WITHSTANDING THE HIGHEST BIDDER

One wealthy businessman once said that everyone is for sale. That anyone has a certain price and will eventually succumbed to the highest bidder.

Let us revisit the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness after He fasted 40 days before He started His ministry was something worth pondering. We knew that food is vital to human survival and optimal functioning of the human body.  But in the gospel we read that Jesus subjected Himself to such extreme ordeal of fasting in preparation for His short earthly ministry.

Satan was allowed to have his way on Jesus while He was at His most weakened state. The Son of Man was tested in three vital things crucial to man's survival, esteem and preservation.

The first temptation was related to the lust of the flesh or cravings with the basic needs for survival. Jesus was so hungry and at the verge of starvation.

We have known in many documentaries that men will do the unthinkable or result to unreasonable means when at the brink of starvation - like cannibalism or Esau selling his birth right to Jacob. Our Lord never perform a single miracle to help Himself like turning a stone into a cheese burger. He performed miracles always to benefit others.

Second temptation was on the pride of life and all the best this passing world could offer like power, prestige, position and pleasures.

The third temptation concerns about self preservation which Satan uses Scripture against Jesus knowing well that He Himself spoked them. A trick Satan used to persuade Jesus to rescind the plan to offer His life as a sacrifice for mankind's redemption. But Jesus quoted Scriptures or His own words on three occasions and resisted Satan's best offer.

A person will give up anything or retract his word if it will cause him his neck or skin. Jesus resisted all the best Satan could throw at Him and withstand the highest bidder.

So the Lord Jesus encourage us not to lose heart in this life. For He had overcome the world and all its passing pain, pleasures and allure. So we can be with Him for eternity ...

by NeiL ArandA

Reviews

[gabrielle]

I guess, this is what set us apart from the Divine: we have moments of weakness and sometimes we succumb to it.
Minor typo- recind should be rescind.

[NeiL ArandA]

Thanks for leaving your take Gab.