Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Biblical Leaders/Jesus

Jesus' ministry began with a trip to the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4). First, Satan suggested that Jesus use His power to satisfy his physical hunger; this was a temptation to use His divine power to satisfy His own needs. Second, he suggested that Jesus leap from a high place, so that the angels would catch him; this was a temptation to use His divine power to glorify Himself. Third, he told Jesus that if He would worship him, he would release his claim on the world; this was the temptation to admit that Satan's charges were correct, and that God's law was unfair.

Jesus overcame the temptations, quoting scripture to refute Satan on each point. Jesus used the time He spent in the wilderness to commune with His Father, and to lay out His mission. We too can use time spent in the wilderness to do the same.

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