Author: Lee Wilson

It seems a bit perplexing to consider the temptations of Jesus. As believers, we affirm the divine nature of Christ, meaning He is not bound by the limitations of ordinary men.

So how can human temptations really work on Jesus? If He is God in the flesh, a mere human enticement would be no match for Him, right? Part of the significance lies in the fact that while He was fully God, He was also fully man.

He felt hungry, He felt tired, He felt happy, and He felt sad—all in the same way you and I experience those things. This is not to be scoffed at; it is a pivotal element of this passage.

We have all heard the refrain “I know how you feel” before. It is a common attempt to assuage an aching heart, but it can easily seem to drip with insincerity. In one of the Harry Potter movies, Harry is being comforted after losing his godfather. He had already lost both of his parents and a close friend. His professor attempts to comfort him by saying, “I know how you feel,” to which Harry replies sharply, “No, you don’t.”

In instances like this, it can almost make things worse to try to relate to someone experiencing something you have never had to endure. We don’t want a disingenuous attempt at relatability—we want the real thing.

We want to find someone who has been through it before to tell us, “It’s okay. I made it through, so you can too.” When we lost our infant daughter, I clung to the words of parents who had been through similar loss, hoping we could find eventual peace.

When Jesus comes to earth as a human being, it is so He can look us in the eye and say, “I know how you feel,” and mean the full weight of that statement. He hadn’t eaten in forty days, was sleeping in a rocky and unforgiving desert, and stood face to face with evil incarnate.

The full intensity of His temptations, according to theologian R. C. Sproul, is said to have been greater than what any moral human could endure—and yet, He did. Now, when you find yourself worn down by the grind of life, stressed out and tired in your own personal desert, you can cling to the hope found in His resolve.

We serve a God who has been through every hurt, pain, and stress we have ever felt—even unto death. And He overcame it all. Praise God for this truth.

Though we may walk through the wilderness from time to time, if we keep His Word in our hearts and minds, He will help us overcome it all—even death.

When Jesus was baptized and subsequently led into the wilderness by the Spirit, He fasted for forty days and forty nights. Depriving the human body of food for that period of time would obviously require restfulness and plenty of hydration, and under no circumstances would it have been easy.

So why did He do it? Jesus, we believe, is fully God but also fully human. He was most definitely hungry and tired by this point and no doubt felt exhaustion. His ability to relate to us and our human needs is certainly relevant when we think about why He endured temptation and fasting—but might there be a deeper meaning?

The first temptation of man took place in Eden. Adam and Eve, unlike Jesus, had full bellies and lived in a world free of sin. Animals were subservient to them, and every need was provided amid a lush and green garden. In this place of abundance, they chose sin.

Jesus, on the other hand, was in the midst of a harsh wilderness, surrounded by “wild animals” (Mark 1:13) that would pose a great risk to a solitary human. The Judean wilderness is more aptly described as a rocky desert with a harsh, arid climate. Its inhabitants include the Arabian leopard, caracals, and scorpions like the aptly named “deathstalker.” The canyons and peaks might make for pretty pictures, but it is no place for a man to live.

It was in this harsh terrain, juxtaposed with the lush Garden of Eden, that Jesus was led by the Spirit to go. His humanity was hungry, tired, and withered. And there, He came face to face with the Devil, to whom “all authority” in this world had been given (Luke 4:6).

In the middle of desolation, we find a clear picture of holiness. In a place where carnal temptations would be at their greatest, Jesus perseveres by the power of the Spirit and keeps Scripture on His tongue to send the Devil away unsuccessful. Where Adam failed, Jesus redeemed.

We find ourselves living in a sinful world every day, lush with temptations and trials. We are still under the curse of original sin, and thus we need the faithful hand of God to help us through. Fasting and prayer are one way we can seek God’s guidance, especially when facing trials.

In fact, Jesus speaks as though He expects us to fast (Matthew 6:16–18). So how might we approach it? Pastor John Piper describes fasting as “a temporary renunciation of something that is in itself good, like food, in order to intensify our expression of need for something greater—namely, God and His work in our lives.”

We are not commanded to fast; it is not an explicit mandate. But if Jesus is our perfect example to follow, then I think it is prudent for us to examine its place in our lives. It may not even be a food fast—maybe it’s technology or coffee, or maybe it’s abstaining from watching the Braves (easy to do in 2025, so maybe that doesn’t count).

Whatever it may be, I pray that you find a way to connect with Jesus a little more deeply by doing so. I pray you find your “temporary renunciation” so that you can “intensify your expression of need for something greater.”

