Full of the Spirit

After his baptism, the Spirit “drove Jesus into the wilderness… for forty days and nights.” Like Moses, the Messiah of Israel was alone in the Judean desert confronted by the Devil. His only guide was the Word of God. Like Israel, he was “tested.” Unlike that nation, he overcame every temptation and emerged victorious, for he was “full of the Holy Spirit.”

Moses did not eat during his time on Sinai. Jesus also “fasted” the entire time he was in the Wilderness - “Then was Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the Devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights” - (Matthew 4:1-2).

• (Deuteronomy 8:2, 9:9) - “You will remember all the way which Yahweh your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to test you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not… When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which Yahweh made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water.”

[Photo by Derek Sutton on Unsplash]

Jesus was “led by the Spirit.” He was under Divine compulsion to be tested by the Devil. Before he began his Messianic Mission, he had to succeed where Israel failed. “And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” – (Matthew 4:3-4, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13).

The first temptation echoed the incident of the Israelites murmuring against Moses and longing for the “fleshpots of Egypt.” Yahweh responded graciously by providing the Israelites with “manna” from heaven - (Exodus 16:1-4).

Rather than complain as Israel did, Jesus cited the passage in Deuteronomy describing the miraculous feeding of the nation with manna. “And Yahweh humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh.” - (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Christ did not mutter against God because of his hunger but submitted to his Father’s will. Next, “the Devil took him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you; and, On their hands, they shall bear you up, that you dash your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, Again it is written, You shall not test the Lord your God” - (Matthew 4:5-7).

Satan used one of the “words of God” to tempt the Nazarene into committing a rash act. Since devout Jews expected the Messiah to appear in the Temple, would it not advance his mission if Christ descended safely from the “pinnacle of the Temple” and landed gently in its courts while the nation was at worship? – (Malachi 3:1).

At his baptism, the voice from heaven identified Jesus as the “Beloved Son,” but he was summoned to fulfill that role as the ‘Servant of Yahweh’ who suffered for his people. This Messiah would be displayed before Israel in his suffering and death rather than impressive displays of power and royal grandeur - (Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 3:17).

Jesus responded again by citing a passage from Deuteronomy - “You will not test Yahweh your God, as you tested him in Massah.” At Massah, Israel complained once more, and once again, where Israel failed Jesus overcame - (“Why do you strive with me? Why do you test Yahweh?” - Exodus 17:1-3, Deuteronomy 6:16).

WORSHIP GOD ALONE

Finally, Satan tempted Jesus with political power. What the Devil offered was Christ’s by divine decree (“I will give you the nations for your inheritance”). Strikingly, he did not dispute Satan’s right to grant sovereignty over the Earth. All would be his if Jesus would render homage to the Tempter - (Psalm 2:7-8, Matthew 3:17, 4:8-10).

If anyone deserved unlimited political power, it was the Son of God. Nevertheless, he rejected the offer (“Depart, Satan, for it is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only!”). Christ quoted the passage he had just cited to fend off the second temptation: “You shall fear Yahweh you God; and him shall you serve…  You shall not test Yahweh your God, as you tested him in Massah” - (Deuteronomy 6:13-16).

The Devil departed. Having overcome Satan’s temptations, Jesus “returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.” Therefore, he began proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the Jewish nation – (Luke 4:1, 4:14).

Having overcome the Devil, Jesus was well qualified to be the Messiah and speak the words of his Father to Israel. God had not “given him the Spirit by measure.” As promised in Scripture, and because of his loving obedience to His Father, Christ had the fullness of the Spirit. God “anointed you with the oil of gladness above your compatriots” - (Psalm 45:7, John 3:34, Hebrews 1:9).

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SEE ALSO:

• The Anointed One - (The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed who Jesus was – Son, Messiah, and 'Servant of the LORD')

• He Baptizes in Spirit - (John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah who is the Herald of the Kingdom of God and the one who baptizes in the Spirit – Mark 1:4-8)

• Spirit and Fire - (The Spirit of God descended on Jesus, equipping him for his Messianic mission. He would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit and Fire)

• Baptême de l'Esprit - (Jean-Baptiste a préparé la voie au Messie, le héraut de la Bonne Nouvelle du Royaume de Dieu - Marc 1:4-8)