In today's session we see the Holy Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness. Why? That question is too difficult for the children to grapple with, but it's an important one for you to settle in your own mind to teach the lesson effectively.

One hint is the forty days Jesus will spend in the wilderness. Now think of Israel's forty years in the wilderness on the way to the promised land, and their trials and sins along the way. Jesus is tested as Israel was. His hunger echoes that of the Israelites (Ex. 16). And note that all Jesus' replies to the devil are quotations from Deuteronomy, which retells the story of Israel's wilderness journey.

The point is this: Jesus, circumcised, bar mitzvahed, and baptized, is the new Israelite, God's new covenant partner. Jesus succeeds where Israel failed, obeys where Israel rebelled. Jesus brings salvation to all, where Israel was unable to secure its own gracious deliverance from Egypt. So we read the story with the story of Israel's wilderness journey in mind.

The very first temptation, like Israel in the wilderness, was hunger. Jesus was fasting for these forty days, and was obviously hungry. "If you're the Son of God . . ." Notice the subtle invitation to prove his true mettle, his divine origin. But even more, "You don't have to slog through life like the rest of humanity, you have the power to feed yourself any time—take this stone, for example."

Jesus' reply to every one of the temptations begins with the words, It is written. Jesus does not fight temptation by sheer willpower or in his own strength. For Jesus, and for us, the secret of fighting temptation is obedience to the word of God. "People do not live by bread alone" (Deut. 8:3, TNIV)

The devil just ups the ante. If physical hunger doesn't do it, maybe the sheer lust for power will. With a vision of all the kingdoms of the world in his eyes, the devil promises that all people everywhere will bow down to him, if Jesus will only bow to the devil.

Jesus replies: "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him'" (Deut. 6:13).

The devil finally catches on. Taking Jesus to a pinnacle of the temple, the devil invites him to jump and soar safely to the ground to the astonishment of the crowds below. He too now adds, "It is written, 'He will command his angels . . . they will lift you up in their hands. . . .'" The devil can use God's Word too, twisted and torn from its context. Jesus answers twisted Scripture with another Word from God that clearly trumps it: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Deut. 6:6).

All in all, Jesus' testing has to do with the question, will he abandon his calling to identify with humanity by walking the path of suffering, or will he make it easy for himself with divine power?

All the temptations we ultimately face are meant to deflect us from the pathways of discipleship into serving our own desires. And the best answer is still, It is written . . .