SDA Sabbath School Lesson 2-Second Quarter 2015-Baptism and the Temptations

[Wally]

 Lesson 2 April 4-10

Baptism and the Temptations

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week's Study: Luke 3:1-14; Rom. 6:1-6; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:5-8; Isa. 14:13-14; Luke 4:9-13.

Memory Text: "And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased"" (Luke 3:22, NKJV).

As we saw last week, Luke provides a list of great historical dignitaries to, we believe, help show that his account of Jesus and John is as real and as historical as these powerful men.

But there's another important reason to mention these mighty men of power and influence. It is to contrast them with the humble man of the wilderness, John the Baptist, God's chosen messenger who was to "prepare the way" for the most significant event in all human history so far: the coming of Jesus, the world's Redeemer. How interesting that God chose not one of the world's "great" men to herald the Messiah but one of the "lowlier" ones instead.

Scholars put all these historic personalities together and give us a date close to A.D. 27 or 28 for the start of ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus. It is within the historical time frame of these Roman Empire luminaries that Jesus was baptized and received the benediction of Heaven that He is God's "beloved Son" (Luke 3:22). Luke establishes this fact right at the outset, even before he presents to his readers the "orderly account" of the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 11.

Sunday April 5

Prepare the Way of the Lord

In Luke 3:1-38, John appears in his unique and crucial role in salvation history. Whatever else one could say about John's preaching, he was not sugarcoating his words in order to please the crowd.

Read Luke 3:1-14. His words are filled with important truths, not just for those within earshot but for all of us. What points in particular can you take from what John is saying here?

Repentance is not just a theoretical notion. It is a way of life. The word comes from the Greek metanoia, which means a change of mind, and this leads to a new life.

To "baptize" means to dip or immerse fully in water. Immersion has a profound meaning. Even before the time of John, the Jews had attached meaning to baptism by immersion. It was a common practice when Gentile proselytes chose to join the Jewish faith.

In inviting Jews to be baptized, John the Baptist was setting forth a new principle: baptism is an occasion to publicly renounce one's old sinful ways and to prepare oneself for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist thus introduced a symbolic act of renunciation of sin and consecration to a new way of life as citizens of the Messianic kingdom, which was about to be inaugurated. John was quick to add that he was baptizing only with water, but the One who was to follow him "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16, NKJV). Thus, a crucial point is made: baptism as an act of immersion in the water is only an outer symbol of an inward change-a change that would eventually be sealed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Read Romans 6:1-6. What spiritual lessons is the apostle Paul drawing out of the act of baptism? Note the comparison he makes between the act of immersion and getting out of the water with dying to sin and living for righteousness. How have you experienced the reality of this new life in Christ?

Monday April 6

"You Are My Beloved Son"

In Luke 2:41-50, we read the famous story of Joseph and Mary losing sight of Jesus in Jerusalem. What's especially fascinating is Jesus' response to Mary when she rebukes Him (Luke 2:48). Jesus' answer is an affirmation of His divine self-consciousness, that He is the Son of God. "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49, NKJV). As the next verse says, Joseph and Mary didn't grasp the implications of what Jesus had said to them. In all fairness, how could they? After all, even the disciples, after years with Jesus, were still not totally certain of who He was and what He was to do.

For example, after His resurrection, Jesus was talking to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. One of them, in referring to Jesus, had said that Jesus "was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people" (Luke 24:19, NKJV). Jesus, of course, was much more than a Prophet. Even then they still didn't grasp who He was and what He had come to do.

Read Matthew 3:13-17, John 1:29-34, and Luke 3:21-22. What is the significance of Jesus' baptism?

At His baptism, Heaven attested that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus sought baptism not because He needed it as part of a postrepentance process but to set an example for others (Matt. 3:14-15). Three important factors stand out concerning the baptism of Jesus: (1) the Baptist's proclamation, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29, NKJV); (2) the Holy Spirit's anointing Him for His mission ahead; (3) the heavenly proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God, in whom the Father is well pleased.

Think about it: the spotless Son of God, the Creator of the cosmos, was baptized by a mere human being, all part of the plan of salvation. How should this amazing condescension on His part help us to be willing to humble ourselves whenever the occasion warrants it?

[Wally]

Tuesday April 7

Not by "Bread Alone"

"Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, . . . was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil" (Luke 4:1-2, NKJV). Born for a God-ordained mission, commissioned to the task at His baptism, equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Christ retreated into the wilderness to contemplate the task ahead.

The temptation in the wilderness was a significant battle between Christ and Satan in the great controversy, which has raged ever since Lucifer's rebellion in heaven. In the wilderness, when the Savior was weak from 40 days of fasting, when the journey ahead looked bleak and weary, Satan took personal command in his attack against Jesus. "Satan saw that he must either conquer or be conquered. The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels. He must personally conduct the warfare."-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 116.

Note what Satan said to Christ: "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread" (Luke 4:3, NKJV). What is Satan trying to do in this account that reflects what he attempted to do in heaven?

Bread is not the central issue here. Yes, the 40-day fasting in the wilderness must have made the Savior hungry, and Satan used that circumstance as bait. But Satan knew that Jesus is the Creator of the universe. To Him who created the universe out of nothing, making bread out of stone was not an issue. The crucial point in the temptation is found in its preface: "If You are the Son of God." Only 40 days before, the voice from heaven attested that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and now should Jesus doubt that heavenly assurance? Doubting God's Word is the first step in yielding to temptation. In heaven Satan challenged the authority of Jesus; he does so here, as well; even if in a much more subtle manner than he tried in heaven.

How can you learn not to succumb to Satan's attempts to get you, as he tries with all of us, to doubt God's promises?

Wednesday April 8

"Worship Me"

Read Luke 4:5-8. Why would Satan want Jesus to worship him? What crucial issue was at stake here?

Worship is the sole prerogative of God. It is the one factor that forever separates the creature from the Creator. One of the issues in Lucifer's rebellion against God in heaven is that of worship. Lucifer's ambition was well summarized by Isaiah 14:13-14: to ascend to heaven, to exalt his throne above the stars of heaven, to be like the Most High. It was an attempt to usurp the authority that belongs only to the Creator and never to any creature, no matter how exalted.

