“Now, when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22).
The Son is a unique Man, appointed by God and pleasing to Him. He was set up from everlasting in the covenant to perfectly obey, so we can be saved. He is the Only One who honored God, and by His obedience, all that BELIEVE have life eternal (Heb 5:8-9).
He pleased God in every aspect of His humanity, even as He pleased the Father from eternity past. There is no sin, no rebellion, and no fault in Him. Christ is perfection embodied.
He is assumed to be what He is not by all, but by the Spirit, He illumines us to His beauty, so we can believe - “And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the Son of Heli” (vs23). He is not Joseph’s son; He is God in the flesh who honored the Father. He is the cause of every blessing and the Surety of the covenant: He, by obedience, was responsible for the sheep, so that we’re saved ENTIRELY because He succeeded (Gen 44:32; Heb 7:22; Heb 13:20-21). This Man is the Man in whom blessings flow!
Bless God! He proved the Son faithful, and we can believe on a Hero who conquered sin. The Son RESISTED Satan at every turn, and we fight off sin believing He earned the grace for us, that the Spirit is ours, not because we are good or have beaten sin before, but because Christ will never fail to save ANY who worship Him, acknowledging His success.
The Son was tempted to take matters into His hands, but He believed God (vs1-4). He was tempted to take the world instead of heaven, but He endured the cross faithfully (vs5-8). He was tempted to sin, so that grace might abound, and He chose to honor God by the gospel rather than use it to sin (vs9-12).
vs1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, vs2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’" 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 "Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’" 9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 "For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’ 11 "and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’" 12 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’"vs13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
He conquered everything, and then had imperfect rest, because Satan would again tempt Him (vs13). But now, having finished His work of obedience, He SITS in regal splendor, basking in success, and RESTING in His victory. We who believe have the same end coming.
Saints, Satan tempts us now, but he shall be destroyed. We shall enter the joy of the Lord and see Him gracious to people that please Him (Matt 25:21). I please Him now, if I believe.
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