I don’t know if science still agrees that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—but it is definitely my favorite. I love a good cup of dark roast coffee, some scrambled eggs, and bacon. And what about pastries? Donuts? Waffles, pancakes—French toast??

I think it is clear: breakfast can offer plenty of temptations to us.

When Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, He relied on Scripture and obedience to overcome it. It is crucial, therefore, that we spend time in the Scriptures and in prayer—but what should that look like?

Everyone’s routines are different, but I try to spend time in Scripture and prayer every day before work. Sometimes that is at home, but many times it is listening to Scripture on my short drive to work and praying before I clock in for the day.

Jesus speaks directly to how we should pray in both Matthew (6:9–13) and Luke (11:2–4) in what is known as the Lord’s Prayer:

And He said to them, “When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

As we have focused on temptation this week, I thought it would be interesting to focus on that last line. What did He mean by “lead us not into temptation”? God does not lead us into sin—we know that (James 1:13)—so how should we interpret this?

Pastor and theologian Charles Spurgeon said this on the subject:

“The reason for presenting that petition must be because we are so weak and frail. We ask that we may not be burdened, for our back is not strong; and we plead that we may not have sin put before us in any of its enticing forms, for oftentimes the flesh borrows strength from the world, and even from the devil, and these allied powers will be too much for us unless the omnipotence of God shall be exerted on our behalf to hold us up lest we fall.”

We are to be so desperate to avoid temptation because of its frightening power over our weakened human condition. What a humbling thought. Jesus is instructing us, for our own good, to ask God not to allow any temptations to befall us that we can’t handle.

Spurgeon goes on to add hope to the equation, saying the Lord will supply us with the wherewithal to endure what He does allow to come our way:

“God’s way of escape from trial is not for His people to avoid it, so as not to pass through it, but such an escape as leads them through the trouble and out at the other end; not an escape from the Red Sea, but an escape through the Red Sea from a still greater trial. If you, beloved, are exposed to trial or temptation, you are to be made able to bear it.”

Our enemy knows our weaknesses, and he also knows that our strength does not come from within, but rather from our faith in the Lord. So I pray today that no undue trials be laid before you, and that you be given the strength to overcome any that do.

I grew up with a fascination for sharks. Great whites, tigers, makos, and hammerheads—I love learning about them and talking about them. They fascinate me.

One dangerous shark you may not know about is the oceanic whitetip. It lives in the shallow zones of the deepest part of the ocean (known as the pelagic zone) and therefore isn’t encountered often by humans unless you have the misfortune of a shipwreck. It is known as “aggressively opportunistic” and takes advantage of fishermen’s catches or people abandoned at sea.

The whitetip hunts at a haunting pace, stalking prey in a way that makes its presence known. Given its deep habitat, there is nowhere to run. The whitetip approaches its prey methodically, tiring it out little by little, even taking small nibbles until the prey has no ability left to fight before devouring it.

It is more advantageous to attack when your prey is at its weakest.

This strategy is not unique to the whitetip, and it is certainly effective. When Jesus was in the Judean wilderness, He was at His humanly weakest. He hadn’t eaten in 40 days, and He was all alone. So the enemy took the opportunity to attack.

It often seems that our toughest challenges come when we are least equipped to fight them. When we are tired, stressed, and spread too thin—did I just describe you?—that is when we get hit with another curveball. This is not a unique experience for us, because we are at our most vulnerable in these moments, and our “aggressively opportunistic” enemy chooses these moments to attack.

Our enemy similarly stalks us from afar and approaches with small inconveniences—your headlight is out, the AC in your car is on the fritz—and then continues to build a mounting attack: your work schedule has changed and now it conflicts with your kid’s basketball schedule, and don’t forget to have the inspector come check that leak in the roof—until we start to crack.

Before you know it, the stresses are piling up, your attitude with your spouse is poor, and you snap at your kids for no reason. This is how the enemy wins—one bad moment at a time.

In these moments, our faith becomes imperative. In Jesus’ responses to the temptations of Satan, He consistently used one phrase over and over: “For it is written.” In other words, He used Scripture in His defense, relying on God’s Word to remind Himself where to turn in moments of weakness.

This is an example we must follow. Spend time in the Word and get to know God day by day. I pray you are able to hear His voice in your weakest moments and cling to those truths close to your heart. Our enemy is real—so too must our faith be!

My younger son has recently developed a real interest in playing Mario games on the Nintendo Switch, but he isn’t quite good enough to play them by himself. He often plays a little and then has a routine: “Hey Dad, a little help?”