In this context we can better understand what is happening in this temptation. When Jesus was about to set out on His mission to redeem the world back to God's ownership and authority, Satan took Him to the top of a mountain, provided a panoramic view of all the kingdoms, and offered them to Him for a simple act: "If You will worship before me, all will be Yours" (Luke 4:7, NKJV).

Satan was trying to divert Christ's perspective from His divine priority and to entice Him with pomp and glory for no greater price than just a bow. He was trying to get here, again, the authority and worship that he failed to get in heaven.

Notice how Christ dismissed the tempter with utter contempt. "Get behind Me, Satan!" (Luke 4:8, NKJV). Worship, and the service that goes with it, belong to the Creator God alone. Here again the Word of the Lord comes to His help. Did not Inspiration say through Moses, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God . . . You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him" (Deut. 6:4-5, 13, NKJV)? Absolutely resolving to follow God in faith and obedience is the ultimate answer to Satan's lies and tricks.

Any of us can face temptations to compromise our faith, even in "small ways." Your job, your passing of a university examination, your promotion, demands a compromise in regard to Sabbath. At what point can you make a deal? When, if ever, is the price right?

[Wally]

Thursday April 9

Christ the Victor

Luke and Matthew reverse the order of the second and third temptations. The reason is not clear, but that need not detain us. The crucial point is the ultimate victory of Jesus over Satan, proclaimed by both Gospels. The significant factor that emerges from study of the temptations is that Jesus Christ is a real Person-tempted as we are but without sin (Heb. 4:15). With victory in each of the temptations, with His triumph over Satan, with the Word of God in His mouth, and connected with Heaven's powerhouse through prayer, Jesus emerges to proclaim the kingdom of God and to inaugurate the Messianic age.

Read Luke 4:9-13 and Matthew 4:5-7. In the first two temptations, Jesus used the Scripture to overcome Satan's enticements. Now, in the third, Satan does the same and quotes the Scripture to test whether Jesus really takes the Word of God seriously. What is happening here, and how does Jesus respond?

Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, the most sacred place in Jewish history. The city of Zion, the temple where God dwells among His people, becomes the avenue for Satan's confrontation with Jesus. "If you are the Son of God" is once again the preface. Watch what Satan says: If God is indeed your Father, and if your mission is indeed at His bidding, throw yourself down from the pinnacle, and check it out once for all. Surely, if all that is true, God will not let you get hurt. He then quotes Scripture "He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you" (Luke 4:10, NKJV).

Satan knows the Scripture but misinterprets it. His tactic is to lead Jesus to put God to the test. God has indeed promised the protection of His angels, but only within the context of doing His will, such as in the case of Daniel and his companions. Jesus answers Satan decisively again by using Scripture, declaring that it is not for us to put God to the test (Luke 4:12). Our duty is to place ourselves in God's will and let Him do the rest.

Note four major biblical teachings on temptation: (1) No one is free from temptations; (2) when God allows temptations to come to us, He also provides grace to resist and strength to overcome; (3) temptations do not come the same way every time; (4) no one is tempted beyond his or her strength to bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

Friday April 10

Further Study: "If Joseph and Mary had stayed their minds upon God by meditation and prayer, they would have realized the sacredness of their trust, and would not have lost sight of Jesus. By one day's neglect they lost the Saviour; but it cost them three days of anxious search to find Him. So with us; by idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of prayer, we may in one day lose the Saviour's presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to find Him, and regain the peace that we have lost."-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 83.
Discussion Questions:

    Temptation in itself is not sin. In the biblical sense, temptation has the potential to affirm the possibility of holiness. To be tempted is one thing; to fall into sin is another. At the same time, what is our responsibility about doing all that we can even to avoid temptation?

    Philosophers and theologians often talk about what they call a "metanarrative," a grand overarching story or theme in which other stories occur. To put it another way, a metanarrative is the background, the context, in which other stories and events unfold. As Seventh-day Adventists, we see the great controversy as the "metanarrative" or background for what has been happening, not only here on earth, but in heaven, as well. What texts in the Bible show us the reality of the great controversy and how it helps explain what is going on in the world?

    What are some of the most powerful Bible texts that promise us victory over the temptations that come our way? Why, though, even with these promises, is it still so easy to fall?

    One of the lessons this week made the following statement: "Doubting God's Word is the first step in yielding to temptation." Why would that be so?

    In what ways can idolatry be much more subtle than bowing down and worshiping something other than the Lord?

[Richard Myers]

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week's Study: Luke 3:1-14; Rom. 6:1-6; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:5-8; Isa. 14:13-14; Luke 4:9-13.

