Greetings!  In v. 6 Satan tries to tempt Jesus by quoting Scripture out of context.  Satan tempts Jesus three times, and each time Jesus responds with a proper application of Scripture.  Knowing the Bible is invaluable when we face our own temptations.  God doesn’t tempt us to sin, but He does allow testing in our lives and other people and situations will tempt us.  It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 10:13 –  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The Temptation of Jesus

 1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

 4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

Christians should be in the Word of God daily.  Are you feeling weak?  If so, have you been reading the Bible?  When friends have been reading the Bible regularly I can see it in their words and actions.  The correlation is remarkable. 

 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
   ” ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
      and they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'”

 7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”

Sometimes people test God by saying, “If you do this, I’ll do that . . .”  But God is not a circus animal. 

Fortunately for us, Jesus didn’t take the route of avoiding pain and suffering.  He could have had countless angels protect him at any time, including when He was to be crucified. 

 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

 10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”

 11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus Begins to Preach

 12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
 15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
      the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
      Galilee of the Gentiles—
 16the people living in darkness
      have seen a great light;
   on those living in the land of the shadow of death
      a light has dawned.”

 17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

What a profoundly simple message: Repent.  It means to turn away from our sins and turn to God. It starts there.

When Jesus called his disciples they came immediately.  It is not clear how well they knew him before they were called.

The Calling of the First Disciples

 18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him.

 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Heals the Sick

 23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Jesus healed countless people of serious diseases.  I can’t imagine the liberation someone must feel after living with a disability and having it completely cured.  But I do know what it feels like to be forgiven of my sins and redeemed. 

What passages stood out to you, and why?