Episode 114: Luke 4 Part 1 Mountaintops and Valleys

Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River to kick off his pathway to the cross. After he was baptized the Holy Spirit comes down on him in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven gives conformation to what has taken place, "This is My Son in whom I'm well pleased." Immediately, as this mountaintop experience comes to a climax, Jesus is led to the wilderness by the Spirit where he will be tempted by the devil for forty days. The devil uses the same old tricks he used with Adam and Eve: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life but Jesus resists the temptations by using the word of God, "It is written..." Paul talks about Christians putting on the armor of God in Ephesians 6 but it's all defensive! There is only a mention of an offensive weapon--the word of God. But this is all we need for in verse 10 he says we are to "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Without Jesus, we are powerless but with Jesus, we can stand against anything that comes our way!