Temptation is often treated as a moral failure in the church. Scripture treats it differently—as a place of formation.
In this message, Overcoming in the Wilderness, I reflect on Jesus’ temptation in Matthew 4:1–11 and why the wilderness is not a detour from God’s purposes, but often the place where identity, trust, and obedience are clarified.
Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness—not because something has gone wrong, but because something essential is being formed. Later, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus was “tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” Temptation, then, is not sin itself. It is the arena in which faithfulness is practiced.
Sermons often open a door. Formation usually happens afterward—through reflection, conversation, and practice.
For that reason, I’ve prepared study guides, sermon notes, and devotional materials that accompany this message. These resources are offered freely and are suitable for:
If you are interested in how these themes translate into pastoral care and leadership practice, I’ve expanded this reflection in a Pastoral Excellence article:
Matthew 3:1–12 — John the Baptist Prepares the Way
It was a time when religion, even good religion and theology, had become empty ritual for so many. It was a time when many were longing for something authentic in their communities of faith but not finding it.
It was a time when masses of common folks were willing to go outside of the temples, synagogues, and traditional places of worship and religious instruction ti hear an uncredentialed and untitled teacher tell them some raw truth about living faith that actually plays out in lifestyle change while being genuinely and deeply spiritual.
It was something practical and spiritual that John the Baptist referred to when he proclaimed.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: — Matthew 3:11
How did all of those people find John?
After all, he was not in town. On the other hand, if a man is on fire, people will sow up to watch him burn.
We know nothing about his vocal variety, organizational style, or speaking techniques. We do know about his direct approach, willingness to be confrontational, and his core message.
And we know a few things about his appearance and lifestyle.
Matthew 3:1–12, NRSVU
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Jon was fired up and his mission was to get people ready for one who would fire people up from within.
Are you fired up?
I am not talking about hype. Any manipulator skilled in the arts of crowd agitation, emotional maneuvering, and demagoguery can stir up a room of people. I am talking about the divine capacity to bur through the rubble of our lives and ignite us with the energy and the will to change our lives,
Water reminds us of Spirit and of fire. It is a strange paradox, for water often quenches fire. However, firefighters will tell us that there are some fires that not only cannot be quenched by fire but grow with the introduction of water. So, it is with repentance. God observes the intention of our hearts and we long for new life and yearn for change. Jesus is who we need because He has the power to do what water cannot do. The symbolic water of outward repentance signifies the inner fire of new life.
The Son of God is the worthy one. Brother John knew that he was His messenger and that all he did and said was to point the way to Jesus. Though he was as great as any man born of woman, he keenly sensed his comparable unworthiness. Jesus himself would explain that the very least in God’s Kingdom would be greater than the greatest specimen of human nobility.
I like the words to this song popularized by Pat Benataur.
Livin’ with my eyes closed, goin’ day to day
I never knew the difference, I never cared either way
Lookin’ for a reason, searchin’ for a sign
Reachin’ out with both hands, I gotta feel the kick inside
All fired up
Now I believe there comes a time
When everything just falls in line
We live an’ learn from our mistakes
The deepest cuts are healed by faith
The deepest cuts are healed by faith
Ain’t nobody livin’ in a perfect world
And everybody’s out there, cryin’ to be heard
And now I got a new fire, burnin’ in my eyes
Lightin’ up the darkness, movin’ like a meteorite
Songwriters: Patricia Benatar / Myron Grombacher / Kerryn William Tolhurst
All of that was because of the introduction of a new factor in the human experience: the possibility of men and women being completely immersed in the Holy Spirit and fire. Water could demonstrate repentance, but fire would burn away all the remnants of sin through a deep cleansing process within, and the Spirit would empower us to face temptations, trials and challenges with unprecedented energy.
Fire grows under the proper conditions, and it heats everything up. So, it is with those who have been immersed in God’s Spirit. His fire rages within them and brings heat and light to a cold, dark world. It is more than enthusiasm, though it often manifests itself as such. It is more than passion, though it ignites a passion so deep that nothing can douse it. It is more than energy; it is a result of divine energy. It is God’s very presence in our lives.
Like John, we are unworthy, but we are destined for greatness — not of our own making, but of His. His Spirit within fires us up.
The admonition to humility is phrased as a promise. The humble will be exalted. The sanctified irony of the matter is that is exaltation is your motive for being humble, then you are faking it and hypocrisy is the danger you face.
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.
“ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
It is a dark world into which light has come and is coming.
It is estimated that there are anywhere from dozens to over 100 wars being waged right now in the world.
The threat of war is always looming. Bombastic pronouncements accompany our drives to continually arm ourselves for conflict.
We are goading I each other to hating and mistrusting each other.
Madison Avenue nudges us to indulge every one of our desires and to anesthetize every discomfort.
Yet, the sometimes low, soft call continues, “Come.”
You can save your life if you are willing to endure.
Then, you can be part of something that transcends any
vision of grandeur, a new world with new heavens.
As some were admiring the grandeur of one of the
wonders of the world, the Temple of YHWH
in Jerusalem, Jesus drops the microphone, declaring that it will be destroyed.
There are two visions of the world:
1. The one that is and we can see.
2. The one that God sees and is creating.
We re God’s people and we can share God’s vision and
mission for a new world.
Nothing is permanent, it seems, except trouble. Yet, Jesus uses that occasion to teach us a
lesson in endurance.
