Matthew 4

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (1). Like Adam and Eve were tempted and the Israelites were tempted in the desert, Jesus faced temptation as he voluntarily walked our human path. But when the devil urged him to satisfy his needs without God, experience spectacular success without God, and seize power without God, Jesus said no. Weak from fasting but filled with the Spirit, Jesus remained faithful to the Father so that, united by faith with him, we could share his sin-defying innocence.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (17). Jesus came near to us, so that by holding on to Him and His righteousness, we can draw near to the Father.