Jesus was Tempted as a Man

November 1, 2016 Discerning Reader 6 Comments

In Matthew 3, Jesus was baptized.

Baptism took place in the New Testament, but the Word of God says that Moses baptized Israel. When they walked through the waters of the Red Sea, it was symbolic of baptism in the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

This scripture is very clear, showing us that Israel walked through the water. Verse 2 says, “…baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”

Baptism took place in the New Testament, but the Word of God says that Moses baptized Israel. When they walked through the waters of the Red Sea, it was symbolic of baptism in the New Testament.

After the children of Israel were baptized in the Red Sea, they went through a time of testing in the wilderness for 40 years. In Matthew 3, Jesus was baptized. In Matthew 4, the Holy Spirit came and led Him to the wilderness where He was tested for 40 days.

When Jesus was baptized, the heavens were opened and the Spirit descended on Him like a dove. God spoke saying, “This is My Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17).

Jesus went through every test and trial as a man, not as God. He was tempted as we are. He didn’t overcome because He was the Son of God. We can follow His example in overcoming because He was tested in the flesh as we are.

When Israel went through the testing in the wilderness, they failed their tests. But when Jesus went through these tests, He passed. We need to follow Jesus’ example.

When we go through tests in our own lives, we have an open book that we can use to take the exam. We have all of the answers. We just need to apply them to our lives. Why did Jesus go through this time of temptation? To give us the answers. To show us how to overcome. That is the grace of God.

Hebrews 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When we go through tests, God’s grace provided the example of Jesus. He provides the answers for us.

Jesus had been preparing for this test for 30 years. How many years have you been preparing for your ministry? There will be a test. Why? To take us to a higher level. After Jesus passed this test, His ministry started and those areas that He overcame became the foundation of His ministry.

We can use whatever we’ve learned in the past 20 years, 30 years, 10 years, however long we’ve been preparing. We can use what we’ve learned to overcome any test that comes our way.

The Bible tells us that God only gives us as much as we can handle. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God has already given us the answers so when a trial or temptation comes to our life, we should not nag or complain or despair like Israel did in the wilderness. Instead, we need to praise God because He is getting ready to take us to a higher level.

God doesn’t allow us to go through trials so that we fail. He wants to give us the chance to apply His answers to the trial so that we can overcome and pass the test. He wants to take us to a higher level.

Apply the answers that God has already given you to the trial at hand so that you can overcome.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun Hui East

6 People reacted on this

  1. Thank you for the insight Pastor Sun East, I think I understand, for the first time, why Jesus went through some of the things He did while on earth. I guess it was mostly about showing US an example of what to do.

  2. This teaching is powerful and full of Rhema. This is a word from the mouth of GOD. It totally changes my views on the wilderness. Thank You Jesus for this Teacher Pastor Sun.

  3. Pastor Sun, thank you for this teaching. It’s very encouraging to be reminded of the fact that Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses because He was tempted as a man.

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