Rescue Me - Notes

The Temptation in the Desert - Luke 4:1-13

1. What are the different ways the devil tested Jesus in the wilderness? The devil offers an unfolding narrative of self-indulgence (make yourself bread from stones), self-aggrandizement (all the nations of the world will belong to you if you worship me), and self-interest (if you are the son of God, cast yourself from the top of the temple).
2. How did Jesus respond. Jesus responds as a student of scripture and relies on scripture to answer the devil’s temptations.
3. Jesus didn’t face these tests on his own power. The text says that Jesus “was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.” What are some ways we experience God’s guiding Spirit in our lives? Inviting God’s Spirit to reshape our inner attitudes, praying scriptures like Galatians 5:22-23, following inner promptings or holy nudges, exercising our unique gifts from the Spirit—such as those mentioned in Romans 12: 6-8, listening to and heeding timely words from others.
4. Jesus’ answer to the devil’s first test is “one does not live by bread alone.” In other words, living is more than satisfying our basic needs or our needs for comfort and security. How does following Jesus invite us into “more and better life than we ever dreamed of”? (see John 10:10)
5. As a final test, the devil uses the promises of supernatural protection in Psalm 91 against Jesus. But Psalm 91 doesn’t promise us a life without trouble (v. 15), does it? With his answer, Jesus invites the devil to join him in trusting God in all things.
6. How do we experience God’s rescue during trouble?
7. Verse 13 closes on this note: “he [the devil] departed from him until an opportune time,” which signals to the reader that more tests are ahead for Jesus. How do tests and temptations take on different forms throughout our lives?
8. Both Jesus and the devil quote Scripture. In response to temptation, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy, but it is not enough to know scripture. The devil, who quotes from Psalm 91, also knows scripture. What are helpful guardrails for us in our use of scripture? Scripture must be read through a “God is love” lens and with an eye to the “love your neighbor as yourself” life envisioned for God’s people. Hearing scripture interpreted by wise preachers and listening to the voices of others in small-group settings are always helpful.
9.  How can you remind yourself and others this coming week of God’s constant and unconditional love?