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When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him (Luke 4:13-15).

Let\u2019s begin the week with another mediation on the devil tempting Jesus. We hope you have found the reflections on this story helpful for your faith.

You may recall that Luke begins his account with the phrase, \u201cJesus, full of the Holy Spirit\u2026\u201d Now he writes, \u201cJesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit\u2026\u201d Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he instructed his followers with these words, \u201cI am going to send you what my father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high\u201d (Luke 24:48). Clearly, this is a reference to the Holy Spirit.

From Luke\u2019s gospel we can deduce that the life of Christian discipleship is lived under two powerful forces: the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures. We have already noted that Jesus resists each temptation with scripture. It is a simple but powerful resistance. Let us all follow his example with confidence, for there will be no freedom from temptation in this life.

Luke points out that Satan finished these temptations but hung around in the background waiting for other opportune times to re-engage. We know he is hanging around us too, for Peter writes, \u201cBe alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour\u201d (1 Peter 5:8).

As we have seen, Satan tempted Jesus\u2019 regarding his status as the unique Son of God. He wanted to derail Jesus from the road of redemption he was traveling. We will be tempted in different ways, in places which matter most in our life and vocation. It is important for us to learn to recognize the voices that whisper attractive lies, to distinguish them from the voice of God.

Some of us will do anything for love, others for power, others for material wealth. There are other weak points we might have. We need to know them. And we need to know the scriptures that fill the emptiness within. Then we need to trust that the Holy Spirit will recall those scriptures to our minds when temptations come. Recite them to the devil.

We cannot avoid being tested in this life. How we response to them is our concern. Do we react in a way that looks to God to guide us through it? Do we trust him? Do struggles make us angry? Do we seek to reassert our control? Or do we rest in faith, looking for God\u2019s hand, and asking him what we should learn from these experiences?

Luke tells us this story to show that the central conflict for Jesus and for us is against the devil. He was beaten, Jesus did not yield. Again and again, Satan would come with temptation. Each time Jesus resisted. Until, on the eve of the crucifixion, in that hour when darkness reigned (Luke 22:53) Jesus wrestled in Gethsemane. Satan attacked Him with all the power and savagery of hell in a desperate attempt to overcome Him. It was a last-ditch demonic effort, but Jesus triumphed over all the power of darkness in His death on the cross and confirmed His victory through his resurrection and ascension.

Jesus resisted to the very end. He walked the full hellish road of redemption for us. Let us thank God that our Redeemer, even under the most adverse circumstances, both spiritual and physical, emerged from the conflict as the spotless and Holy One, as triumphant Conqueror. He won for us. Through him we also conquer.

In Hebrews we read, \u201cFor we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are\u2014yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God\u2019s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need\u201d (4:15-16). Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.