Matt. 4:1-11
AT last Jesus grew up to be a man. He knew that He must go from place to place and teach people about God.
But first He went alone, led by the Spirit, into a place called a wilderness. He had no house to sleep in there, no friend to speak to and no food to eat. In the night it was cold, in the day very hot.
There were no men, but there were lions, wolves, and bears. At night they roared and howled, but Jesus trusted in His Father.
He ate nothing for forty days and forty nights. God kept Him alive. When Jesus was alone, He spoke in His heart to His dear Father.
At last someone came and spoke to Him.
Who was it?
Not a man, not a bright angel, not God; it was Satan. I do not know what he looked like. He came to tempt Jesus to do wicked things. He came to tempt Jesus not to obey God His Father.
Satan knew that Jesus was hungry He said to Jesus, ‘Turn these stones into bread!’ But Jesus would not do that, for God had promised to feed Him Himself.
After that, Satan took Jesus to the top of a great building, that was much higher than a church. It is frightening to be at the top of a very high place; it makes one tremble to look down from the top.
Satan said to Jesus, ‘Throw Thyself down from this place; Thy Father will send His angels to keep Thee from being hurt, for He has promised to take care of Thee.’
Would Jesus have done right, if He had thrown Himself down? No. Jesus knew that His Father would be displeased if He threw Himself down; and Jesus always did the things that pleased His Father.
Then Satan took Jesus to the top of a very high hill. He showed Him the most beautiful things in the world: trees and gardens, houses and ships, and fine clothes and feasts. He said, ‘Look at these fine things.’ Satan promised to give them all to Jesus. He would give Jesus the whole world. All Jesus had to do was to kneel down and worship Satan. But Jesus said, ‘I will pray to My Father, and not to you.’
Jesus loved His Father better than all the things in the world. Adam and Eve listened to Satan and disobeyed God, but Jesus did everything His Father told Him. Adam was disobedient; Jesus was obedient.
Then Satan went away; and angels came from heaven and fed Jesus.
Satan goes about, trying to make children do bad things. A lion could only eat your body, but Satan wants to have your soul and body in hell. Satan hates you. He is your enemy. But God is stronger than Satan. Say to God, ‘Keep me from doing what Satan tells me to do,’ and God will keep you.
Upon that mountain’s height
Two mighty princes stand:
Jesus the prince of light,
Satan at His right hand.
Below them lies the prospect fair
Of all this earth holds rich or rare.
Tables are seen around,
Spread with delicious meats;
Gardens where fruits abound,
And thousand tempting sweets;
Silver and gold and precious stones,
Chariots and palaces and thrones.
Satan did once prevail
On Eve to disobey;
And now why should he fail
To tempt the Lord astray?
For Eve abundant food possessed,
While Christ with hunger is distressed.
In vain the tempter tries
The Savior to deceive,
For Jesus came from heaven
Our miseries to relieve:
His Father dear He sought to please,
Nor wished for earthly joy and ease.
He had seen brighter things,
And sweeter joys had known,
Where angels touch the strings
Around His Father’s throne;
And shall He from that throne descend,
Before the evil one to bend?
No, He will hunger bear,
And suffer sharpest pain,
Till God shall hear His prayer,
And His weak life sustain.
And, lo, ashamed the tempter flies,
And angels feed Him from the skies.
Full oft does Satan try
To draw my steps aside;
Now bids me tell a lie,
My faults from all to hide;
And tempts me soon to sin again,
That I new pleasure may obtain.
Whenever I consent
To walk in Satan’s ways
It is as though I bent
My knee before his face.
And what reward will Satan give?
In his own hell with him to live.
How shall my feeble heart
Be kept from Satan’s power?
O Lord, Thy strength impart
In every tempted hour,
That I may sinful joys refuse,
And Thy sweet service ever choose.
Questions
When Jesus grew to be a man, where did He go by Himself?
Were there animals in the wilderness?
How many days was Jesus there?
What did He eat?
Who came to Him at last?
Why did Satan come?
What did Satan ask Jesus to do first?
Why would Jesus not turn the stones into bread?
What did Satan ask Jesus to do when he had taken Him to the top of a high building?
Why would Jesus not throw Himself down?
What did Satan show Jesus from the top of a hill?
What did Satan say Jesus must do, if He would have all these fine things?
Would Jesus do this?
Who fed Jesus after Satan went away?
What harm does Satan want to do to children and to everyone?
The devil is cruel:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn:
The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8.