The ministry begins. Matthew 4.

The Temptation by the Devil
Gustave Dore (engraving)

Read Matthew 4 online here.

I'm really tempted to write about Jesus' experience in the wilderness and the tests he had to undergo. One reason that it's appealing to me is that it was while reading through this passage a couple years ago, that the importance of the Old Testament really hit home. What we call the Old Testament was Jesus' text. He knew it thoroughly. It was the foundation for his teaching, and as we'll read in the next chapter, his understanding of its full meaning transcended everyone else's understanding. He came to fulfill its message.

But I'm not gonna go there. Instead, I just want to identify some of the elements of the big picture in this chapter, and then ask a couple of questions that may be useful as you choose what to chew on today after your reading. It helps to have this big picture in mind when you read what we usually call the "Sermon on the Mount." We'll be doing that over the next 3 days.

Here's what happened.

• John came proclaiming a message that God's kingdom was near.


• Jesus came to John and was baptized.


• God's Spirit landed on Jesus.


• That same Spirit then led Jesus into the wilderness for testing.


• Jesus completed the test.


• John was arrested.


• Jesus set up camp in Galilee.


• He began his ministry, preaching the message, "change your hearts and lives, God's kingdom is here."


• Jesus recruited some apprentices -- we call them disciples.


• Jesus continued to preach the good news that God's kingdom had finally come, while healing those who were brought to him.


• The news spread, and Jesus' reputation grew.

This chain of events seems natural, almost inevitable. It makes sense that Jesus didn't compete with John. It makes sense that Jesus would want students once his ministry started. But aren't the linkages interesting? It was John's arrest that cleared the way for Jesus' start. Or how about this? God poured out His Spirit in blessing Jesus as he was baptized, and then that Spirit took Jesus out into the wilderness for testing.

That's a good question to think about today. What is the significance of God's Spirit approving Jesus' baptism, and then immediately leading Jesus into the wilderness? Here are a few others:

What is the "temptation" in each of the tests Satan puts in front of Jesus?

What does it mean to be a "fisher of people?"

Both John and Jesus said "the kingdom of heaven is near." Is it no longer just near, but here? And what, exactly, is the significance of the kingdom of heaven being here?

And here's the question I'm going to chew on today. What does it mean to live by "every word that comes from the mouth of God"?

What struck you today? You can share in the comments.