One thing that Jesus was NOT - was flashy. When He cured someone, it was with a touch. When He spoke, the crowds came to Him. And when He resisted the Devil - it was through the simple mechanisms of fasting, prayer, and Scripture. These are things each of us can do daily or weekly, which fits completely with Jesus's advice to not put on a public display. Your life - your resistance to temptation - will be all the display you need.
In the Gospels, the best known examples of Jesus facing and resisting temptation are the 3 tests in the desert at the very beginning of His ministry. Just after His baptism by John, Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where He fasted for 40 days. At the end of that time, the Devil came and tempted Him 3 times. The first was the request to turn stones into bread. For the second test, the Devil took Jesus to the top of the Temple and bade Him leap off, and be protected by the angels. The third test was the presentation to Jesus of all the world's empires, in exchange for Jesus worshipping the Devil. What is notable about all three examples - and the most applicable to your life - is that Jesus had the strength to resist these powerful and almost overwhelming temptations by His fasting and praying for 40 days, and by quoting Scripture.
Another example is Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus never asked to be let out of His mission. He simply asked if there were an alternative. Jesus always recognized that God's will must be done. Jesus berated the apostles who accompanied Him for falling asleep, explaining that the time could be better spent in prayer, the better to strengthen themselves against temptation.
Jesus faced several temptations during His trial before Pilate and Herod, including the mocking by the soldiers and the physical and emotional torture He faced by the whipping, crowning with thorns, and humiliating slaps from the guards. Jesus resisted the temptation to either quit His ministry or retaliate (remember, He had told Peter in the Garden at his arrest that He could summon legions of angels to His side). Jesus resisted the temptation by remaining true to His mission.
The final temptation of Jesus was when He was hanging on the cross, dying from blood loss and suffocation. The crowd and the thief to his side mocked Him, calling for Him to come down from the cross. Again, Jesus resisted the temptation by focusing on His mission, even granting eternal life to the thief who praised Him.
Jesus throughout the Gospels emphasized connecting with God, but nowhere was that more obvious than these incidents where He was tempted. He repeatedly explained that prayer and fasting were paramount in strengthening yourself to resist temptation, and quoted Scripture to answer the Devil.
A copy of "The Six Temptations Of Jesus Christ" can be purchased at: http://www.knowledge-download.com/Six_Temptations
Erik Carter is an experienced computer programmer and attorney. He has written SIX TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS CHRIST (http://www.knowledge-download.com/six_temptations) and AGGRESSIVE PLEADINGS FOR THE NON-CUSTODIAL FATHER (http://www.knowledge-download.com/six_temptations).
disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..Some may ask why in a disaster some people are... Read More
In the movie "A Beautiful Mind" John Nash (played by... Read More
If we don't behave according to a specific church's doctrine,... Read More
Picture this state of existence in your mind by closing... Read More
As Christians, we know we need God in every aspect... Read More
(Channelled)Good morning Roy, good morning Joseth.What has love got to... Read More
As a Psychiatrist I spent most of my life training... Read More
"There must be a higher love/Without it life is wasted... Read More
What purpose does keeping a journal serve?Do you write down... Read More
Breaking with tradition, today's article comes from the 9-23-04 edition... Read More
In the spring of 2003, I spent three weeks in... Read More
What we think is what we are. Our lives are... Read More
Do you ever have one of those days when you... Read More
WOW ... what a question. But today, while I was... Read More
As a Coach and Psychotherapist I have found that the... Read More
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me,... Read More
INTRODUCTIONSpiritual affirmations are positive, statements of intention, that facilitate manifestation.... Read More
My name is Had. You may know me, but you... Read More
We may sometimes consider the difficulty that occurs with our... Read More
Enlightenment can come in an instant or it may take... Read More
Do you realize you are creating your future by the... Read More
For some of us, spirituality is considered a religion, and... Read More
Irish myth has the power to transform your life into... Read More
'O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom... Read More
Come on now!? Really? This is going too far, you... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..Jesus said, "No one can see the Kingdom of Heaven... Read More
Spiritual stuff is a hard sell Roy and one of... Read More
Today is the day that I'm getting back into exercise.... Read More
There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve ourselves either outwardly... Read More
"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written... Read More
Within every obstacle there is an equivalent or greater benefit.~Napoleon... Read More
It was my intention to explain the word "simple," and... Read More
One cannot read the account of Benhadad and Hazael in... Read More
Our Creator is an infinitely loving and generous provider -... Read More
"If you can't dance with the devil You will never... Read More
What is it with angels and digital clocks? I fell... Read More
What is the true nature of any illness? Research in... Read More
The great gate is open, but travelers seek everywhere??? -... Read More
Years ago a commercial ran for eggo waffles. It showed... Read More
Matthew 1:1-17The Genealogy of Jesus Christ1 The book of the... Read More
An interesting question arose within a poetry workshop I attended... Read More
Maybe once in a lifetime, we find ourselves seeking spiritual... Read More
You decide! We are often asked to make decisions. Decision... Read More
My mentor, a brilliant Ph.D, with a powerful marriage counseling... Read More
In part one, I described an existence that is absolute,... Read More
The bible tells a story about four men who sat... Read More
Who is the more spiritual person? The woman out on... Read More
"Spirit is beyond the void of space. This realm, beyond... Read More
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, assemble... Read More
In Corrogue I feel wonderful.As friends know I love singing.... Read More
Spirituality |