Matthew 4 After Jesus was baptized.. by John in the water.. and by the Holy Spirit from above... He "was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."   Jesus fasted 40 days and forty nights, we are told.  Then... He became hungry.  This time in the desert was not a spontaneous event... it was part of God's plan and it had a powerful purpose. 

From the first man and woman, mankind  has failed to resist the temptations that Satan throws at us.  Eve took the fruit.. Adam ate it also.  It was a simple command of God.. but they chose to yield to the temptation rather than to trust and obey.  We all have inherited that sinful DNA.   When Jesus resists the temptations of Satan.. He broke the pattern.. He broke the chain! 

I John 2:16 gives us three categories of the temptations of the world.. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."  The lust of the flesh - desires and cravings for our bodies;  the lust of the eyes - wanting more an more.. never being satisfied ( Proverbs 27:20  says it well);  the boastful pride of life - boasting from an evil heart ( Jeremiah 9:23 says "Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for I delight in these things..." ) 

Satan has no new playbook.. he uses the same lies as he always has.  He even tried to use them on Jesus. 

The first temptation was about bread.  Jesus was hungry after 40 days of fasting. Satan tempted Him to turn the stones into bread. Satan wanted Jesus to prove His Sonship by feeding Himself.  Jesus refused.  We are to trust God for what our bodies need, knowing that when we seek Him first and His righteousness that God will provide.  "Man does not live by bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God"  Jesus replied.  Jesus did not have to prove He is the Son of God by making bread.. He proved it by trusting the Father. He conquered the "lust of the flesh"!

The second temptation was about pride.. Satan took Jesus to the top of the temple and told Him to throw Himself off.. to let the angels catch Him, like the scriptures said they would.  Jesus refused, "... You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."  Jesus refused to boast of His position as the Son of God.. instead, He humbled Himself and took the form of a man.. He knew God and would obey every Word from the Father. 

The third temptation was aimed at making Jesus desire  "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory." The price was falling down and worshiping Satan.  Jesus had already been promised the nations.. they would be His according to the Father's will, not according to Satan's scheme.  Jesus was finished with Satan's lies and ordered him away. "Be gone"!

Father in heaven, thank You for the faithful obedience taught by Jesus through the wilderness temptations. Thank You that the chain is broken and we have been made new in Christ.. so that we can resist Satan and live according to Your Word and by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  May we follow Jesus in obedience... with humility and trust.. knowing that no matter what, You are able to deliver us and keep us from falling!  We put our hope and faith in You alone. Keep us in the shadow of Your wings we ask, in Jesus' name. Amen.