BAPTISM AND THE TEMPTATIONS

Lesson 2 for April 11, 2015

HISTORICAL CONTEXT“Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:1-2)

We find six historical facts in the book of Luke that help us to identify when John and Jesus began his ministry.

1. The 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. He was designated Roman Emperor on September 18, 14. The Jews counted the years of reigns from autumn. Therefore, the first year of the reign of Tiberius began around autumn 14. The 15th year began around autumn 27.

2. Governor of Judea: Pontius Pilate. Between 26 and 36 AD.3. Tetrarch of Galilee: Herod. From 4 BC to 39 AD.4. Tetrarch of Iturea: Philip. From 4 BC to 34 AD.5. Tetrarch of Abilene: Lysanias. According to the inscription on

an Abilinian temple, he reigned from 14 to 29 AD.6. High Priests: Annas and Caiaphas. Caiaphas was High Priest

from 18 until 36 AD. Annas had already been dismissed but the people still considered him a High Priest.

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN“And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (Luke 3:3)

John’s baptism by immersion went through two phases:

1. Going down into the water. A public sign of repentance.

2. Coming out of the water. Being born again. An inner change

that is revealed by doing justice (Luke 3:10-14)

As they came out of the water, He urged them to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” He said that a greater baptism was about to come: “but One mightier than I is coming… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”What is that baptism about?

JESUS AND HIS FATHER

“And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’” (Luke

2:49)

“For the first time the child Jesus looked upon the temple… He beheld the bleeding victim upon the altar of sacrifice… Day by day He saw their meaning more clearly… The mystery of His mission was opening to the Saviour.”

E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 8, pg. 57)

JESUS AND HIS FATHER

About 20 years later, Jesus went to the Jordan river to be baptized by John. Jesus was sinless, but He wanted

to be an example for us.There were three solemn

declarations in that moment:

He was the “Lamb of

God”, Saviour of the world

(John 1:29).

He was the Christ,

anointed by the Holy

Spirit (Luke 3:22).

He was the Son of God

in whom the Father had

delight (Luke 3:22).

“And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form 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 3:22)

“IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD…”“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” (Luke 4:1-2)

The Father just told Jesus: “You are My beloved Son.” (Lk. 3:22). The devil introduced doubt: “If You are the Son of God…” (Lk. 4:3). Nevertheless, Jesus didn’t doubt but held on to the Word of His Father.“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

God told Adam and Eve: “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gn. 2:17). The devil told them: “You will not surely die.” (Gn. 3:4). They doubted God and believed the devil.

WHO SHALL WE WORSHIP?“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 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. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.’” (Luke 4:5-7)

Jesus used the Word to repel temptation again. We shouldn’t trust our own strength or wisdom to overcome temptation. We must trust the everlasting Word of God like Jesus did.Let’s follow Jesus’ example. God must be the center and the everything of our worship.

Satan wanted to be worshipped as god since the beginning of his rebellion (Isaiah 14:13-14). He was willing to renounce his “sovereignty” over this world if his Lord surrendered to him.But Jesus was not fooled by his apparent generosity. Jesus was loyal to God only. He is the only One who must be worshipped.

VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13)

In the last temptation in Luke 4, Jesus visits the temple of Jerusalem for the second time in His life.Jesus is then tempted by the devil again. This time, the devil used the Word of God. He asked Jesus to prove He was actually the Son of God (Luke 4:9-12).

If Jesus had done so, He would have accepted He doubted His own divinity and mission. But Jesus had no misgivings at all. He trusted His Father, and He felt no need to prove He was the Son of God in that moment.Jesus overcame “every temptation.”

JESUS OVERCAME, YOU WILL ALSO DOLet’s review four main teachings from the temptations:

1. Nobody is free from temptation.2. When God allows the devil to

tempt us, He also gives us grace and power to overcome temptation.

3. No two temptations are alike.4. We won’t be tempted beyond our

abilities.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“Every one of us will be sorely tempted; our faith will be tried to the uttermost. We must have a living connection with God; we must be partakers of the divine nature; then we shall not be deceived by the devices of the enemy, and shall escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.We need to be anchored in Christ, rooted and grounded in the faith.”

E.G.W. (Selected Messages, book 2, cp. 5, pg. 50)