3:1   Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 
 3:2   Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 
 3:3   And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 
 3:4   As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 
 3:5   Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways [shall be] made smooth; 
 3:6   And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 
 3:7   Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 
 3:8   Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 
 3:9   And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
 3:10   And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 
 3:11   He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 
 3:12   Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 
 3:13   And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 
 3:14   And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse [any] falsely; and be content with your wages. 
 3:15   And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 
 3:16   John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 
 3:17   Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. 
 3:18   And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. 
 3:19   But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 
 3:20   Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. 
 3:21   Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 
 3:22   And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 
 3:23   And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli, 
 3:24   Which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi, which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Janna, which was [the son] of Joseph, 
 3:25   Which was [the son] of Mattathias, which was [the son] of Amos, which was [the son] of Naum, which was [the son] of Esli, which was [the son] of Nagge, 
 3:26   Which was [the son] of Maath, which was [the son] of Mattathias, which was [the son] of Semei, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Juda, 
 3:27   Which was [the son] of Joanna, which was [the son] of Rhesa, which was [the son] of Zorobabel, which was [the son] of Salathiel, which was [the son] of Neri, 
 3:28   Which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Addi, which was [the son] of Cosam, which was [the son] of Elmodam, which was [the son] of Er, 
 3:29   Which was [the son] of Jose, which was [the son] of Eliezer, which was [the son] of Jorim, which was [the son] of Matthat, which was [the son] of Levi, 
 3:30   Which was [the son] of Simeon, which was [the son] of Juda, which was [the son] of Joseph, which was [the son] of Jonan, which was [the son] of Eliakim, 
 3:31   Which was [the son] of Melea, which was [the son] of Menan, which was [the son] of Mattatha, which was [the son] of Nathan, which was [the son] of David, 
 3:32   Which was [the son] of Jesse, which was [the son] of Obed, which was [the son] of Booz, which was [the son] of Salmon, which was [the son] of Naasson, 
 3:33   Which was [the son] of Aminadab, which was [the son] of Aram, which was [the son] of Esrom, which was [the son] of Phares, which was [the son] of Juda, 
 3:34   Which was [the son] of Jacob, which was [the son] of Isaac, which was [the son] of Abraham, which was [the son] of Thara, which was [the son] of Nachor, 
 3:35   Which was [the son] of Saruch, which was [the son] of Ragau, which was [the son] of Phalec, which was [the son] of Heber, which was [the son] of Sala, 
 3:36   Which was [the son] of Cainan, which was [the son] of Arphaxad, which was [the son] of Sem, which was [the son] of Noe, which was [the son] of Lamech, 
 3:37   Which was [the son] of Mathusala, which was [the son] of Enoch, which was [the son] of Jared, which was [the son] of Maleleel, which was [the son] of Cainan, 
 3:38   Which was [the son] of Enos, which was [the son] of Seth, which was [the son] of Adam, which was [the son] of God. 

Memory Text: "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." Luke 3:22.

As we saw last week, Luke provides a list of great historical dignitaries to, we believe, help show that his account of Jesus and John is as real and as historical as these powerful men.

But there's another important reason to mention these mighty men of power and influence. It is to contrast them with the humble man of the wilderness, John the Baptist, God's chosen messenger who was to "prepare the way" for the most significant event in all human history so far: the coming of Jesus, the world's Redeemer. How interesting that God chose not one of the world's "great" men to herald the Messiah but one of the "lowlier" ones instead.

Scholars put all these historic personalities together and give us a date close to A.D. 27 or 28 for the start of ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus. It is within the historical time frame of these Roman Empire luminaries that Jesus was baptized and received the benediction of Heaven that He is God's "beloved Son" (Luke 3:22). Luke establishes this fact right at the outset, even before he presents to his readers the "orderly account" of the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

It is interesting to note that the  voice heard was the voice of our heavenly Father. Sin had separated man from God. Jesus was the connection between man and God. But, there were three times when God the Father communicated to sinful man. Why do you think God chose to speak to humanity at this time?

[Richard Myers]

Sunday April 5

Prepare the Way of the Lord

In Luke 3:1-38, John appears in his unique and crucial role in salvation history. Whatever else one could say about John's preaching, he was not sugarcoating his words in order to please the crowd.

Read Luke 3:1-14. His words are filled with important truths, not just for those within earshot but for all of us. What points in particular can you take from what John is saying here?

Repentance is not just a theoretical notion. It is a way of life. The word comes from the Greek metanoia, which means a change of mind, and this leads to a new life.

Amen! Without true repentance there is no remission of sin. What is true repentance? The man who came to the feast without a wedding garment represents the condition of many in our world today. They profess to be Christians, and lay claim to the blessings and privileges of the gospel; yet they feel no need of a transformation of character. They have never felt true repentance for sin. They do not realize their need of Christ or exercise faith in Him. They have not overcome their hereditary or cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. Yet they think that they are good enough in themselves, and they rest upon their own merits instead of trusting in Christ. Hearers of the word, they come to the banquet, but they have not put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. 
     Many who call themselves Christians are mere human moralists. They have refused the gift which alone could enable them to honor Christ by representing Him to the world. The work of the Holy Spirit is to them a strange work. They are not doers of the word. The heavenly principles that distinguish those who are one with Christ from those who are one with the world have become almost indistinguishable. The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. The church has gone over to the world in transgression of the law, when the world should have come over to the church in obedience to the law. Daily the church is being converted to the world.  COL 315.

To "baptize" means to dip or immerse fully in water. Immersion has a profound meaning. Even before the time of John, the Jews had attached meaning to baptism by immersion. It was a common practice when Gentile proselytes chose to join the Jewish faith.

In inviting Jews to be baptized, John the Baptist was setting forth a new principle: baptism is an occasion to publicly renounce one's old sinful ways and to prepare oneself for the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist thus introduced a symbolic act of renunciation of sin and consecration to a new way of life as citizens of the Messianic kingdom, which was about to be inaugurated. John was quick to add that he was baptizing only with water, but the One who was to follow him "shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Luke 3:16. Thus, a crucial point is made: baptism as an act of immersion in the water is only an outer symbol of an inward change-a change that would eventually be sealed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is a symbol of a change that has already occurred.   It represents the transformation that took place when we made a full surrender to Jesus. This needs to be clearly understood so that none will believe they are converted by baptism, but by death to self. Unless we are born again of His Spirit, we are not  to be baptized. When we go under the water, it represents the old man being buried (dying to self) and when he comes out of the water, he is a new man in Christ Jesus. Sadly, many are buried alive, they did not die to self. They were not fully surrendered to Jesus, self did not die. It is not something new  in the church. It has been going  on for a very long time. "The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.  Vol. 6 Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary; pg. 1075.

Read Romans 6:1-6.

 6:1   What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 
 6:2   God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 
 6:3   Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 
 6:4   Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 
 6:5   For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection: 
 6:6   Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Amen!!

What spiritual lessons is the apostle Paul drawing out of the act of baptism? Note the comparison he makes between the act of immersion and getting out of the water with dying to sin and living for righteousness. How have you experienced the reality of this new life in Christ?

Generally if one has truly been converted, born again, because of the lack  of proper teaching on conversion, the new convert does not maintain the experience, for he does not understand his  continual need of Jesus to remain dead to self. Many  do not understand they cannot overcome sin unless filled with the Spirit of God. If we do not have His Spirit, we are none of His (Romans 8:9.) Others do not understand that sin reveals a separation between man and God. They have been taught that one can sin a known sin  and still retain eternal  life. In other words, they do not believe the wages of one sin is death.

