And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me Satan:

for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,

and him only shalt thou serve. Luke 4:8

 

       Before Jesus can begin His ministry of teaching and healing He is led by the spirit into the desert where He spends an intense 40 days. It says He was tempted and did not eat and became hungry. Then Satan asked Him to prove His power by turning a stone into bread and Jesus refused. Later he tempted Jesus’ faith in His Father’s protection and He refused to be let it be tested.

      Sandwiched in the middle of the recorded temptations is the question of loyalty and the desire for fame. Satan has been given dominion over the earth for a time. He would let Jesus have it for the sake of a knee bent in the wrong direction. The devil had to have some nerve or maybe he too had fasted and was having trouble thinking to even believe for a second Jesus would turn His back on His Father.

       Shepherds do not stray but they can be led. It says the Spirit led Him to the desert and He returned to Galilee by the power of the Spirit. He was not alone during His temptation and that temptation proved He was ready for ministry. He would not use His power with reckless abandon or for His own needs. He would worship His Father and not test Him. 

         Satan may’ve thought he was going to get Jesus into a compromising situation. All he did was get Him ready for service. Jesus set the example for us as well. We need to know scripture and worship God alone.

       Get behind me Satan, I can’t hear you when I’m worshipping.