Pattern of Temptation

Those that know me know that I just love Tim Keller’s writing. Well, Keller has a new book out called; “King’s Cross – The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus” and although I am only 20 pages into it; I believe it is his best yet.

Early in the book, Keller points to Mark1:12-13;

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Keller shows us a biblical pattern; a pattern he also describes as a battle going on even today. A pattern of temptation that started in Genesis; a pattern where the Spirit moves, God speaks and Satan tempts. A pattern that continued with Christ as the Spirit sent Him into the desert to be tempted by Satan.

Keller says; “Now here in Mark: The Spirit, the water, God speaks, a new humanity, history is altered, and immediately the pattern continues with Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness…Not surprisingly, many surviving Christians were tempted to doubt their beliefs, tempted to hedge their commitment to God. But here they see Jesus, like Adam, experiencing a spectacular relationship with God and then having to contend with a threat of His own. You see, the wilderness isn’t just a random detour into trouble – it’s a battleground.”

Yet, there is hope! Again, Keller says; “But God didn’t leave us defenseless. God said to Jesus, “Obey me about the tree” – only this time the tree was a cross – “and you will die” And Jesus did. He has gone before you into the heart of a very real battle…What he has enjoyed from all eternity, he has come to offer you. And sometimes, when you’re in the deepest part of the battle, when you’re tempted and hurt and weak, you’ll hear in the depths of your being the same words Jesus heard: “This is my beloved child – you are my beloved child, whom I love; with you I’m well pleased.”

So encouraging, so humbling. Paul helps in Ephesians 6; 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Everyone, as believers we have the shield of faith to protect, we have a helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. Amen.

Grace and Peace!