Do you really believe that when  you are in a converted state, the "old man" is crucified?

[Richard Myers]

Monday April 6

"You Are My Beloved Son"

In Luke 2:41-50, we read the famous story of Joseph and Mary losing sight of Jesus in Jerusalem. What's especially fascinating is Jesus' response to Mary when she rebukes Him (Luke 2:48). Jesus' answer is an affirmation of His divine self-consciousness, that He is the Son of God. "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" Luke 2:49. As the next verse says, Joseph and Mary didn't grasp the implications of what Jesus had said to them. In all fairness, how could they? After all, even the disciples, after years with Jesus, were still not totally certain of who He was and what He was to do.

Mary and Joseph knew who He was and so did the disciples, even Judas. The problem with Mary  and the disciples was that they at times let their minds wander away from Jesus. They lost their connection and "unbelief" took possession of their minds. The "old man" revived and they lost their faith. What, has this never happened to you? You never take your eyes off of Jesus? What happens when you separate from God? Where is your  power to resist sin? It  is only in Christ, and if He  is not in you, if you are not a partaker of His divine nature, then there is no power to keep from sinning. 

Let's take a look at the lesson in this situation when Mary and Joseph lost sight of Jesus. They were careless and forgot about Him and then blamed Jesus for their lack of faithfulness in watching over Him. "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." Luke 2:48. When we take our eyes off of Jesus, it is not always easy to find Him again. It took Mary and Joseph three days to find Him after they lost sight of Him. It is not safe to let our minds wander away from Jesus. We see this happening to the disciples throughout the three and a half years they were with Jesus.

We have another object lesson of this principle when Peter was walking on water. Poor Peter did not know of His continual need of Jesus. The only way  he could get out of the boat and walk  on that raging sea was to trust fully in Jesus. As long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus, he walked on water. Have you ever had this experience of Jesus keeping you afloat in this world of sin? And what happens when you take your mind off of Jesus? Where is the peace that passes all understanding then? The moment Peter looked back at the disciples he lost his connection with Christ. His trust failed him and he fell into the sea.

Here  is something very important for us to understand. When Peter fell, it was because of not believing what Jesus said. He did not trust Jesus to keep him from falling. What happens next is a theological truth that many do not understand. Peter was separated from Jesus when he fell, or else he would not have fallen. He was not abiding in Christ, nor was Christ in Him. Then when he was in the  water, where was Jesus? Did Jesus forsake Peter? No, Jesus does not leave us when  we sin. Then  where is He? He  is waiting for us to call out to Him. He does not stand idly, He calls us back to Himself. He knocks on the door of the heart wanting back in. When Peter cried out "Lord save me", Jesus reached out a helping hand and saved him from certain death. This is what we must do when we find that we have taken our eyes off of Jesus. We ought not make excuses as did Mary when she blamed Jesus. It  is our failure, not God's. Jesus loves us and is drawing all men unto Himself.....even after we sin!

For example, after His resurrection, Jesus was talking to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. One of them, in referring to Jesus, had said that Jesus "was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." Luke 24:19. Jesus, of course, was much more than a Prophet. Even then they still didn't grasp who He was and what He had come to do.

It is true that they did not know who He was and what He had come to do. The leaders of Israel had perverted the gospel of grace. Even John the Baptist did not know that the  "Lamb of God" had to die. That is why Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to Jerusalem where He was to be killed. After three and a half years, they did not know that the "Lamb" had to die...even after Jesus told them He was going to die. This is the sure result of false teachings in the church. Do we want to know the truth, or will we be satisfied with the  false gospels  being taught to us? Will we search the Scriptures to know the truth for ourselves? If not,  then how can we be saved?

But, Mary and the disciples all knew Jesus was the Son of God. "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God....Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matt. 16:16, 20-23.        

Read

Matthew 3:13-17
 3:13   Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 
 3:14   But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 
 3:15   And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 
 3:16   And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 
 3:17   And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

John 1:29-34
 1:29   The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 
 1:30   This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 
 1:31   And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 
 1:32   And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 
 1:33   And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 
 1:34   And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

Luke 3:21-22.
 3:21   Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 
 3:22   And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 

What is the significance of Jesus' baptism?

Jesus wanted us to be baptized. Why. Baptism is only a symbol of a change that has already taken place in the heart of the repentant  sinner. Does Jesus want us  to understand what conversion really is? I think so. That is why He consented to be baptized. It is important that we die to self and live unto Christ. He wants us to let Him take possession of our hearts. Then we become partakers of His divine nature and escape the corruption that is in our flesh and in the world. Do you believe this? If you have truly experienced the new birth, do you understand that we must be converted daily? Paul put it this way "I die daily". Moment by moment we must remain surrendered to Jesus.

At His baptism, Heaven attested that Jesus is the Son of God.

Yes,  the voice of God testified that Jesus was His Son. And, Peter, James, and John heard this testimony from God Himself three times. So, then why is it that they denied Jesus, forsook Jesus, and did not believe He was the Son of God when He hung on the cross? There is no greater sin than "unbelief". When we take our eyes off of Jesus and put them on the things of this world, unbelief will take possession of the mind and we shall lose our hold on God.

Jesus sought baptism not because He needed it as part of a postrepentance process but to set an example for others (Matt. 3:14-15). Three important factors stand out concerning the baptism of Jesus: (1) the Baptist's proclamation, "Behold! The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world!" John 1:29. (2) the Holy Spirit's anointing Him for His mission ahead; (3) the heavenly proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God, in whom the Father is well pleased.

Think about it: the spotless Son of God, the Creator of the cosmos, was baptized by a mere human being, all part of the plan of salvation. How should this amazing condescension on His part help us to be willing to humble ourselves whenever the occasion warrants it?

It is an amazing thing to comprehend the condescension of Christ. Yes, He was baptized, but let us look for a moment at something much more revealing about the condescension of our Lord. It is the most beautiful and moving truth I have ever read. If this does not humble us, then what could?

