The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"In All Points Tempted"
Had the Lord Jesus Christ ever sinned, He could not have died on the cross for our sins. He would rather have been required to die for His own.
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4).
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18-19).
No one has ever been tempted like the Lord Jesus. The writer of Hebrews declares that our Savior was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Of no one else can this be said. We each have our flashpoints of temptation, particular to us. The Lord Jesus, however, experienced all, and overcame all. Certainly, this transcends our understanding. How can we comprehend what the God who became man would have known in the myriad challenges He faced? We cannot. We simply know the truth is true: "in all points tempted… yet without sin."
Such a marvel greatly motivates and enhances our appreciation of the Lord Jesus. His earthly life involved a fight from conception to the cross. Moreover, His conflict doubtless occurred on a level and in a measure that transcends anything we have ever known. As in the wilderness temptation, He directly faced Satan himself, something most of us have likely never experienced since the devil is not an omnipresent being (our spiritual challenges more likely involving demonic entities). The stakes were so very high, which surely means our Lord's challenges involved pitched and savage battles that challenged His humanity to its very depths. Consider the wilderness temptation, which took place after forty days of fasting. In that weakened state, our Savior drew "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" thereby overcoming the devil who seemingly possessed every advantage (Matthew 4:1-11; Ephesians 6:17). How often did the Lord Jesus face such challenge? We do not know. Again, we simply know this: "in all points tempted… yet without sin." A wonder indeed, and one that elicits the deepest praise and gratitude for a Lord devoted to both His Father and us.
In Heaven and earth, there is no one like the Lord Jesus. He is the beloved of His Father and the dearest and best of all who trust Him. Eternity will not be long enough to fully fathom the mystery of God… manifest in the flesh" (I Timothy 3:16). Nor will forever fully reveal all that took place in our Lord's lifetime of continual challenge. A great old hymn beautifully depicts such glory, and we close with its splendid and sublime affirmation…
"But none of the ransomed ever knew
how deep were the waters crossed,
nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through,
ere He found His sheep that was lost."
("The Ninety and Nine," Elisabeth Clephane).
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth."
(I Peter 2:21-22)
Weekly Memory Verse
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.
(II Corinthians 2:14)
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