This mesmerizing painting is called “The Temptation in the Wilderness” by Briton Riviere.

I found this painting on a blog written by a young man who is a minister and earning his doctorate in theology and whose writings I’ve come to love. 

I had NEVER imagined Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness like it’s depicted here . . . all inside His Holy Head.  

BEAUTIFUL!

If the Devil just popped up in front of you . . . like I’d always imagined that he did to Jesus following Christ’s forty days of fasting in the wilderness after His Baptism because I’d always seen it depicted like that . . . then THAT would be startingly horrific at first but then actually quite easy really to resist the Tempter because the jig is up.

If there’s a Satan, then there must be a Father God, even if we can’t see Him!  

But if the Devil whispers from inside your human mind, “IF you ARE the Son of God . . . ” then the evil thoughts feel more welcoming . . . more at home . . . more right.

Don’t they?

According to Luke’s Gospel, Satan first tempted Jesus to misuse His power to satisfy Himself.

Then failing in that, the Devil tempted Jesus to just kill Himself.

Failing that, the Evil One tempted Jesus to become in an instant everything He was incarnated to be . . . but without His Cross . . . if only Jesus would worship The Father of Lies. 

Satan didn’t tempt the DIVINE Jesus because God CAN’T be tempted.  

Satan tempted the HUMAN Jesus Who overcame that Devil with His Own Holy Word which He had committed to memory as a boy and all throughout his life.

I’ve just made my A.D. 2023 New Year’s Resolution . . . to be more like Jesus by hiding as much of His Word as I can inside my head and my heart!

May it be so, Lord Jesus . . . may it be so!