     The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden "the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God." Romans 11:33. We marvel at the Saviour's sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.   
     Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.
     The heart of the human father yearns over his son. He looks into the face of his little child, and trembles at the thought of life's peril. He longs to shield his dear one from Satan's power, to hold him back from temptation and conflict. To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little ones. "Herein is love." Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth!  

[Dorine]

Why do you think God chose to speak to humanity at this time?

When Jesus was baptised Satan was present. He saw the lightnings flash and heard the majestic voice of the heavenly Father proclaiming Jesus as His Son. The whole scene left no doubt as to who Jesus was. Now Satan knew that from now on his power would be limited and that heaven was more accessible to man than He had ever been. This aroused the most intense hatred in Satan toward Christ.  No wonder his temptations towards Christ were so intense. He was going to do all he good to bring Christ down.

[Richard Myers]

Amen!!  This was the first of three times that God communicated directly with sinful humanity with an audible voice. There was a "great controversy" taking place. The deceptions were great within the world and within Israel itself. We think of the truth that was revealed to an impenitent nation, and to the  disciples who were often discouraged and persecuted for their belief that Jesus was the Son of God. But, Dorine brings out the truth that this voice of God proclaiming Jesus to be His Son was also something that strengthened Jesus when He was under great trial. When was the audible statement made by our heavenly Father such an encouragement to Jesus?

[Richard Myers]

Tuesday April 7

Not by "Bread Alone"


 4:1   And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 
 4:2   Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 
 4:3   And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 
 4:4   And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 
 4:5   And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 
 4:6   And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 
 4:7   If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 
 4:8   And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 
 4:9   And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 
 4:10   For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 
 4:11   And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
 4:12   And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 
 4:13   And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 
 4:14   And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 
 4:15   And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 
 4:16   And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 
 4:17   And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 
 4:18   The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 
 4:19   To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 
 4:20   And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 
 4:21   And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 
 4:22   And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 
 4:23   And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 
 4:24   And he said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 
 4:25   But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 
 4:26   But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, [a city] of Sidon, unto a woman [that was] a widow. 
 4:27   And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 
 4:28   And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 
 4:29   And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. 
 4:30   But he passing through the midst of them went his way, 
 4:31   And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 
 4:32   And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. 
 4:33   And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 
 4:34   Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, [thou] Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 
 4:35   And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 
 4:36   And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word [is] this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 
 4:37   And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. 
 4:38   And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 
 4:39   And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. 
 4:40   Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 
 4:41   And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking [them] suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. 
 4:42   And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. 
 4:43   And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 
 4:44   And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. 
 

"And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,    Being forty days tempted of the devil...." Luke 4:1-2. Born for a God-ordained mission, commissioned to the task at His baptism, equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Christ retreated into the wilderness to contemplate the task ahead.

The temptation in the wilderness was a significant battle between Christ and Satan in the great controversy, which has raged ever since Lucifer's rebellion in heaven. In the wilderness, when the Savior was weak from 40 days of fasting, when the journey ahead looked bleak and weary, Satan took personal command in his attack against Jesus. "Satan saw that he must either conquer or be conquered. The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels. He must personally conduct the warfare."-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 116.

Note what Satan said to Christ: " If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread." Luke 4:3. What is Satan trying to do in this account that reflects what he attempted to do in heaven?

Bread is not the central issue here. Yes, the 40-day fasting in the wilderness must have made the Savior hungry, and Satan used that circumstance as bait. But Satan knew that Jesus is the Creator of the universe. To Him who created the universe out of nothing, making bread out of stone was not an issue. The crucial point in the temptation is found in its preface: "If thou be the Son of God." Only 40 days before, the voice from heaven attested that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and now should Jesus doubt that heavenly assurance? Doubting God's Word is the first step in yielding to temptation. In heaven Satan challenged the authority of Jesus; he does so here, as well; even if in a much more subtle manner than he tried in heaven.

How can you learn not to succumb to Satan's attempts to get you, as he tries with all of us, to doubt God's promises?

How can we learn not to sin? It is said that practice makes perfect. And, there  is some truth in this. But, when  we read Romans seven, we learn that we can try and try and try again  and we cannot perfect something we do not have.  We know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." 7:14-21. By nature we are evil and can do no good thing.

Then "how can you learn not to succumb to Satan?" Read carefully what the Spirit of God inspired Paul to tell us.

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.    For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Romans 8:5-14.

Is this not what Jesus told Nicodemus after He told Him he needed to be converted? "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:5-7.

Some think and teach that it is within man to do good, but this is not true. Until we make a full surrender to Jesus, we can do no good thing. We are evil by nature and must be born again of God's Spirit. Then we become partakers of God's divine nature. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. Do you believe God's promises? If not, then you need to be born  again. And that brings to mind the question "What must I do to be born again?"

When we began this quarter's lessons, I said that I would post all of the verses in Luke. That often our Sabbath School lessons do not follow the Bible order, but pick and choose what to teach. Human wisdom is used to devise a lesson that follows the  mind of some man or men. But, if we take the Bible as it reads and use that for our Bible study, we will not pass over something God has placed there for our benefit.  We see this in today's lesson. Now, we might say that the truth passed over in today's lesson will be brought up in another lesson, but it is not. How important is the missing verse? How  important is the question we have before us? What must I do in order to be born again so that I will not succumb to Satan's temptations to doubt God's Word? The verse passed over tells us what we must do in order to be converted daily.

So, I ask again, what must we do to have this power to overcome sin? I know there are consecrated Bible students reading. The Spirit of God would have you all share the answer if you know it. Will you leave the blind ignorant of this important truth? If you are not registered, then register so that you can share with us the answer God has entrusted to you.

[Richard Myers]

Wednesday April 8

"Worship Me"

Read Luke 4:5-8.

 4:5   And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
 4:6   And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
 4:7   If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
 4:8   And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

Notice we skipped a verse from yesterday's lesson to today's.

Why would Satan want Jesus to worship him? What crucial issue was at stake here?

