Tested and Faithful

 Jesus in the Wilderness

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, NRSV)

The First Sunday of Lent calls us to reflect on Jesus’ time in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), where He was tested by the devil. Yet this was not the only moment of testing. As the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, Jesus was tested in every way, just as we are, but without sin. This profound truth reassures us that Christ not only understands our struggles but has walked through them Himself.

Jesus, the Tested and Sympathizing Savior

From the moment Jesus was baptized, He encountered trials designed to divert Him from His divine mission. The devil tempted Him—offering bread to satisfy His hunger, dominion to test His humility, and spectacle to challenge His obedience to God. Yet, Jesus did not rely on His own strength but stood firm by anchoring Himself in the Word of God. His response to temptation reveals that Scripture is not merely knowledge but a powerful weapon—“sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12)—able to cut through the enemy’s deception. Just as Jesus wielded the Word to overcome temptation, we are called to do the same, using God’s truth to expose falsehood and protect our hearts.

Henri Nouwen reminds us that “Jesus did not come to prove His divinity but to live fully in His humanity”. He did not avoid suffering but entered into it so that He could stand with us in our own trials. His faithfulness in testing becomes our hope.

Lent: A Time of Strengthening

Lent is a season when we enter the wilderness with Christ. It is a time to face our weaknesses, our desires for control, comfort, and recognition, and to surrender them to God. John Stott reminds us: “Only when we see the depth of our sin do we begin to appreciate the greatness of Christ’s victory over it.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You know the struggles of our hearts. As we walk through this Lenten season, strengthen us against temptation. Teach us to trust Your Word, to lean on Your strength, and to worship God alone. Amen.