We begin a new series looking at selected events from the earthly life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, leading up to Good Friday and Easter this year. This sermon looks at the baptism and temptation of the Lord in the wilderness. Both these events further manifest the extent of the Lord’s incarnation. Not only was He born in human form, He readily identified with those whom He came to save through His baptism and temptation. The Lord Jesus stepped into the waters of baptism becoming one with those who come confessing and repenting of their sins fulfilling God’s will. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
The wilderness temptations that the devil brought against Christ put Him in a position to experience the full weight and force of temptation and yet remain without sin. Because of this He is able to fully empathize with us as we face temptation. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
These two events ought to bring us great encouragement in our journey through life knowing that our Lord and Saviour is with us and understands what we face and experience each day.
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