While discussing the reality of Jesus
being tempted and how it is important to his experience of humanity (cf. Heb
2:17-18), Christadelphian Vic Aucott offered the following insightful commentary:
“Jesus
did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that
any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
(John 2:24, 25)
Jesus
knew what was in man. How did he know? Was it some form of sixth sense, a
telepathy which provided this knowledge? Was it by the power of Spirit, or
similar to the way he read men’s thoughts and hearts even before the words were
spoken out loud, much to the consternation of others? Or was it by his own experience
of the ways of the world; or because he was a man and knew his own self? The
verses above are speaking about the human nature which Jesus shared. He had
personally experienced and been tempted in the same way as all men and women.
So he knew what was in man, because of his own powerful sensations. He knew the
process of enticement and the thinking of human minds. He knew the deviousness
of human hearts. He knew it because his own heart tried to take him there. He
had experienced the process; he had wrestled with the problems, and he came out
victorious.
Because
he was a man, he knew how a man thought, processed information, reacted to
situations. He also knew how much strength and will was needed to overcome his
temptations. He humbly realized, like everybody else, that it was “not in man
that walketh to direct his steps,” but unlike everybody else, he and only he,
was the Son of God. It meant that Jesus’ personal knowledge of human nature
governed his relationship with his fellows, because he knew all the limitations,
weaknesses and lack of resistance. But it also governed his relationship with
his Father, for he knew that here was the only source of comfort and strength
which would assist him to overcome the temptations and maintain his faith, and
so fulfil his work as the Redeemer.
The wilderness
testing was not the only period of trial in his life. The three temptations
were the climax of the forty days in the wilderness. They were typical of what
Jesus endured during the forty days for . . . there would have been some kind
of temptation ongoing during the length of the wilderness period. The three
recorded events might have been the severest tests he endured, and therefore
selected by the Gospel writers to demonstrate that Jesus experienced the worst
there was. He was tempted in all points, and none of us can say we suffer
something the Lord did not.
As we agonise
because of the tests of our faith, integrity and loyalty, so did he. The same
serpentine forces and diabolical impulses that frustrate us also tempted him to
follow his own inclinations—except he did not follow them. He was in total
control of himself, and marvellously overcame them. He could do this because he
was the Son of God, but also because he knew what was in man. Moreover he
constantly remembered what was in man, and to that extent was prepared for the
conflict when the impulses came to him . . .
Jesus’ own
temptations
“Ye are
they which have continued with me in my temptations.” (Luke 22:28)
These
words offer us some answers to the problems of temptation, moreover Jesus’ own
temptations. They are set in the context of verse 24, which describes a sad
episode of group strife as to who was the greatest, and come after a warning of
betrayal and identifying that the betrayer was at the same solemn table. This
was just after they had broken bread together. The unity of the table was
shattered by their serpent-like behaviour. At the very moment when the Lord had
revealed the greatest crisis of his own life, his crucifixion, they argued
about their own importance and put the Lord’s sufferings on hold. How the
disciples’ behaviour must have jarred on the mind of Jesus. He must have been agonizing
to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of God, casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of
God (2 Corinthians 10:5). He knew what was in himself. He then gave the twelve
a lesson in service and humility. They witnessed Jesus as a salve washing their
feet.
Then,
seemingly breaking away from his lesson, he commends them, “for ye are they
which have continued with me in my temptations”. Jesus is saying that the companionship
of the twelve had been a great support and comfort to him during the ministry.
Whilst it was true there had been fallings out and squabbles, strife even,
overall they had journeyed with him. Yet they had not always understood him or
his words. But they had listened to him, helped him, gone out with him and for
him and engaged in the work. Three had shared the experiences of fellowship on
the Mount of Transfiguration. They tried to protect him from over-much
publicity, as they thought best. They made their confession of faith in him as
the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and had believed him. All this must have
been a source of comfort. Now Jesus commends them. It was enough; their companionship,
fellowship and support for three-and-a-half years had to some extent helped
Jesus come to this point. (Vic Aucott, The Temptations of Jesus [Birmingham:
The Christadelphian, 2014], 50-51, 57-58)
