Identity & TemptationSample

The First Temptation

The devil says “if you are the son of God.”

Jesus didn’t feel the need to prove his identity to the devil. In Luke 3:22 we see God say to Jesus you are my loved son. Then Luke 3:23-38 examines the genealogy of Jesus which also points directly back to God. It is clear that Jesus is the son of God. The devil throws an ‘if‘ in there as if Jesus' identity hasn't already been established.

Imagine if Jesus wasn't secure in his identity when the devil approached him.

The devil knows that Jesus is the son of God, but he is tempting Jesus to prove it to him. Have you ever been in a space where you felt like you needed to prove yourself to others. Where personally knowing your identity didn't feel like enough, so you took extra steps to ensure the people around you knew your identity as well.

Illustrating proof to the devil has no bearing on whether Jesus is the son of God. The devil's validation or acceptance isn’t required. I don't need to prove that I am the son of God for me to be the son of God.

If God told me I am his son then that’s who I am. It is this security in Jesus' identity that allows him to ignore the devil’s attempt at getting him to prove himself.