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3: The devil always begins by casting doubt upon the situation. He questions facts that God has already stated. Remember, the Father had just said that Jesus was his beloved Son. Now the devil questions that.
The second element of the temptation is also among the tempter’s chief practices. He hit Jesus’ weakest point. Jesus was hungry. Hunger would be foreign to the pre-incarnate Christ. Thus, Jesus was not simply more hungry than he had been in his life. He was more hungry than he had been ever, in all eternity.
Therefore, Jesus was put to it with one of the devil’s oldest tricks. He tells one that God does not have our needs in mind. He questions God’s care for us. He casts doubt on our perception of our relationship with God. On the one hand, if Jesus could not make the stones into bread, he must not be God’s Son. On the other, if he was the Son of God, why would God leave him so hungry. It was meant to be a logical sticking point to trap Jesus in his thinking.
It would have been wrong for Jesus to do so. He never used his power for his own personal gain. He was on earth to serve, not to be served. If God had specifically led him to be hungry, he was meant to be hungry.

Personal Journal Entry #12121
Prayer Journal Entry #12121
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 21:1-23:27
Praise Journal Entry #12081: Heavenly Father, I thank You for telling us about Jesus’ victory over Satan in this passage. It gives us such hope for victory over his temptations. We must not feel that we cannot resist him, for we surely can in Your strength. Thank You for that, it makes life so much better. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

2: This situation was specifically selected by the Father. The Spirit led Christ into this forty-day fast to show it as a time of testing. The number forty is sometimes associated with testing in Scripture. Also, fasting is a spiritual activity, which illustrates one’s focus on God as our source of strength. Forty days of fasting would be considered even by the self-righteous as a sufficient period. Elijah fasted for forty days on his way to Mt  Horeb. Although in his case, God had fed him a special meal that surely helped out with the fasting.
It should be said here that fasting does not need to include deprivation of water. It has already been proven that a human being cannot go that long without water. Nothing in the passage is saying that Jesus went without water, just food. This does not mean that God could not have supernaturally caused Jesus to be able to go without water, especially since he is the Son of God. However, this seems unlikely and unnecessary.

Personal Journal Entry #12120
Prayer Journal Entry #12120
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 18:1-20:21
Praise Journal Entry #12080: Heavenly Father, thank You for Christ’s example. It is so much better to have him to compare ourselves to. He is the perfect One. It is always good to try to emulate him. What an encouragement to do what is right! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

1: It may be wondered here why the Holy Spirit would lead him intentionally to temptation. Two things must be observed, however. First, Jesus temptation was similar to that of Adam and Eve in the garden. The Second Adam was prepared to undergo temptation, and did so without sin. Secondly, by temptation, the Messiah becomes familiar with our trials. None can say that he is unaware of the pressures of Satan’s wiles.

Personal Journal Entry #12119
Prayer Journal Entry #12119
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 15:1-17:41
Praise Journal Entry #12079: Heavenly Father, I pray for a life full of opportunities to lift Christ up. Your plan of salvation through Your Son is so perfect! You always do things the best way. Thank you for freedom from sin as well as forgiveness for it. Your strength in the midst of temptation is the greatest blessing one could wish for. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

16-17: So very much happens in these two verses. Jesus quickly came out of the water and received this heavenly signal, as if he knew it was coming, for surely he did. Here all three persons of the Godhead are plainly seen. Jesus, identified as the Son, the dove, which was the Holy Spirit bodily manifested in the form of a dove, and the Father, who spoke from heaven.
It was surely amazing to John to see the heavens opened. We can only speculate as to how this looked. Either way, the key here is the descent of the Spirit onto Christ. This did a couple of things. For one, it was the sign John was looking for. For another, it fulfilled prophecy. It was expected that the spirit would rest upon the Messiah.
The Father’s words, beyond being of great benefit to those present, and to us so many years later, must have been a comfort to Jesus as well. It is always good to hear from the Father, no matter who you are.

Personal Journal Entry #12118
Prayer Journal Entry #12118
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 12:1-14:29
Praise Journal Entry #12078: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your expressions of love to us. It is altogether amazing that You love us so much. However, I will never complain of it. It is a source of constant joy and strength, as well as a great comfort, to know that You care so much for each of us. The wonder of the fact of Your love is overshadowed only by the quality of Your love. It is so good and genuine, and faithful. I can’t praise you enough for Your unconditional love! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