Worship is the sole prerogative of God. It is the one factor that forever separates the creature from the Creator. One of the issues in Lucifer's rebellion against God in heaven is that of worship. Lucifer's ambition was well summarized by Isaiah 14:13-14: to ascend to heaven, to exalt his throne above the stars of heaven, to be like the Most High. It was an attempt to usurp the authority that belongs only to the Creator and never to any creature, no matter how exalted.

In this context we can better understand what is happening in this temptation. When Jesus was about to set out on His mission to redeem the world back to God's ownership and authority, Satan took Him to the top of a mountain, provided a panoramic view of all the kingdoms, and offered them to Him for a simple act: "If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine." Luke 4:7.

Satan was trying to divert Christ's perspective from His divine priority and to entice Him with pomp and glory for no greater price than just a bow. He was trying to get here, again, the authority and worship that he failed to get in heaven.

Notice how Christ dismissed the tempter with utter contempt. "Get thee behind Me, Satan!" Luke 4:8. Worship, and the service that goes with it, belong to the Creator God alone. Here again the Word of the Lord comes to His help. Did not Inspiration say through Moses, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him"? Deut. 6:4-5, 13.  Absolutely resolving to follow God in faith and obedience is the ultimate answer to Satan's lies and tricks.

Yes, resolving to follow God  is what we must do, but our promises are as ropes of sand unless we first do something else. Romans seven has revealed that we cannot do that which is not in us to do. It  is a foundational truth that we are evil by nature and apart from God we have no power to keep our promises to Him.

Any of us can face temptations to compromise our faith, even in "small ways." Your job, your passing of a university examination, your promotion, demands a compromise in regard to Sabbath. At what point can you make a deal? When, if ever, is the price right?

Where is the heart? Is it given to Christ, or do we retain an evil sin polluted heart? Has the mind  been renewed in holiness or do we still have the "carnal mind" of a sinner? Paul admonishes us "let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5. Jesus inspired Ezekiel to reveal His promise to us: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."  Ezekiel 36:25-27.

Without a new heart, without being filled with His Spirit, without abiding in Christ and He in us, we cannot help but sin. It is who we are apart from Christ. Yes, we may resist the temptation to do an exam on the  Sabbath, or the temptation to steal money from the bank, but self remains  alive and well unless we are fully surrendered to Jesus.

We all face temptations daily. God lets them come that we might know who it  is that has the heart. If we sin, it is because we do not have Jesus. Until we learn this truth, we shall remain an unrepentant  sinner who loves the things of this world more than God. It need not be this way. Jesus says "Come unto Me and I will give you rest." He says to us "If  you want to have physical life, eat bread, but if you want to have spiritual life, then you must feed upon Me." The Word of God is a revelation of Jesus Christ. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:14. "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."

[Richard Myers]

Before we leave Wednesday's lesson, I would like to address Luke 4:8. "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan..." This was not the only time we have heard Jesus using this very same phrase. How is  it that He would speak these very same words to Peter. "But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan..." Mark 8:33.

This is very revealing when we consider when it was said.  Jesus and the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem where Jesus, the "Lamb of God" was to be crucified. After three and a half years of being taught by the Son of God, a Teacher as no other, they did not understand that the Lamb must die. As with many in the church today who do not understand the gospel of grace, so it was in their day, they had been deceived by their teachers. They did not understand justification by faith, they did not know their continual need of Jesus. Here they were on their way to His great sacrifice for them, and they knew it not. He attempted to unfold the truth, but it was not a pleasant time for his disciples.

The disciples were still far from understanding Christ's mission. The opposition and misrepresentation of the priests and rulers, while it could not turn them away from Christ, still caused them great perplexity. They did not see their way clearly. The influence of their early training, the teaching of the rabbis, the power of tradition, still intercepted their view of truth. From time to time precious rays of light from Jesus shone upon them, yet often they were like men groping among shadows. But on this day, before they were brought face to face with the great trial of their faith, the Holy Spirit rested upon them in power. For a little time their eyes were turned away from "the things which are seen," to behold "the things which are not seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18. Beneath the guise of humanity they discerned the glory of the Son of God.  DA 412.

Peter loved Jesus, but he did not receive the truth from the lips of Jesus.

     Hitherto He had refrained from making known to them anything relative to His sufferings and death. In His conversation with Nicodemus He had said, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15. But the disciples did not hear this, and had they heard, would not have understood. But now they have been with Jesus, listening to His words, beholding His works, until, notwithstanding the humility of His surroundings, and the opposition of priests and people, they can join in the testimony of Peter, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Now the time has come for the veil that hides the future to be withdrawn. "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." 
     Speechless with grief and amazement, the disciples listened. Christ had accepted Peter's acknowledgment of Him as the Son of God; and now His words pointing to His suffering and death seemed incomprehensible. Peter could not keep silent. He laid hold upon his Master, as if to draw Him back from His impending doom, exclaiming, "Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee." 
     Peter loved his Lord; but Jesus did not commend him for thus manifesting the desire to shield Him from suffering. Peter's words were not such as would be a help and solace to Jesus in the great trial before Him. They were not in harmony with God's purpose of grace toward a lost world, nor with the lesson of self-sacrifice that Jesus had come to teach by His own example. Peter did not desire to see the cross in the work of Christ. The impression which his words would make was directly opposed to that which Christ desired to make on the minds of His followers, and the Saviour was moved to utter one of the sternest rebukes that ever fell from His lips: "Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." 
     Satan was trying to discourage Jesus, and turn Him from His mission; and Peter, in his blind love, was giving voice to the temptation. The prince of evil was the author of the thought. His instigation was behind that impulsive appeal. In the wilderness, Satan had offered Christ the dominion of the world on condition of forsaking the path of humiliation and sacrifice. Now he was presenting the same temptation to the disciple of Christ. He was seeking to fix Peter's gaze upon the earthly glory, that he might not behold the cross to which Jesus desired to turn his eyes. And through Peter, Satan was again pressing the temptation upon Jesus. But the Saviour heeded it not; His thought was for His disciple. Satan had interposed between Peter and his Master, that the heart of the disciple might not be touched at the vision of Christ's humiliation for him. The words of Christ were spoken, not to Peter, but to the one who was trying to separate him from his Redeemer. "Get thee behind Me, Satan." No longer interpose between Me and My erring servant. Let Me come face to face with Peter, that I may reveal to him the mystery of My love. 
     It was to Peter a bitter lesson, and one which he learned but slowly, that the path of Christ on earth lay through agony and humiliation. The disciple shrank from fellowship with his Lord in suffering. But in the heat of the furnace fire he was to learn its blessing. Long afterward, when his active form was bowed with the burden of years and labors, he wrote, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12, 13. 
     Jesus now explained to His disciples that His own life of self-abnegation was an example of what theirs should be. Calling about Him, with the disciples, the people who had been lingering near, He said, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." The cross was associated with the power of Rome. It was the instrument of the most cruel and humiliating form of death. The lowest criminals were required to bear the cross to the place of execution; and often as it was about to be laid upon their shoulders, they resisted with desperate violence, until they were overpowered, and the instrument of torture was bound upon them. But Jesus bade His followers take up the cross and bear it after Him. To the disciples His words, though dimly comprehended, pointed to their submission to the most bitter humiliation,--submission even unto death for the sake of Christ. No more complete self-surrender could the Saviour's words have pictured. But all this He had accepted for them. Jesus did not count heaven a place to be desired while we were lost. He left the heavenly courts for a life of reproach and insult, and a death of shame. He who was rich in heaven's priceless treasure, became poor, that through His poverty we might be rich. We are to follow in the path He trod. 
     Love for souls for whom Christ died means crucifixion of self. He who is a child of God should henceforth look upon himself as a link in the chain let down to save the world, one with Christ in His plan of mercy, going forth with Him to seek and save the lost. The Christian is ever to realize that he has consecrated himself to God, and that in character he is to reveal Christ to the world.

