**The Temptation of Jesus by the Devil - Jesus' College Entrance Exam Luke 4:1-13**
(go to Chinese 华文 text)The college entrance exams in China have recently ended. The temptation of Jesus by the Devil was Jesus' college entrance exam. After graduating, Jesus proclaimed in verse 18, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
When I first read about the temptation of Jesus, I thought Jesus was being foolish—why not just turn the stones into bread and shut the Devil's mouth? Little did I know, if Jesus had done that, he would have fallen into the trap. Jesus would have established his identity based on external proof, and he would have been under the Devil's control everywhere. Just like us, we often let our surroundings and circumstances dictate our emotions, causing us to doubt God and even complain to God. So, what does Jesus' temptation teach us?
**The First Temptation - Proof of Identity**
1. **Identity** - "If you are the Son of God..." The Devil's first move is to make us doubt our identity...
2. **Method** - After doubt comes the demand for proof; the Devil provides a method—turning stones into bread.
3. **Enticement** - Using what we need the most, what is most attractive to us, to lure us. After fasting for 40 days, what Jesus needed most was bread to fill his hungry stomach.
Teaching 1: Our identity cannot be proven by external factors. Jesus teaches us to recognize our identity according to the Scriptures—we are children created and loved by God. Our lives are not just about eating but about living according to God's word and standards.
**The Second Temptation - Distortion and Misuse of God's Word
(according to Matthew's sequence; Luke is the third)**
Since Jesus used Scripture, the Devil also used Scripture to tempt Jesus.
Teaching 2: We must act according to God's word and trust in it. We should not interpret and apply Scripture according to our own ideas. God is our Lord, not our slave to fulfill our desires.
**The Third Temptation - Taking Shortcuts**
Jesus' glory and position required him to walk the difficult path of the cross. The Devil wanted Jesus to take an easier and quicker path—worshipping the Devil. Jesus chose to walk the path of suffering that God had planned for him, which was necessary and the path to victory. Jesus defeated the Devil through the cross.
Teaching 3: We should trust in God's calling and plan, follow God's guidance, not fear difficulties, refrain from complaining, have faith, hold onto hope, and joyfully walk the path God has given us.
Chinese Version:
魔鬼试探耶稣 - 耶稣的高考 路加4：1-13
中国的高考最近结束了。魔鬼试探耶稣是耶稣的高考。耶稣毕业后就宣扬v18“主的灵在我身上，因为他膏我去传福音给贫穷的人，差遣我去宣告被掳的得释放，瞎眼的得看见，受压制的得自由， 19 又宣告主悦纳人的禧年。”
早期读到耶稣的试探时，觉得耶稣很傻，把石头变成面包不就得了。把魔鬼的嘴巴堵住。
殊不知 如果耶稣那样做就中计了。耶稣把自己的身份建立在外在的证明。处处要受魔鬼的控制了。就像我们一样，处处都让我们的环境和遭遇左右我们的心情。让我们怀疑神，甚至抱怨神。那耶稣的试探是给我们什么的教导呢？
第一个试探是 - 身份的证明
1. 身份 - 如果你是神的儿子。。。魔鬼的第一招就是要我们怀疑，怀疑我们的身份。。。
2. 方法 - 怀疑之后 就要证明，魔鬼就出方法，照他的方法，把石头变面包。
3. 引诱 - 用我们最需要的，最有吸引的，来引诱我们。禁食40天，最需要的就是面包来填满饿肚子了。
教导 1：我们的身份不可用外在的因素来证明。耶稣教我们要照圣经的话来认知我们的身份---神所创造和所爱的孩子。我们的生活，不只是吃，而是要照神的话语和标准来活。
第二个试探是 - 神话语的歪曲和滥用（照马太的次序，路加是第三）
耶稣既然用圣经，魔鬼也用圣经来试探耶稣。
教导 2：我们要照神的话做，要信靠神的话。而不是照自己的意念来解经和应用。神是我们的主。神不是我们的奴隶来满足我们的欲望。
第三个试探是 - 走捷径
耶稣的荣耀和地位是要走过十字架的苦难的路。魔鬼要耶稣用更快更容易的方法 - 敬拜魔鬼。
耶稣要走神为他安排的苦难，但那是必要，是得成功的道路。耶稣就是借着十字架打败了魔鬼
歌罗西2：15 他既然靠着十字架胜过了一切执政掌权的，废除了他们的权势，就在凯旋的行列中，把他们公开示众。
教导 3：我们要信靠神的呼召和计划，按照神的带领，不怕困难，没有怨言，有信心，有盼望，带着喜乐的走神给我们的路。
Your analogy of Jesus' temptations
as a "college entrance exam" is both creative and theologically
insightful! This framework makes profound spiritual truths relatable to
