“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
It’s what happened after Jesus’ baptism by John that was an act for us all to reflect upon this week when we say to God or ourselves, “I can’t” or “I won’t.” He left His seemingly ok, everyday life behind and entered the wilderness. He went as a fully human man and fully God. Don’t miss that first point. For 40 days Jesus the man fasted. And when He became hungry – which a human suffers from, not a god – that’s when the devil stepped forward. I’m amazed He wasn’t tempted by the third or fourth day! Imagine the self-control, the obedience to the directive of His Father!
“The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:3-4
Jesus, the man, didn’t fall back on His strengths as God each time the devil tempted Him. No, he grabbed hold of God the Father as we humans are urged to do. He looked to the Father in His weakness and continued to obey Him. You notice Jesus didn’t pray and ask God to give Him bread. He was told to fast and He used amazing self-discipline in obeying. I’m certain that during His 40 days and nights His human self prayed for strength and wisdom.
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.’” Matthew 4:8-11
My friends, this week, as we look at our last fruit of the Spirit: self-control, let’s remember that Jesus was a perfect picture of self-control and obedience to God while as a man. I highlighted in our Gentleness week Jesus never once lost control of His fully God part. He never caused pain and suffering among those who would destroy Him. The one instance Jesus, as God, seemed to lash out in anger was to shrivel up a tree because it falsely appeared to have fruit. And His fully human side cleared out sinners in anger from the temple because they were dishonoring God. I for one, consider that a pretty good track record of self-control over 3 year’s time!
He had come to do His Father’s will and He would do it to the bitter end.”
B.B. Warfield, On the Emotional Life of Our Lord
The Lord has called every one of us, who say we believe that Jesus is our Christ and Lord, to accomplish hard tasks. To turn our old selves over to Him for cleansing and rebirth. And while we are not saved by our outward work of loving others, being gentle and kind, serving those in need, eschewing all sinful ways, when we ask God to guide us in controlling our thoughts and behaviors the fruit proves to Him and the world that we are justified as righteous.
Coming up: The Wobbly Rock
emboldened.net 