Before Jesus started His Public ministry, He was led by the Spirit to the wilderness to be tempted by satan. More than a test for Jesus to see whether He would overcome it,it was to teach us something special that, even He too had fasted and faced temptations.

Lets look at, how Jesus prepared Himself to face the schemes of satan.

Fasting but truly feasting.

Jesus was fasting for all forty days, a separated time to be with God the Father. Thereby He was feasting on Godly presence the key for His victory over satan. Nowadays people fast, but how many really do enjoy the presence of God at those times?. God is not at all interested in us sitting with an empty stomach, struggling to somehow fulfill the vows. If so, we will be wasting our time. Fasting should not be just to abstain from food, but time to be with the Lord. There should be only one desire as we fast and pray. As David says - One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple (Psalms 27:4). God counts that one desire that we have to be with Him more than our desire to forsake food or drinks.

It is then, that He empowers us to stand for Him even when satan comes to us with any kind of juicy temptations, specially formed to make us fall head over the heals. One thing is very sure that even if we take fasting as an option, feasting on Godly presence is not at all an option. That is the only thing that will enable us to stand victorious, defeating satan each moment he approaches us.

While feasting on Godly presence He saw the common man who, when hungry, will stretch his/her hand to the helping hand of satan for food. Indeed Eve did and satan want all the humanity to follow her. He marched ahead to bring a solution to that too. He became hungry.

The Hungry Bread.

When satan encountered Jesus, He was hungry after fasting for forty days and forty nights. The 'True Bread of Life' himself is now hungry. There was no reason for Him to be hungry, but Jesus wanted to show us how satan would come with all kinds of temptation when we are hungry. Also He wanted to show us the way out from similar situations. He became one of us and endured the temptations to teach us the best possible way to resist satan. Being in others position is the best way to teach and influence them. God became man and lived among us.

There can be found some other lessons too, in Jesus overcoming the temptations, other than listening to satan, obeying him or worshiping him. They lie hidden but are to be noted seriously.

Start Doubting?

The more a person makes his steps closer to the Lord, satan aims to bring doubts in him. Jesus was more confirmed of His Sonship and His Mission from God through fasting. Being now a human, Jesus needed that confirmation from the heavenly Father.

Among the three temptations, the first two were aimed at creating "doubt" about the very things God the father had already confirmed. In verses 3 and 6 of Mathew Chapter 4, satan's intention is very clear. By saying "If thou be the Son of God", devil was trying to sow the seed of doubt in Jesus, so that he can kill Him with doubts much earlier than the Roman soldiers would crucify Him and thereby spoiling the whole plan of salvation for mankind.

If we let "doubt" be sown in us and allow it to grow, we will no more be active. Being inactive is not much different from being dead.

Doubt is a good ground for satan to start working in us. In Gen 3:1 satan asked Eve "Did God really say.............?". Israelites doubted if God can provide for them in wilderness and thereafter. So they asked Aaron to make a god for them. Among the twelve chosen to spy the land of Canaan, except Joshua and Caleb all doubted that the hand of God is with them (Numbers 13 & 14). The first king of Israel, Saul doubted the coming of Prophet Samuel for sacrifice (1 Samuel 13). Such doubts were the reason for their fall.

Looking at the lives of Psalmists like David & Asaph, they were tired ,weary and weak when they doubted the presence of God.

When Peter was sinking in the water, Jesus asked "why did you doubt" (Mathew 14: 31). Doubtful minds cannot see the mighty acts of God (Mathew 21:21). And Jesus Himself says in Luke 12:29 ...... neither be ye of doubtful mind. Either doubt and sink to death OR Believe and see how HE holds our hands to victory. Do not doubt even when we do not see the way ahead. Romans 14:23 advises to avoid doubt even in eating. Paul says that one eats without faith (he that doubts) is condemned (Damned-KJV).

Knowing its power, satan wants to create doubt in us in every possible area. God wants us to have faith in Him, without a tint of doubt. If we are following God, follow without doubt. Doubt is from satan and is aimed to destroy us. So NEVER doubt God.

Vain Glory

When Jesus did not doubt in any of the efforts of satan, he tried the next scheme. Thats what satan does to us too. If we start doubting God, he does not need to do anything else, as we will be automatically in his hold. But when satans plans to see us buried under the big tomb of doubt fail, he makes another offer offer of glory to have his hold upon us.

Jesus was taken by satan to the top of a mountain and was shown not just kingdoms, but all the kingdoms with its "glory". All those kingdoms and its glory were offered to Jesus. But Jesus rebuked satan and chased him from there.

Jesus was looking ahead of the glorious future days and satan was trying to get Jesuss focus just on the worldly glory that he had to offer. 2 Thessalonian's 2:10 says He is going to be glorified among His people. John 16:14 says Holy spirit will glorify Him. Acts 3 :13 says God the Father has glorified Him.

When satan offered worldly glory he was making an attempt to grant Jesus a duplicate glory, by which he can block the real glory that Jesus will receive. Jesus is going to sit on the throne of Glory (Mathew 19:28) and satan somehow wanted to stop that.

The moment satan makes this offer, Jesus acts immediately and allows him no more to linger around. When satan approached with "doubt" Jesus was bit mild compared to his approach with the offer of "glory". Moreover, bowing before satan is same as giving him glory. Jeremiah 2:19 says "But my people have traded my glory for empty god-dreams and silly god -schemes" (The Message). God cannot suffer that.

Apostle Paul says that there is a far more exceeding and eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17) ahead and satan will make all the attempts to see that we do not reach the goal. Never accept glory from man and satan. Let glory be to God alone. Chase out all the offers for glory and we will not be in His control. By accepting glory from man or satan we will be in their hold. When we expect others to be thankful to us for the favors we did for them, is it really not a longing to receive glory from them? How much careful we need to be!

If we are in the Boat with Jesus, we never need to "doubt". Times at present may seem to be hopeless, but let us wait. He will lead us to the "Glorious" future.