New Year’s Week – Thursday
He was in all points tempted like as we, yet without sin. – Hebrews 4:15.
After His Baptism, Jesus was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards an hungered. And when the tempter came to Him, he said: ‘If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.’ But He answered and said: ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him: ‘If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down, for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee, and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.’ Jesus said unto him: ‘It is written again, ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God.’ Again the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and saith unto Him: ‘All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.’ Then saith Jesus unto him: ‘Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’ Then the devil leaveth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him” (Matthew 4:1-11).
In and together with our first parents, we were tempted by the devil, and fell into sin. To make restitution for all this, our Savior, being the Substitute of all mankind, was in all points tempted like as we were, yet without sin. In His holy human nature, He truly felt how Satan tempted Him to doubt God, to haughtily tempt God, and to serve the devil in vainglory. But He armed Himself with the Word of God and did not sin – no, not with the faintest thought and desire. Oh, what great comfort this perfect obedience of our Savior gives to us again and again.
Let us continue to believe this priceless truth concerning “The Lord our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).
PRAYER – O my Savior! In Adam and Eve, and in a thousand ways myself, I have fallen into temptation, but Thou hast won the victory over all temptations for me. I must confess that I am a poor, miserable sinner, but Thou art without spot – holy and righteous. Thy righteousness is my righteousness, wherein I confidently stand before God. Most heartily do I give thanks to Thee that Thou hast done this and much more for me, a poor sinner, and so did make amends for my evil condition. Help me by Thy Holy Spirit, working through Thy Word, that, in saving faith, I may always take comfort in this blessed victory by Thee, my dear Savior, and rejoice therein against all terrors of an evil conscience, O dear Lord Jesus, the blessed Conqueror of Satan. Amen.
Chief of sinners though I be, Jesus shed His blood for me; died that I might live on high,
lived that I might never die; as the branch is to the Vine, I am His and He is mine.
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O my Savior, help afford, by Thy Spirit and Thy Word! When my wayward heart would stray,
keep me in the narrow way; grace in time of need supply, while I live and when I die.
Hymn 342, 1 and 5 (TLH)