Author: gregsloop

Matthew 4:1–11 (NKJV, also appearing in Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13)

4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ²And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

After the account of Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. This preparation period was an example to us. Perhaps not everyone needs to fast forty days to get prepared for ministry and calling, but it was part of Jesus’ process. He showed the example of getting the flesh under the control of the Holy…

Matthew 3:1–17 (NKJV, also appearing in Mark 1:2-11; Luke 3:1-22; John 1:19-34)

3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ²and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” ³For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’”

⁴Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him ⁶and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

The work of John the Baptist comes into play here in Matthew 3. He appears on the scene as a wild man, dressed in camel’s hair and eating…

Luke 2:40–52 (NKJV)

40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them…