GROW STUDY

Life of Jesus

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

Pictures and maps are by Dr. Terry Hulbert and

used with permission.

Scriptures are from the New International Version

and the New American Standard Version.

Historical background from Alfred Edersheim.

44

The Wilderness

of Judea

“Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the

kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matt 3:1,2).

24

John appeared “out of nowhere” in the same manner Elijah had long ago

and he was dressed in prophet’s garb.

The Davidic Kingdom was in such a low state of disarray that any

announcement that “the Kingdom” had come would cause a stir.

The Jews viewed themselves as “in” the Kingdom of God because of their

relationship to Abraham and all Gentiles were considered “outside” of

God’s Kingdom.

John the Baptist’s Ministry “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

24, 25

ALL

Israel

All Gentiles:

“dogs”

All Gentiles:

“dogs”

Edersheim p. 188:

“No principle was more fully established in the popular

conviction than that all Israel had part in the world to come,

and this, specifically, because of their connection with

Abraham. Abraham was represented as sitting at the gate

of Gehenna, to deliver any Israelite who otherwise might

have been consigned to its terrors. In fact, by their descent

from Abraham, all the children of Israel were nobles,

infinitely higher than any proselytes.” Never before had it

been proposed that Israel should undergo a ‘baptism of

repentance.’

By coming to be baptized, they were admitting they were as unclean as

Gentiles and strangers to God’s kingdom. There was ONE WAY to

prepare for entry into this Holy Kingdom for the Jew and for the Gentile: to

be cleansed, as demonstrated in the waters of the Jordan, as Namaan, the

leper, had illustrated over 800 years earlier. (note: this isn’t the same as

believer’s baptism)

Matthew 3:7-12

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his

baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee

from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do

not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I

tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that

does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me

is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize

you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and

he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the

chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

John the Baptist’s Message

"You are sinners and are not ready for Christ's

Kingdom."

"Repent”* of your sins and your dependence on your

Abrahamic heritage and religious rituals."

"Produce evidence of a real change of heart."

"Submit to baptism" (as though a Gentile converting to

Judaism) to demonstrate your changed citizenship.

25

(Matt 3:7-12; Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:7-18)

*“Repent Gk. metanoeo = “change of mind,” (not “penance”)

The eastern part of the Roman road

from Jerusalem where it emerges

from Wadi Qilt near Jericho

Jericho

Jerusalem

Mt. Nebo

Lower Jordan Valley

SAMARIA

JUDEA

PEREA

E

Priests, Levites and Pharisees

descend from Jerusalem to

investigate John the Baptist.

Wadi

Qelt

Bethany

Beyond

Jordan Dead Sea

Judean

Wilderness

29

Priests and Levites investigate!

“All Jerusalem was going out”! (News of John’s

preaching and baptizing had reached Jerusalem.)

“The kingdom is here”! (Had Messiah appeared down

there at the Jordan?)

“John is immersing Jews like converting Gentiles!”

“Is he ‘cleansing’ people in the Jordan River as Elisha

did with Naaman the leper?” (2 Kngs 5)

29

Excitement! Expectation!

Who knew who Jesus of Nazareth was

when He came to John’s baptizing?

Mary (Joseph had died.)

Zacharias and Elizabeth? (They had died.)

Simeon and Anna? (They had died.)

The Magi? (They had returned to Mesopotamia.)

The teachers when Jesus 12? (Not aware of His identity)

Nazareth? (No known awareness of His Messiahship)

He learned and worked at Joseph’s trade.

He was just the eldest of His “brothers and sisters.”

He gave no indication of His supernatural person and powers.

They knew Him only as a toddler and a teenager.

Area people (e.g. Nathanael) appeared to be unaware of Him.

30

Jesus’ Baptism

It made Him officially known to Israel. It was public. (John 1:34)

Jesus was clean already but was willing to be

identified with and thought of as a sinner. (Heb 2:16-17)

The Father authenticated Jesus as His Son,

confirming his deity. It was ‘dramatic.’ (Matt 3:17)

The Spirit descended like a dove as Jesus was

praying and identified Him to John as the Messiah. It

marked His empowering by the Holy Spirit for the

specific Messianic ministry ahead. (John 1:32,33)

It “fulfilled all righteousness.” (Matt 3:15)

27

Jericho

Jerusalem

Bethany

Beyond

Jordan

Plains

of Moab

Mt. Nebo

Lower Jordan Valley

E

After His baptism, Jesus ascends

into the wilderness of Judea

to be tested by Satan.

