Luke 4

“I will give you all their authority and splendor” (6). In the wilderness, Jesus battled on our behalf against the desire to achieve fulfillment and success on our own terms, which are the devil’s terms. Jesus was tempted to use power to satisfy his hunger, rather than let God fill him, and he was tempted to seize “authority and splendor” by ungodly means. Finally, he was tempted to launch himself from the Temple (9), flaunting divine power in spectacle rather the way of love: surrendering to death on a cross.

Jesus experienced the temptation of false idols yet remained faithful for our sakes, so that in him we might experience “the Lord’s favor” (19): the blessing, fulfillment, and deep satisfaction of fellowship with God.