“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.”
Luke 4:1-2
These verses mark a major turning point in Jesus’ life. He had just been baptized, the heavens opened, and God’s voice declared, “You are my Son, whom I love.”
Then, we hit verse one of the next chapter, and the scenery shifts from the refreshing waters of the Jordan to the bone-dry heat of the wilderness.
It is easy to assume that when we face “wilderness” seasons—times of loneliness or intense pressure—we must have taken a wrong turn. However, Luke is careful to note that Jesus was “led by the Spirit” into this.
Sometimes, God allows us to enter these challenging circumstances not to punish us, but to prepare us, grow us, or test us. The wilderness is often the laboratory where our faith is strengthened. Before Jesus faced the devil, he was “…full of the Holy Spirit.” God didn’t send him into the fight empty-handed.
This is such a good reminder to all of us: God provides the grace and tools we need before the trial begins. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand” Eph 6:12-13.
Never forget that God is at work and providing for those who are His every day. Often, we can miss seeing His provision in the seemingly small moments of our lives. However, when He brings you through a trial in which you clearly recognize His hand, write it down with the date it occurred. Why? Because the next time you face a trial, you can look back at the “Jordan” moments—the times God obviously showed up—and use that fuel to sustain you.
Luke adds a very human touch at the end of verse two: “He was hungry.” Jesus wasn’t a superhero immune to pain; he felt the gnawing emptiness in his stomach and the mental fatigue of the heat as we would. Although Jesus truly walked through this wilderness experience, it is also a metaphor for our daily walk. The enemy will tempt us, and we need to be prepared to do battle, as he was. Jesus shows us that being full of the Spirit doesn’t mean the absence of struggle—it means having the power to endure it.
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit—which is the word of God” Eph 6:17. Jesus fought Satan with the Word of God, and we, by his example, should be prepared as well. Since we do not have the full knowledge of scripture that Jesus did, how can we be armed with the Word of God in those critical moments? A key weapon in responding to the enemy is the discipline of scripture memory. Just as Jesus had a ready response, we would be wise to do the same.
Knowledge of scripture can be our internal compass, guiding us through the mind field set by Satan. We can start with the simplest verse, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) and go from there. The Bible is full of spiritual tools, and we should equip ourselves with as many as possible.
Prayer: Thank You, Father, for giving us the perfect example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank You that we have Your Word to meditate on whenever we choose. Help us to see the incredible value at our fingertips and empower us to put it to use when faced with the enemy. May we grow in faith and obedience every day, Lord, so we can glorify You with our lives.
