What is the basic lesson in those desert temptations of Jesus by the devil?
There is a profound lesson for us contained within the experience and example of Jesus, as described by Luke in todays gospel (Luke 4:1-13). He is teaching us about prayer, fasting, temptation, and above all obedience to God. First, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to a place where he could become quiet for prayer and focus on his heavenly Father. Jesus fasted for forty dayswhich in biblical language simply means a long time. The primary purpose of fasting is to free ourselves from the tyranny of material possessions (i.e., food), so that we can recognize and acknowledge our total reliance on God. It also helps us to turn our focus away from Self, and recognize the needs of our fellow human beings. Jesus was tempted three times. The action involving Jesus just prior to todays episode was his baptismat which time he was indentified by his Fathers heavenly voice as the Beloved Son who pleased Him (Luke 3:22, RSV). Immediately thereafter came the triple temptation by the evil onean obviou
