith-testing circumstances, we read that Jesus was full of the Holy
Spirit and that the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil. This event took place just after Jesus’ public baptism and demonstrates
the truth of Hebrews 5:8: “Although he was the Son, he learned obedience
from what he suffered.” If Jesus had to learn obedience, how much more do
we have to learn?
We read that Jesus was well-informed with Scripture and used it in His
fight against the lies of the enemy. Though the omnipotent Jesus had the
power to perform miracles and escape the wilderness, He remained in the
desert to reveal His power to overcome the temptations of sin.
Likewise, though Jesus had the means to flee from the temptation He
faced, He remained dependent upon His Father, showing us what it means
to endure. It is in the testing of our faith and through our reliance upon His
Spirit that Christians are constantly being made into the image of the Savior.
It is not through our obedience and good works that we receive a righteous
standing before God; rather, it is by grace through faith in the only righteous
One, Jesus, that we are credited with Jesus’ perfect life.
Family Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to test the Lord?
[Parent prompt] Explain to kids that testing God means questioning His authority and lordship by failing to trust what He has said in His Word. Share that the Bible specifically commands us not to test God, just as Jesus reminded the devil.
- Why did the devil offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the world? Don’t they belong to God?
[Parent prompt] Remind the kids that the devil was lying by offering Jesus a shortcut to His reign in God’s kingdom. While the devil has some rule over the world, His power is confined to what God allows, and the devil was ultimately defeated by Christ’s death and resurrection.
- How can we know God’s Word better?
[Parent prompt] Share that knowing God’s Word starts with reading it every day. Encourage kids to start reading their Bibles with the help of their parents and leaders. Invite them to ask questions and seek help when they come across passages or verses they don’t understand. God promises to give wisdom when we seek it.
Christ Connection
- Babies & Toddlers: When we are tempted to sin, we can ask Jesus to help us say no to sin.
- Younger Preschool: Jesus always did the right thing. He died on the cross to rescue us from sin. When we are tempted to sin, we can ask Jesus to help us say no to sin.
- Older Preschool: The devil tried to get Jesus to sin, but Jesus always did the right thing. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to rescue us from sin. When we are tempted to sin, we can ask Jesus to help us say no to sin.
- Kids: Like us, Jesus experienced temptation. But unlike us, Jesus never sinned. When we repent and believe Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose again, God credits us with Jesus’ perfect life.
Check out The for this week’s bible story video, scripture song, morning and evening prayer times and family activities.(Content by Lifeway Christian Resources, link here, Used with permission.)
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