He Was Tempted

A few weeks ago Tom wrote an article about the “Temptations of Jesus.”  As I read what Tom had to say, I wondered how many of us had seen the many temptations that Jesus had faced besides the ones in the wilderness.  As Tom pointed to various other temptations that Jesus faced, we were reminded that Jesus “was in all points tempted…” (Hebrews 4:15) and I thought about the numerous temptations Jesus encountered in the last few hours of His life.

I see Jesus being tempted when He was betrayed, denied, and deserted by His closest friends.  I see Jesus being tempted when He was disrespected, insulted, and humiliated.  Jesus was tempted when He was lied to, lied about, and threatened.  Every act that could destroy a relationship was hurled at Jesus.  And when Jesus was tempted with such animosity, we hear Him cry out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).  When I hear these words, I am bewildered and ask myself, “What kind of man is this?”

In my astonishment, the Hebrew writer interrupts my thoughts.  “Remember when I said Jesus was tempted in all points, I wasn’t finished talking.  I also said that Jesus was without sin.  In other words, God’s love was tested in all points and it is pure, genuine, and flawless.  What you should be mystified by is, What kind of God is this?”  This is the wonderment of all the people in Scripture.  In fact, Peter said what God was doing through Jesus had fascinated not only the prophets on earth, but the angels in heaven as well (I Peter 1:10-12).

I am glad that Scripture harps on the love of God because I would have missed it.  I would have said, “Got it.  Now let’s move on to bigger and better things.”  But Scripture repeatedly marvels over the love of God and it has caught my attention.  Listen again to the wonderment of Scripture:

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all . . . (Romans 8:32)

I am convinced that . . . [nothing] in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord . . . (Romans 8:37-39)

How great is the love The Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! (I John 3:1)

God’s love is so hard for us to understand that Paul prayed for the Ephesians: “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge . . .” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Amazing?  Yes!  Shocking?  Yes!  Mind boggling?  Yes!  Unbelievable?  Yes!  But listen what else the Hebrew writer says:

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. –Hebrews 4:16

The One who has overcome the world is our advocate in heaven!  No wonder Paul declares, “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31)!  Isn’t that great news?