Before Jesus began his public life, He fasted 40 days and 40 nights by the power of the Holy Spirit and was tempted by the devil. The devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up on their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” (Matthew4:6). That means that people will believe in Jesus as the Son of God if He falls down from the highest point and do not strike against the stone. But Jesus answered him, “It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew4:7). Jesus overcame the temptation.
Jesus, the Son of God came to this world not to show off his ability in front of people by performing the miracle of not being hurt even though He throws himself down from a high place. He came to this world in order to wash away people’s sins by bleeding on the Cross while obeying God who only wanted to save humans. If you throw yourself down, you put God to the test. Testing God means you don’t believe in God.
Nothing comes amiss to a hungry man. As soon as he sits at the table, he devours the meal. Likewise, those who are thirst and hungry for righteousness never put God to the test when they hear the word of God. They say “Amen” with faith and take it as their share.
“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32).
Jesus didn’t put God to the test. He died on the Cross while having faith in the Father and obeying Him, and was raised on the third day. Jesus gave up his life with a certain faith. We also must have a faith in the word of God. God can’t be tempted. It’s because everything is done according to the word of God.
Pastor Seok-Jeon Yoon
Extracted from Yonsei Newspaper #652