contemporary struggles, especially within educational cultures that value
testing. Let's explore your analysis point by point, adding some complementary
thoughts:
Key Insights from Your Analysis:
- The "Exam" Purpose
Just as gaokao(Chinese Higher (University Entrance) Exam) determines university placement, Jesus' wilderness testing proved His readiness for Messianic ministry. Passing this "exam" equipped Him to proclaim Luke 4:18-19 with authority. Had He failed, His mission would have been compromised. - First Temptation: Identity Crisis
Your observation about Satan attacking identity is spot-on. The devil’s "If you are the Son of God..." (Luke 4:3) parallels how we’re tempted to base our worth on: - Academic scores
- Job titles
- Social approval
Jesus’ response reaffirms: True identity rests in God’s Word, not external validation (Deut. 8:3). Bread sustains the body, but obedience to God sustains eternity. - Second Temptation: Distorting Scripture
Satan’s misuse of Psalm 91:11-12 (Luke 4:9-11) exposes a deadly trap: twisting God’s promises to justify reckless choices. This mirrors those who: - Use "God told me..." to bypass wisdom
- Demand miraculous "proof" to believe
Jesus’ rebuttal (Deut. 6:16) reminds us: Faith never manipulates God. Trust follows His character, not our presumptions. - Third Temptation: The Shortcut Lie
Satan’s offer of "all kingdoms" (Luke 4:5-7) reveals his core strategy: trading eternal purpose for temporary gain. This echoes modern temptations like: - Cheating to pass exams
- Compromising integrity for promotions
Jesus’ rejection (Deut. 6:13) shows: True victory requires costly obedience. The cross seemed like failure—yet it became God’s triumph.
Three Life-Changing Lessons:
|
Temptation |
Satan’s Lie |
Jesus’ Truth |
Our Application |
|
Identity |
"Prove yourself" |
"I am defined by God’s
Word" |
Reject performance-based worth;
rest in being God’s child |
|
Scripture |
"God owes you a sign" |
"God is not our
servant" |
Study Scripture holistically;
avoid cherry-picking verses |
|
Shortcut |
"Gain without pain" |
"Obedience >
Outcomes" |
Embrace God’s timing; reject
compromise for quick wins |
Why Your Analogy Resonates:
- Gaokao Parallel: Just as exams test years of
preparation, Jesus’ 40-day fast prepared Him for this spiritual battle.
His "graduation" (Luke 4:14-15) launched a ministry that
transformed history.
- Modern Relevance: Young believers facing
academic/career pressures feel this tension: "Should
I compromise to succeed?" Jesus’ example answers: Your
calling is greater than convenience.
- Ultimate Victory: Satan’s offer of "all
kingdoms" was a fraud—he didn’t own them (Psalm 24:1). Jesus later
declared, "All authority is given to Me" (Matt. 28:18)—earned
through obedience, not compromise.
One Refinement:
While your comparison is powerful,
remember: Jesus’ testing wasn’t pass/fail but proving.
His victory was certain (He is the Word made flesh—John 1:14),
yet He endured temptation to fully sympathize with us (Hebrews 4:15). Unlike
exams, our worth isn’t on the line—it’s secured by His perfect score on our
behalf.
In essence: You’ve
brilliantly reframed this epic spiritual battle as a roadmap for our daily
struggles. When Satan whispers, "If you’re God’s child, why
struggle? Take the easy way!"—We now stand armed with Jesus’
playbook: Truth over bread, trust over testing, worship over
compromise. 那美好的仗，你已看明如何打！(You’ve
seen how to fight the good fight!) 🙏
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