Temptation of Jesus for Kids

Image copy right- Michael Dudash

Reading: Luke 4:1-13, or Matt. 4:1-11.  

After Jesus was baptized, He was:

"... full of the Holy Spirit... He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry" Luke 4:1, 2 NLT

Imagine how hungry you would feel if you did not eat for forty days. It is hard to even skip a meal, let alone not eat for a whole day... but 40 days is REALLY a long time to not eat! Well, right when Jesus was the most hungry he ever felt in His whole life, the devil came along and said:  

"If You are the Son of God, 

change this stone into a loaf of bread." 

Luke 4:3 NLT 

The question is would Jesus use the power of the Holy Spirit of God to just make Himself some food? This is about more than just eating. Did Jesus really believe that He was the Son of God? Did Jesus trust that God loved Him as a Son and would lead Him to eat at the right time? Did Jesus really believe that God sent Him for a purpose and would not let Him die before He did what He came to do?

We can ask ourselves similar questions. If you believe in Jesus, do you really believe you are a child of God? Do you trust God's love for you no matter what happens? Do you want to follow the leading of the Spirit of God in your life, or do the things of this world seem more satisfying?

Remember when we read about Jesus being baptized?  

"After His baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water; 

the heavens were opened and  

He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling upon Him. 

And a voice from heaven, said,  

"This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." 

Matt. 3:13-17 NLT

When Jesus was baptized, the power of the Spirit of God came upon Him and right after that, when He was full of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Why did the Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted? Would Jesus listen to the Spirit leading Him or would He listen to the enticing words of the devil to satisfy His natural desires as a human being?  Everything He came to do for people rested on Him never sinning. As Emmanuel "God with Us", He had to be that perfect lamb of God, who never sinned in order to take away the sins of all people who would ever live. And as our Great High priest He had to be made like us, a human, who would experience temptation, just as we do and yet not sin. This way He could understand and help us when we needed it most.

So, "why did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted? These verses below give us the answer and are full of God's love and grace for us, His funny little human beings:

"Because God's children are human beings- made of flesh and blood- the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying... Therefore, it was necessary for Him to be made in every respect like us, His brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing (temptation) He is able to help us when we are being tested (tempted)." Hebrews 2:14-18 NLT  

"So then, since we have a high priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT

Wow, don't you just love this? Aren't you amazed at what Jesus has done for us? He is the dearly loved Son of God. He lived to please His Father and bring Him great joy. Will we as dearly loved children of God live to please Him and bring Him joy? We will be blessed if we choose to follow Him and not listen to the temptation of the evil one.

"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.

Afterward they will receive the crown of life 

that God has promised to those who love Him."

James 1:12 NLT

Not By Bread Alone by Michael Dudash ... See side bar to order Print