The disciples of Jesus were not prepared for what was soon to come. But, soon thereafter they understood and accomplished the work set before them. How is it with us today? Do we understand the power of God's grace to cause us to walk in the path of self-sacrifice? Are we willing to reveal the character of Christ that the  world might see Him in us? God has a church as it was in their day, in need of revival and reformation. Here is God's promise through the prophet Ezekiel to you and me, and His church. 

 36:23   And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 
 36:25   Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 
 36:26   A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 
 36:27   And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them]. 

We shall not walk in His statutes and keep His judgments unless we have made a full surrender and are filled with His Spirit. We must have new pure hearts cleansed from sin and selfishness. We must be sprinkled with the clean water of His Truth. Then the heathen shall know that there is a God in heaven, when we shall be sanctified, made holy, before their eyes.  Let us not have to be rebuked as was Peter because we do not understand our continual need of Jesus and therefore continue to bring reproach upon His holy  name in the presence of the heathen in this fallen world. This is a daily matter. As the Apostle Paul said "I die daily." If we will behold His love, if we will spend a thoughtful hour each day contemplating the life of Jesus, we shall be changed in character to reflect His image from glory unto to glory (2 Cor. 3:18).

[Richard Myers]

Thursday April 9

Christ the Victor

Luke and Matthew reverse the order of the second and third temptations. The reason is not clear, but that need not detain us. The crucial point is the ultimate victory of Jesus over Satan, proclaimed by both Gospels. The significant factor that emerges from study of the temptations is that Jesus Christ is a real Person-tempted as we are but without sin (Heb. 4:15). With victory in each of the temptations, with His triumph over Satan, with the Word of God in His mouth, and connected with Heaven's powerhouse through prayer, Jesus emerges to proclaim the kingdom of God and to inaugurate the Messianic age.

Read Luke 4:9-13 and Matthew 4:5-7.

 4:9   And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
 4:10   For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
 4:11   And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
 4:12   And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
 4:13   And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 

 4:5   Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 
 4:6   And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
 4:7   Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 

In the first two temptations, Jesus used the Scripture to overcome Satan's enticements. Now, in the third, Satan does the same and quotes the Scripture to test whether Jesus really takes the Word of God seriously. What is happening here, and how does Jesus respond?

Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, the most sacred place in Jewish history. The city of Zion, the temple where God dwells among His people, becomes the avenue for Satan's confrontation with Jesus. "If you are the Son of God" is once again the preface. Watch what Satan says: If God is indeed your Father, and if your mission is indeed at His bidding, throw yourself down from the pinnacle, and check it out once for all. Surely, if all that is true, God will not let you get hurt. He then quotes Scripture "He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee" (Luke 4:10).

Satan knows the Scripture but misinterprets it. His tactic is to lead Jesus to put God to the test. God has indeed promised the protection of His angels, but only within the context of doing His will, such as in the case of Daniel and his companions. Jesus answers Satan decisively again by using Scripture, declaring that it is not for us to put God to the test (Luke 4:12). Our duty is to place ourselves in God's will and let Him do the rest.

Note four major biblical teachings on temptation: (1) No one is free from temptations; (2) when God allows temptations to come to us, He also provides grace to resist and strength to overcome; (3) temptations do not come the same way every time; (4) no one is tempted beyond his or her strength to bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

Yes, God allows temptations to come to us for our good and His glory. But, it does not always work out for our good and His glory. Why not? Because if we sin, it is not for our good and His glory. The author of our lesson correctly states "when God allows temptations to come to us, He also provides grace to resist and strength to overcome." Then why do we see Seventh-day Adventists sinning?  And, does not this verse tell us that God will not suffer us to be tempted beyond what we can bear? "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

The lesson plainly states "no one is tempted beyond his or her strength to bear." Does God's promise fail when you sin? God's promises never fail. Then some one of our Bible students tell us why a Seventh-day Adventist or any  professing Christian would sin in the light of God's promise. The answer is very revealing and separates the gospel of grace from the multitude of false gospels being taught from our pulpits and in material coming off our presses. The lesson states "Satan knows the Scripture but misinterprets it." So we see it in the church  leading many away from seeing their continual need of Jesus.

