After Jesus was baptized, God led him into the wilderness. There Jesus wanted to be completely alone with God. He prayed a lot and did not eat anything for forty days. He was very hungry, but he stayed in the desert because God wanted him to.
Then suddenly the devil came to him. The devil wanted Jesus to do something wrong. He said, “If you’re really the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” Jesus was very hungry, but he knew: You don’t just listen to your gut, but above all to God’s word. He said, “Not only bread makes us alive, but also everything God says.”
The devil tried again. He brought Jesus to the highest point of the temple and said: “Jump down! The angels will definitely catch you!” But Jesus shook his head. “I will not challenge God,” he said. “I trust him.”
Then the devil showed Jesus from a high mountain many countries with all their riches. “I give you everything if you worship me,” he said. But Jesus cried, “Go away, Satan! We worship God alone!”
Then the devil had to go away. And immediately angels came to help Jesus. God had strengthened and protected him.
Message of history
Jesus resisted evil because he trusted God. If we know God’s Word and trust Him, He will help us do the right thing!
Bible passage
The story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness can be found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 4, verses 1-11:
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when he had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, say that these stones will become bread.” But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Then the devil took him into the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will give command to his angels because of you, and they will carry you in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Then Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ Again the devil took him up to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and said to him, “I will give you all these things if you fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Depart, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.” Then the devil left him; and behold, angels came to him and ministered to him.”
