One thing that Jesus was NOT - was flashy. When He cured someone, it was with a touch. When He spoke, the crowds came to Him. And when He resisted the Devil - it was through the simple mechanisms of fasting, prayer, and Scripture. These are things each of us can do daily or weekly, which fits completely with Jesus's advice to not put on a public display. Your life - your resistance to temptation - will be all the display you need.
In the Gospels, the best known examples of Jesus facing and resisting temptation are the 3 tests in the desert at the very beginning of His ministry. Just after His baptism by John, Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where He fasted for 40 days. At the end of that time, the Devil came and tempted Him 3 times. The first was the request to turn stones into bread. For the second test, the Devil took Jesus to the top of the Temple and bade Him leap off, and be protected by the angels. The third test was the presentation to Jesus of all the world's empires, in exchange for Jesus worshipping the Devil. What is notable about all three examples - and the most applicable to your life - is that Jesus had the strength to resist these powerful and almost overwhelming temptations by His fasting and praying for 40 days, and by quoting Scripture.
Another example is Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus never asked to be let out of His mission. He simply asked if there were an alternative. Jesus always recognized that God's will must be done. Jesus berated the apostles who accompanied Him for falling asleep, explaining that the time could be better spent in prayer, the better to strengthen themselves against temptation.
Jesus faced several temptations during His trial before Pilate and Herod, including the mocking by the soldiers and the physical and emotional torture He faced by the whipping, crowning with thorns, and humiliating slaps from the guards. Jesus resisted the temptation to either quit His ministry or retaliate (remember, He had told Peter in the Garden at his arrest that He could summon legions of angels to His side). Jesus resisted the temptation by remaining true to His mission.
The final temptation of Jesus was when He was hanging on the cross, dying from blood loss and suffocation. The crowd and the thief to his side mocked Him, calling for Him to come down from the cross. Again, Jesus resisted the temptation by focusing on His mission, even granting eternal life to the thief who praised Him.
Jesus throughout the Gospels emphasized connecting with God, but nowhere was that more obvious than these incidents where He was tempted. He repeatedly explained that prayer and fasting were paramount in strengthening yourself to resist temptation, and quoted Scripture to answer the Devil.
A copy of "The Six Temptations Of Jesus Christ" can be purchased at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/Six_Temptations
Erik Carter is an experienced computer programmer and attorney. He has written SIX TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS CHRIST (http://www.knowledge-download.com/six_temptations) and AGGRESSIVE PLEADINGS FOR THE NON-CUSTODIAL FATHER (http://www.knowledge-download.com/six_temptations).
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWOW ... what a question. But today, while I was... Read More
Hiking is gaining popularity within the African-American community. We're beginning... Read More
There are moments in the believer's life when the Spirit... Read More
Since the beginning of time mankind has pondered, who God... Read More
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,... Read More
Do you think it's acceptable for people to make millions... Read More
According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T.... Read More
The still place is the beginning. Settle in there, ask... Read More
As more and more alternative and spiritual healings are being... Read More
In the golfing world, yesterday may have been one of... Read More
The Many Waters explores the universe and sifts through the... Read More
Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell recently starred in the movie... Read More
Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although... Read More
We, a group of ordinary people who believe in Jesus... Read More
Prayer. It's the foundation of a Christian mom's life. Why?... Read More
Originating in what is now modern India; Tantra is at... Read More
Peter is a man after my own heart. I feel... Read More
In life, sooner or later, we come to the midnight... Read More
I have almost died twice in my life. The first... Read More
The more we worry about money, and who's asking for... Read More
I have been thinking a lot about the spiritual growth... Read More
(Channelled)Good morning Roy, good morning Joseth.What has love got to... Read More
(Channelled)Roy, what a marvellous job you are doing on your... Read More
Does this ever happen to you? You ask God for... Read More
Every month I usually sit down and write an article... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..I was recently asked how I interpreted the Mayan and... Read More
We have all heard the phrase, "follow your nose". This... Read More
Uh, oh. I'm in trouble now. I found God. Now... Read More
Peter is a man after my own heart. I feel... Read More
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught... Read More
Prior to the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United... Read More
God poetry is one of my favorite genres, although I... Read More
My wife, our friend and I went to listen to... Read More
I am disturbed by the tendency of some people to... Read More
There is an prayer process in every religion and everyone... Read More
You can't help but feel a sense of electricity in... Read More
We are the beneficiaries of the promise God made to... Read More
During my childhood days, I disliked Lenten season because radio... Read More
Christians all over the world will all be tempted in... Read More
Many of our great religions hold that numbers contain hidden... Read More
One cannot make a decision in the moment of now.... Read More
The tongue is such a tiny little organ. Yet, it... Read More
There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve ourselves either outwardly... Read More
You can think of your Animal Totems as imaginary guides... Read More
Matthew 3:7-10 John Rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees7 But when... Read More
On one side there is a dark cloud. It is... Read More
Last Saturday, the children were down at their grandparent's house... Read More
One of the first issues people on the spiritual path... Read More
In my life, I have tried... Read More
Were you lied to as newborn Christian? I was...let me... Read More
Spirituality |