[Richard Myers]

Friday April 10

Further Study: "If Joseph and Mary had stayed their minds upon God by meditation and prayer, they would have realized the sacredness of their trust, and would not have lost sight of Jesus. By one day's neglect they lost the Saviour; but it cost them three days of anxious search to find Him. So with us; by idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of prayer, we may in one day lose the Saviour's presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to find Him, and regain the peace that we have lost."-Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 83.

Amen!  We discussed this in Monday's lesson. Here we have inspired counsel that will help us to become more consistent in our relationship with Jesus. There is an underlying principle involved. Remember the verse in  Luke chapter four I  commented on, that it was left  out of this week's lesson. What was that  verse and  what does it have to  do with this principle that is so important to our salvation?

Discussion Questions:

    Temptation in itself is not sin. In the biblical sense, temptation has the potential to affirm the possibility of holiness. To be tempted is one thing; to fall into sin is another. At the same time, what is our responsibility about doing all that we can even to avoid temptation?

    Philosophers and theologians often talk about what they call a "metanarrative," a grand overarching story or theme in which other stories occur. To put it another way, a metanarrative is the background, the context, in which other stories and events unfold. As Seventh-day Adventists, we see the great controversy as the "metanarrative" or background for what has been happening, not only here on earth, but in heaven, as well. What texts in the Bible show us the reality of the great controversy and how it helps explain what is going on in the world?

    What are some of the most powerful Bible texts that promise us victory over the temptations that come our way?

We just discussed the  very promise that says God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. While there are other promises of victory over sin, we need to get the bottom of why it is that we sin in light of this very pointed promise. All of the other promises are based upon the very same principle. Share some that are precious to you, that encourage you.

Why, though, even with these promises, is it still so easy to fall?

Sinning comes easier to some  than others. Why is this so? We look at Daniel, Moses, and  Job and find that unlike many, they proved that sinning was not a habit in their lives. Why was it not "easy" for them to sin? Can we learn from their experience? We are further removed from holiness after six thousand years. Does that mean we cannot maintain a character such as these men? If we can, explain why it is possible for us even though we are so very far down the scale in regards to character. After all, look at our size compared  to those who lived before the flood! 

    One of the lessons this week made the following statement: "Doubting God's Word is the first step in yielding to temptation." Why would that be so?

There is no greater sin than "unbelief". Many do not believe this, but all one has to do is follow the mantra of the typical Evangelical. Their hue and cry is "just believe". Well....how can one believe and have "unbelief" at the same time? The Bible says "the devils also believe and tremble."  James 2:19. Doubting reveals "unbelief", it is sin.

    In what ways can idolatry be much more subtle than bowing down and worshiping something other than the Lord?

Idolatry is when we place anything above God.  Give some examples that you have seen in your life where temptations would lead you away from Christ. What keeps you from yielding to these temptations and making an idol in your life?

[Richard Myers]

Are we followers of God as dear children? or are we servants of the prince of darkness? Are we worshipers of Jehovah, or of Baal? of the living God, or of idols? No outward shrines may be visible, there may be no image for the eye to rest upon; yet we may be practising idolatry. It is as easy to make an idol of cherished ideas or objects as to fashion gods of wood or stone. Thousands have a false conception of God and his attributes. They are as verily serving a false god as were the servants of Baal. God is a God of truth. Justice and mercy are the attributes of his throne. He is a God of love, of pity, and tender compassion. Thus he is represented in his Son, our Saviour. He is a God of patience and long-suffering. If such is the being whom we adore, and whose character we are seeking to imitate, we are worshiping the true God.

If we are following Christ, his merits, imputed to us, come up before the Father as sweet odor. And the graces of our Saviour's character, implanted in our hearts, will shed around us a precious fragrance. The spirit of love, meekness, and forbearance, pervading our life, will have power to soften and subdue hard hearts, and win to Christ bitter opposers of the faith.......

There is a great work to do; and the Spirit of the living God must enter into the living messenger, that the truth may go with power. Without the Holy Spirit, without the breath of God, there is torpidity of conscience, loss of spiritual life. Unless there is genuine conversion of the soul to God; unless the vital breath of God quickens the soul to spiritual life; unless the professors of truth are actuated by heaven-born principles, they are not born of the incorruptible seed, which liveth and abideth forever. Unless they trust in the righteousness of Christ as their only security; unless they copy his character, labor in his spirit, they are naked; they have not on the robe of righteousness. The dead are often made to pass for the living; for those who are working out what they term salvation after their own ideas, have not God working in them to will and to do of his good pleasure.  The Review and Herald,  December 3, 1908.

[colporteur]

Tuesday's Lesson "Not By Bread Alone."


Interesting that they quote part of Luke 4:4 but not the punch line. That's because the punch line, the entire meaning of the verse is left off in the modern translations.


Two of our class members said that John was a bit odd. Part of the reason was he ate grasshoppers. People need to read the SOP more.

[Richard Myers]

That is interesting, cp. What does 4:4 look like in the modern "bibles"?

[ranger]

New International Version
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'"

[Richard Myers]

Thank  you, Ranger.  This is why we remove all references to the new "bibles" in the lesson. It is not that all the verses are incorrect translations, but we do not want to give any influence to these "bibles". There is enough wrong to mislead those seeking truth. 

[colporteur]

Lesson on Sabbath    third paragraph
Scholars put all these historic personalities together and give us a date close to A.D. 27 or 28 for the start of ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus. It is within the historical time frame of these Roman Empire luminaries that Jesus was baptized and received the benediction of Heaven that He is God's "beloved Son" (Luke 3:22). Luke establishes this fact right at the outset, even before he presents to his readers the "orderly account" of the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.


Since when are we at the mercy of "scholars" to give us a date  "close to A.D. 27 or 28" for the start of the ministry of Jesus?  Have we not a time prophecy that supersedes  what any scholar says? My complaint is the impression is left that we are leaning on scholars as the authority with not a mention of Scripture.

Why did not the author say that "we have a time prophecy in Daniel that gives us the date of the anointing of Jesus. All of these historic personalities center around this date."

[Wally]

I saw that and wondered if the author even looked at the SDA Bible Commentary or the SOP.  Ellen White is pretty clear on the date of 27 AD, and so is the Commentary.  There really isn't much wiggle room.