Dealing with Temptation and Easter
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“We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin.”
-- Hebrews 4:15 (NIRV)
I tend to find myself struggling with the same temptations, but also, since we’re human, there’s bound to be a new temptation that could lead you to sin on every horizon, with every sunrise and each sunset. Whispering, nudging, coaxing, and then watching you fall into sin is the devil’s greatest accomplishment, so he’s hard at work every second to achieve it.
I fail under temptation daily. Actually, I strain under temptation minute by minute! So, I’ve been working through a study on temptation, and it’s caused me to think a lot about that first Good Friday and the Resurrection three days later. Because the very fact that Jesus was tempted in every way, yet did not sin, is foundational to His saving grace. On the Cross, Jesus, having fulfilled the law, provided the path for us to spend eternity with Him. Romans 10:4 (NIRV) says, “Christ has completed the law. So now everyone who believes can be right with God.”
But I think I’ve glossed over this lately. I’ve not basked in full astonishment as I should have about Jesus, the High Priest from Hebrews 4:15, beating temptation His whole earthly life. Can you imagine this? He turned away from temptation every time and, therefore (obviously!), never sinned. This is miraculous! Why isn’t this talked about and studied as much as all His miracles? Especially at Easter. Because there’d be no Easter without Jesus’ conquering of temptation His whole life here. This journey was the very reason the Cross was the Cross! What a marvel! What a thing to praise Him for! And He did this all for us!
I hope this Easter season, we all take time to worship Jesus for defeating temptation once and forever, so that now, we can overcome temptation and sin with His help.
What temptations are you dealing with presently? Go to Jesus, who fully understands, with them and receive the grace He died on the Cross for to give you and the help to beat the next temptation the devil will come knocking with.
Questions for Reflection:
1. To this point, what has been your greatest temptation in life? What have you done to defeat it?
2. What role does your faith play in avoiding temptation on a daily basis?
3. When you consider that Jesus led a sinless life by fending off temptation after temptation, does this give you hope for your own life?