15: Many, including myself, have wondered along with John about the reasons for Jesus’ baptism. However, the reasons are not immediately obvious because they are so numerous. First, it must be said that there are human reasons, and divine reasons. Since Jesus is both, this is only appropriate.
The primary human reason has to do with the fact that, although Jesus was sinless, he did all that a human under the law would be expected to do. He went the the synagogue, participated in the feasts and sacrifices, paid the temple tax, etc. Thus, his baptism would indicate that John’s baptism should be expected of any obedient Jewish man in that era. Also, humanly speaking, John was his cousin. It would seem only natural for him to want to be blessed as part of his cousin’s ministry. So, humanly speaking, his participation in this baptism was no surprise.
Ont the divine side of things we find even more reasons. First, there is the matter of legitimacy. Much of this has already been pointed out. The baptism of Christ served to highlight the legitimacy of John’s ministry. It gave legitimacy to the ministry of Christ. It was an opportunity for recognition from the Father. It was the point of connection between the Old Testament prophets and the Messiah who was there to inaugurate the New Testament.
Also, divinely speaking, the baptism of Christ identified the Holy One with sinners, whom he had come to save. This is important, and is a theme we see throughout his ministry. His identification with sinners, ministry to sinners, and sacrifice for sinners, makes his life, death, and resurrection more clearly about redemption. Beyond this, his baptism by John prefigures water baptism in the church age. Though John’s baptism was different from present water baptism, Jesus’ baptism shows that it is only different by virtue of time and the events of Jesus’ life. Jesus’ baptism illustrated what would soon happen to Christ, and in him, all who are saved. Baptism today shows what did happen to Christ, and in him, those who are saved. John’s baptism was preparation for what had yet to happen, baptism today is an illustration of what has already occurred.

Personal Journal Entry #12117
Prayer Journal Entry #12117
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 9:1-11:21
Praise Journal Entry #12077: Heavenly Father, Your ways are always the best. Often it is not readily apparent to us that they are so. We see too much with our natural eyes, and not enough with the eyes of faith. May we not miss the path You have so graciously laid out for us because we think we know better. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

14: John recognized his need for Spirit baptism from Christ, even though he was full of the Spirit from birth. If John needed Jesus, no one else could need less. This is a great testimony to John’s ministry. It shows that he understood his place in relation to Christ.

Personal Journal Entry #12116
Prayer Journal Entry #12116
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-8:29
Praise Journal Entry #12076: Heavenly Father, thank You for the examples that we find in Scripture. They are instructive and constructive to us. It is nice to know that others have walked the same path before. Though it makes Your way no more legitimate that it would otherwise be, it brings glory to Your name. You are knowable, and You explain Yourself to us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

13: Jesus did not, obviously, come to John because of a need for repentance. Indeed, the baptism of Christ served as approval for John’s ministry. It showed that the Father approved. Beyond this, it served as a testimony to Christ Jesus, and the legitimacy of his ministry. It was thus the connecting point between the last of the old prophets, and The Prophet, the Messiah of God.

Personal Journal Entry #12115
Prayer Journal Entry #12115
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 3:1-5:27
Praise Journal Entry #12075: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your blessings. Sunday is always a great day. Thank You for constantly being at work in people’s live, drawing them to Yourself. It is great to know that You rejoice over our spiritual growth. It is good to know that You care. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

12: The picture here is of one purging the wheat to remove the straw. Though Jesus is able to do this with all of the world, and he will, this is speaking more specifically of the Jewish nation. This is appropriate, since John’s ministry was concerned solely with the Jews. It served as further warning to the unrepentant.

Personal Journal Entry #12114
Prayer Journal Entry #12114
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 22:1-2 Kings 2:25
Praise Journal Entry #12074: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy. You constantly warn those who are unrepentant. No one will ever stand before You and say that their judgement is unfair. it would be impossible. You give us the chances to repent that we need. You are so just and good! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

11: John baptized as a an outward symbol of a person’s genuine repentance. But, Jesus, the Messiah, brought to us the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is important not to get confused here. There are four different baptisms to get straight. First, there is John’s baptism, which was only to prepare people for Christ. It was temporary and is not in operation today. Second is Spirit baptism. The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. This seals the child of God. Once he resides in us, we cannot lose this baptism. Third, we have what is normally thought of as baptism, baptism by immersion in water. Jesus commanded that Christians be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is a picture of what has happened in the life of the child of God at the moment of salvation. It is not salvation, but it is mandatory. One who claims to be saved, and yet refuses to be baptized, is disobedient, and his faith is suspect. The fourth baptism is that which Jesus will do by fire. This is a reference to the preceding verse. The baptism by fire was John’s way of referring to the impending judgement of the religious leaders (and any else who were non-repentant) by the Messiah.

Personal Journal Entry #12113
Prayer Journal Entry #12113
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29
Praise Journal Entry #12073: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You mean to us. The things that You have provided for us are so wonderful. And, even though sin is in this world, You have made a beautiful plan of salvation to remedy that. Your glory is great. I am overwhelmed when I think of all that You have done just for me, let alone all the world throughout history. You are so kind and loving to us! How can we ever thank You enough? Give me a heart to express Your praises as I should. May our song constantly be Your glory and honor. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

10: This verse, taken in context, is not teaching salvation by works. As John had already said, repentance is the key. However, true repentance will not be forthcoming in the life of one who does not bring forth good works. The works follow the repentance. So, if repentance is not forthcoming, there would be no works to examine. In other words, though good works will be judged to determine rewards, without some good works as a result of true repentance, no works will be considered. The old concept of one’s good works then outweighing one’s bad works is completely false. A change of heart in faith towards the gospel brings salvation and ‘outweighs’ the bad works. Good works after that are simply evidence of the reality of repentance and faith, and will be judged to determine rewards.

Personal Journal Entry #12112
Prayer Journal Entry #12112
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-19:21
Praise Journal Entry #12072: Heavenly Father, thank You for not following man’s ideas, but Your ways. Your plans are so much better. If You judged only on the basis of our works, we would be in a sad case indeed. Thank You for salvation! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.