Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;
Jesus – an exact copy of God’s nature – became a man and lived among us. (John 1:14 & Hebrews 1:3) He didn’t just pretend to be human! Then, if Jesus was human, and all of us have sinned, (Isaiah 54:4) why didn’t He sin? Hebrews tells us, He was “tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus Himself begins to reveal that ‘mystery‘ in Mark 7, using a parable of a person eating.
After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the person which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which come out of the person are what defile the person.”
Mark 7:14-15
Later when His disciples asked Him what He meant, He explained, that sin is not an external force that affects us from the outside. “Sin comes out of the hearts of people… All these evil things come from within and defile the person.” (Mark 7:17-23)
The question – why didn’t Jesus sin – can’t be answered simply! If He was sinless just because He was God, then saying, “He was tempted like us” isn’t much of an encouragement, because we AREN’T God! Jesus didn’t sin because He didn’t allow the temptations Satan bombarded Him with come out. That is what He has always wanted from us! “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2 & 1 Peter 1:16)
Paul describes his own struggle with temptation in Romans 7:14-25; concluding in anguish;
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
Romans 7:25
Who will set us free from our struggle with sin? Paul concludes,
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:26
Focusing Jesus is the only way to overcome temptation; but it is NOT a one-time action – we will continue to be tempted until Satan is removed. When we take our focus off Jesus, the sin comes out! Jesus kept His focus on His Father even as He faced death! (Matthew 26:36-44)
Ro’eh HaTov – Good Shepherd – Keep me focused on You when Satan bombards me with temptation.
Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Romans 8:1-2
Freed by Jesus,
Words of Encouragement 