Why Was Jesus Tempted? – February 23, 2024

Read: Mark 1:12-15

[Jesus] was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.
Mark 1:13

Why Was Jesus Tempted?

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Years ago, when the Union Pacific Railroad was being built, an elaborate bridge was built over a large canyon. Wanting to test the bridge, the builder loaded a train with enough extra cars and cargo to double the normal weight of a train. The train was then driven to the middle of the bridge where it was parked an entire day.

One of the workers asked the builder, “What are you doing? Are you trying to break the bridge?”

“No,” the builder replied, “I’m trying to prove that the bridge won’t break.”

God allowed Jesus to be tempted to prove that he could and would resist all the devil’s temptations. Jesus didn’t break. And that’s important.

It’s important because we definitely do break. Every day the devil tempts us to do bad things—to lie to our parents and teachers, to cheat on tests, to pick on other kids, to whine and complain and worry. And every day, we fall into temptation. We disobey our parents and teachers. We try to get away with the naughty things we know we are not supposed to do.

That’s why it is so important that we see Jesus resisting the devil’s temptations. Jesus did that for us, in our place. Like a substitute teacher takes the place of the regular teacher, Jesus took our place. He always obeyed God perfectly in our place. He never fell into temptation even once in our place. He did not break.

And then he did something amazing. He went to the cross and suffered the punishment we deserve in our place, as our substitute. Because Jesus lived and died as our substitute, we can be sure we are forgiven. Because he lived and died as our substitute, we can be sure we are going to heaven.

When Jesus was tempted in the desert by the devil, he proved that he was a bridge that wouldn’t break. Because he did, you can be sure he has defeated the devil and won for you a place in heaven.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for living and dying as my Savior. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Name two ways the devil tempts you to do bad things?
• When you mess up and do those bad things, why is it so important to think of Jesus as our substitute?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Agree or disagree. A temptation is something that makes you sin.
• Why is it important for us to know that Jesus did not break under the weight of temptation?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Agree or disagree. It was easier for Jesus to resist the devil’s temptations because he is God.
• Agree or disagree. Because Jesus lived and died as our substitute, it doesn’t matter if we fall into temptation.