- The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:3-4 – Last Sunday I had the blessing of getting to preach on the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 in John 6. It’s truly a wonderous story, so much so that it’s found in every Gospel, something many stories in Jesus’ life can’t claim. In that story and the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, both have a lack of bread in common. In John 5000 men plus their families had gone a long day without any food and were hungry. In Luke Jesus had been many days in the wilderness with no food and was hungry. Yet notice now the difference between these stories. Jesus used His miraculous powers to multiply the bread and fish to feed all the people, but when alone in the wilderness He didn’t turn stones into bread. He could have, He had the power to easily do such a feat, but He didn’t. Jesus was willing to do for us what He wouldn’t do for Himself. Jesus saw our need, saw our helplessness, and stepped in as a Good Shepherd and took care of us. I hope passages like this can remind us of the true heart of our God. While life certainly does involve hardships and griefs, things that God could remove from our life but doesn’t, let’s remember how God selflessly still takes care of us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3533
- And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. Luke 4:13 – So we have recorded three times Jesus was tempted in this story, but according to this verse Jesus could have been tempted many more times and in many more ways than were written down. And we also see just because the devil left then, he had plans to return and tempt even more. While this can seems scary to think about happening in our life just remember if Jesus could withstand the constant temptations in the wilderness, He can help you withstand your temptations too. Don’t forget Jesus is always with you and the power we see in scripture He still has to the fullest. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 609
- And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21 – Jesus is in the beginning stages of His public ministry and is revealing His powers and authority in many ways. One way was stepping into the synagogue of His hometown and reading scripture for them…then proclaiming the words above. Scripture had been fulfilled in Him that day. Their Savior had come and their liberty was to be found in Him. As we can see, the interaction didn’t end well for Jesus that day, nor did the continuation of such proclamations for it eventually found Him on the cross. As we though settle into Holy Week, these words of Jesus today hit home for me. Scripture has been fulfilled today and they have been fulfilled in Jesus. When on the cross Jesus said “It is finished,” we finally get a fulfillment of the entire law, a fulfillment of the atonement needed for our salvation, and we get a fulfillment of the whole of prophecies surrounding the Messiah in Jesus. We today know that even the prophesies surrounding the resurrection have as well been fulfilled in Jesus. Walk today knowing that what needed to be taken care of and fulfilled in order for you to have life, forgiveness, grace, and salvation has been taken care of and fulfilled. This is why we celebrate Easter. Today, scripture has been fulfilled in our midst, and the end result is eternal life with God the Father…and it’s all because of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2321
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