Terry wrote: > Every time the devil tempted Him, He > dismissed the attempt with a few words. > The only time He broke a sweat was when > it was time to pay for my sins, and yours. > This is hardly the average guy on the street > or even the most dedicated Christian. This > is a special person who looked like a man > and ate like a man and felt pain like a man, > but He had no sinful flesh. He never had a > desire to sin.
The Bible gives us a very different picture. In Matthew 4:2, it says that after forty days of fasting, Jesus hungered. I too have fasted forty days and hungered afterward. I know exactly what is being talked about here. When the devil said unto him, "command this stone to be made bread," it was more than just spouting off a few words which sent the devil running. The Scriptures say that he hungered, meaning, he had the desire to oblige the temptation that was before him. The writer of Hebrews affirms this with the following words: Hebrews 4:15-16 (15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Look further in the Matthew passage and you find that when the devil did leave him, angels came and ministered unto him (Mat. 4:11). This was because he was weak and tempted with desire from within. Yet, he resisted the desire to sin and obeyed God instead. The author of Hebrews tells us to consider Jesus when we are weary in temptation. Such would make no sense if Jesus never had any desire to sin. If Jesus never had any desire to sin, then he does not know what I go through when I am tempted. He cannot understand me at all if he was not human and subject to human passions. Hebrews 12:3-4 (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (4) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. The admonition here assumes implicitly that my struggle against sin is the same as His struggle against sin. I should consider him because he is my big brother who has shown me how to be victorious over temptation. In Mark 14:36, we read Jesus praying that the cup he was about to drink be taken from him. He prayed, "nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt." There is no more clear a passage than this, that Jesus experienced the desire to sin. His victory was in conquering that desire to sin, and in so doing, he inspires all of us to do likewise. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