Dead Sea

Judean

Wilderness

28

The Wilderness

of Judea

“The Spirit led Him into the

wilderness to be tempted.”

What is the Wilderness?

A time of God-initiated trials that brings His people to a point

of neediness in order to

• Teach about Himself

• Develop trust in Him

• Equip one in their role in God’s kingdom

God initiated the testing

“Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1).”

“And immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12).

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit . . . was led about by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Luke 4:1).

28

44The Wilderness

of Judea

“And after forty days and forty

nights, He became hungry.”

Jericho

Jerusalem

Plains

of Moab

Mt. Nebo

Lower Jordan Valley

SAMARIA

JUDEA

PEREA

E

Jesus responded to Satan’s three

tests by quoting scriptures from

the book of Deuteronomy, spoken

by Moses on the Plains of Moab

across the Jordan River.

Wadi

Qelt

Bethany

Beyond

Jordan Dead Sea

Judean

Wilderness

29

Temptation hooks into something we want and nags at us

until we give in and sin. Being grievously tempted is not

the same as grievously sinning. Sin is called deceptive

because

It promises something it does not deliver.

Only God keeps His promises.

Temptation Difficulty Action “Another time”

Stones into

bread

Test #1: Food Test

“God isn’t going to

provide what I need. I

must take matters into

my own hands and get

it myself.”

Deut. 8:3 “Man does

not live on bread

alone, but on every

word that comes from

the mouth of the

Lord.”

Samaritan woman.

The disciples had

forgotten to bring

bread.

Feeding 5000.

Temptation Difficulty Action “Another time”

Stones into

bread

Test #1: Food Test

“God isn’t going to

provide what I need. I

must take matters into

my own hands and get

it myself.”

Deut. 8:3 “Man does

not live on bread

alone, but on every

word that comes from

the mouth of the

Lord.”

Samaritan woman.

The disciples had

forgotten to bring

bread.

Feeding 5000.

Jump from

Temple Mount

Recognition.

“You are doing

something great and

everyone needs to

know who you are!”

You are being

misunderstood.

Deut. 6:16 “Do not

put the Lord your

God to the test.”

Pharisees ask for a

sign. John 7:2-4

Jesus’ brothers said

to him, “No one who

wants to become a

public figure acts in

secret.”

Temptation Difficulty Action “Another time”

Stones into

bread

Test #1 Food Test

“God isn’t going to

provide what I need. I

must take matters into

my own hands and get

it myself.”

Deut. 8:3 “Man does

not live on bread

alone, but on every

word that comes from

the mouth of the

Lord.”

Samaritan woman.

The disciples had

forgotten to bring

bread.

Feeding 5000.

Jump from

Temple Mount

Recognition.

“You are doing

something great and

everyone needs to

know who you are!”

You are being

misunderstood.

Deut. 6:16 “Do not

put the Lord your

God to the test.”

John 7:2-4

Jesus’ brothers said

to him, “No one who

wants to become a

public figure acts in

secret.”

All Kingdoms of

the world

It was promised to Him

by rights—Psalm 2.

Didn’t have to WAIT or

go to the Cross and

endure suffering.

Deut. 6:13 “Worship

the Lord your God

and serve Him only.”

Peter’s rebuke.

Move to make him

king.

Triumphal Entry.

Greeks seek Him.

Temptation never finds us when we are strong, but waits

for that opportunity of weakness: when we are tired,

hungry, lonely, fearful, discouraged—and then it can

come through family or even a trusted friend.

Jesus told us to pray against temptation:

“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

He told His disciples to “watch and pray that you enter not

into temptation.”

Pictures and maps are by Dr. Terry Hulbert and are

used with permission.

Scriptures are from the New International Version

and the New American Standard Version.

Historical background is also from Life and Times

of Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim.

Arrangement and teaching is by Leiann Walther.