The Beginning Of Jesus' Ministry
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Tempted in the Wilderness
Immediately Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus lived among wild beasts. He ate nothing for 40 days and 40 nights. Imagine his hunger.
The devil said to him:
If you are the Son of God, command these stones become bread.
Jesus said:
It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil led Jesus into Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him:
If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, he will put his angels in charge of keeping him safe and guarding him from harm. The angels will not let you fall. They will hold you up with their hands so that you do not dash you foot against the stones.
Jesus answered:
It is written you shall not put the Lord your God to the test.The devil took him to the top of a high mountain where he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory in a split second.
He said to Jesus:
I will give you authority over all these kingdoms and you can have their glory for yourself. These are mine to give to whomever I will. If you will fall down and worship me this will all be yours.
Jesus answered:
Get away from me Satan, for it is written that you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.
After Satan was done with his temptations, he left him for a season. The angels came to minister to Jesus.
John confesses that he is not the Christ.
The priests and the Levites came to the Jordan River in Bethany to ask John the Baptist who he was. John told them in no uncertain terms that he was not the Christ.
They asked:
Are your Elijah?
John answered:
I am not.
They asked:
Are you the prophet?
John answered:
No.
They asked:
Then who are you?
John answered:
I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord.
Then they asked him:
Why do you baptize if you not the Christ or Elijah?
John said:
I baptize with water. In the midst of you is standing someone who you do not know. He is the one for whom I am preparing the way. I am not even worthy to untie his shoes.