He heals, He delivers, He preaches and teaches.
Luke 4 marks the powerful beginning of Jesus’ public ministry after His baptism and wilderness temptation. He heals, delivers, preaches, and teaches, demonstrating His divine authority and purpose.
This chapter, with its 44 verses, is packed with significant stories, including:
- Satan Tempts Jesus
- Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry
- Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
- Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit
- Peter’s Mother-in-Law is Healed
- Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset
- Jesus Preaches in Galilee
Encouraging Verse: Luke 4:8
“And Jesus replied to him, Get behind Me, Satan! It is written, You shall do homage to and worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.” – AMPC
The Context
Luke 4 starts with an unexpected moment: Jesus, freshly baptized and filled with the Spirit, is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to fast for 40 days and confront the devil. Imagine that!
Jesus resists three temptations:
- Command this stone to become bread. (Luke 4:3)
- Worship Satan for all the kingdoms of the world. (Luke 4:5-8)
- Throw yourself down to test God’s protection. (Luke 4:9-12)
What stands out is how Jesus responds to each temptation: not with physical might, dramatic displays, or even angelic reinforcements—but simply with the power of the Word.
After resisting the devil, Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and His ministry begins to flourish. “Then news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.” (Luke 4:14)
My Thoughts
I love how Jesus dealt with these temptations. He didn’t ignore the devil or engage in any unnecessary theatrics. Instead, He wielded the Word of God with precision and power.
Take the first temptation: after 40 days of fasting, Jesus was humanly famished—His body screaming for nourishment. Could He have turned stone into bread? Of course! He later turned water into wine, multiplied loaves and fishes, and even walked on water. But here, He chooses obedience over fleshly cravings, demonstrating His reliance on the Father rather than His divine abilities.
In the second temptation, Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. How could Satan offer this? While the earth belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1), the systems of the world are under Satan’s influence (John 14:30). Yet Jesus doesn’t fall for it. Instead, He declares, “It is written…” quoting from Deuteronomy 6:13.
What amazes me is that Jesus didn’t rely solely on His deity to resist temptation. Even though He was God in the flesh, He was also fully human, and He leaned on the Scriptures He had studied since childhood. Remember Luke 2:46-47? At age 12, Jesus was found in the temple courts, “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” Surely, this wasn’t a one-time occurrence. It’s likely He continued studying the Word diligently, which is why He could respond instantly and confidently during His wilderness testing.
One final observation: the devil also quoted Scripture! (Luke 4:10-11) This reminds us of his cunning ability to twist God’s Word. He knows the Word and uses it to deceive, which is why we must know it too—accurately and deeply!
Practical Application
- Study the Word: If Jesus studied Scripture, how much more should we? Knowing God’s Word equips us to recognize deception and overcome temptation.
- Know Your Authority: Jesus knew who He was, which is why He could boldly rebuke Satan. As believers, we must embrace our identity in Christ and the authority He has given us (Luke 10:19).
- Worship God Alone: Modern idols might not look like golden calves, but they can take the form of relationships, hobbies, or even technology. Worship and serve YHWH Elohim—the Most High God—and Him alone!
Your Turn 😊
What did you take away from Luke 4?
How can you apply Jesus’ responses to temptation in your life?
Do you have a favorite verse or story from this chapter?
Let’s grow together—share your thoughts!
Peace & Love,
Coach D
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