Your King Was Tempted, Too

Jesus walked this earth with all the authority of heaven and all the power of the Creator — yet He never used that power for selfish gain. Crowds followed Him everywhere, His name was known throughout the region, and people marveled at His words and works. Leaders sought His counsel, the sick sought His touch, and the curious sought His attention.

With such influence, most men would be tempted to bask in the praise, to let pride swell, or to grasp at earthly power. Many women admired Him, and some undoubtedly tried to capture His personal attention. Yet Jesus never allowed admiration to lure Him into the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life.

He faced every category of temptation that we face — hunger, ambition, desire, pride — but unlike us, He never stumbled. The King humbled Himself enough to “walk in our shoes,” entering fully into our human experience, including its battles against sin’s enticement. Because of this, we can never say to Him, “You don’t know what it’s like to be tempted this way.” He knows. He has been there.

But where every other person has failed, He prevailed. In the wilderness, in the towns, in the quiet moments no one else saw, He resisted every scheme of the devil and every pull of the flesh. His single desire was to please the Father with obedience.

His record still stands:

King Jesus — 1. Devil and Flesh — 0.

King Jesus is your example to follow when the tempter comes calling. Whenever you’re tempted to sin, you can resist the devil as long as your heart stays fixed on the Word of God. When pleasing God is your priority, the enemy will have a hard time getting your flesh to take his bait.