He loves playing the games and enjoys the characters, including Bowser, the villain. As in most simple video games, Bowser is the final level you have to beat in order to complete the game. However, you have little dust-ups in other levels as the game progresses, which reach a crescendo in the final level of the game.

When we read through this week’s passage in Luke and study the temptation of Christ, we see Jesus exhausted and hungry at the end of a 40-day fast. Then He comes face to face with the one true villain—Satan himself.

Theologian R. C. Sproul described the scene in a message he delivered on this passage. He claimed that Satan was attempting to appeal to and corrupt the human nature of Christ. Jesus, being a fully human representation of God, felt these temptations on a human level but responded to them divinely—rebuking Satan and upholding His purity.

In an interesting note, the passage ends by saying that Satan was defeated temporarily, but that he would return “at an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). In other words, this was the dust-up, not the final level, if you will.

We know how the story ends on this side of heaven. Satan did return, and he brought death upon the Son of Man, sending Jesus to an agonizing and torturous death on the cross. Then, in His truest manifestation of divinity, Jesus was resurrected from the dead and denied evil its victory.

The significance of this for us is that we have a high priest who is sympathetic and understands our temptations and trials, yes—but also One who is capable of defeating our enemy.

We face temptations every day. Some are small; some are big. Intuitively, I am betting you can tell the difference. What is key for us is understanding that we serve a God who defeats our enemy and secures the victory.

You don’t have to be strong enough to overcome all that the enemy throws at you, as long as you remember to follow the One who is. I pray you are able to cling to your faith in Jesus amid any temptation you face today.

I have a friend at work who is from just outside of London named Robin. Over the years we have worked together, he has taught me a lot about English customs, including how to decipher quality tea, understand the depths of the promotion and relegation system in European soccer, and gain an appreciation for holiday traditions.

In England, a big deal is made out of December 24 through December 26. Many companies are closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and then Boxing Day. Robin has explained to me that Boxing Day is an extension of the Christmas celebration and includes some unique traditions.

Its origins stem from wealthy English households and their servant staff. Servants would work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and then, as a customary treat, would be given the 26th off. Additionally, their masters would often give gifts in boxes on that day, prompting the term “Boxing Day.”

Now, it has become a day centered around watching soccer, spending time with family, and eating leftover Christmas food. Leftover vegetables are cooked in frying pans and called “bubble and squeak” because of the sound they make while cooking. I wish that when we gained independence from England, we had made an effort to keep Boxing Day in the mix.

This harkens back to a time when servanthood was considered a more noble profession than it often is today. The holiday was a form of respite for the staff, a way to honor them and their hard work.

Jesus himself spoke about our calling to serve others, saying, “…whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43–45).

Horst Schulze, one of the founding members of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, used to inspire his staff by saying, “We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” This simple phrase adds a measure of dignity to the role of serving others, something for which the company became well known at an exceedingly high level.

Serving others is noble and dignified, and it is the expectation that has been set before us. For what better example of service could we have than Jesus?

Our work here is to serve others, because that is the example he has set for us. Similar to Boxing Day, we will one day have the chance to rest from our work in eternity. So as you begin to set a course for a new year, perhaps challenge yourself to consider how you can better serve those around you.

Well, today is the day. You might be watching young children tear through wrapping paper, barely noticing what the gift is before searching for the next one. Or maybe you are celebrating abroad on a fantastical trip, or perhaps you are celebrating at home in a lovely, quiet space.

Wherever this Christmas finds you, I hope it is spectacular and centered around meaningful time with the people you care about most.

For us today, there is a great sense of jubilant energy with young children. Nothing quite compares to the feeling of watching someone you care about open a present and then fill with joy. That is among the heights of the parental experience for me, seeing joy on their faces.

We have traditions, as I am sure you do too, that are unique to our family. For one, Deanna and I write all of the gift tags to one another exclusively using inside jokes. Not a single one is addressed to “Lee” or “Deanna.” We also make a French toast bake that smells as good as it tastes and pairs wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee. I smile just thinking about it.

While Christmas can be a time of great joy, it can also be a time of sorrow. We know what it is like to celebrate Christmas under harder circumstances after a season of loss. Christmas in 2013 took place two months after losing our firstborn daughter, and although we did plenty to celebrate, it was a difficult and painful time.

I will be hosting Christmas dinner today at my house for my immediate family. I will be making beef Wellington, and I appreciate your prayers that it turns out well. Among our guests will be my two brothers, one of whom is not a believer. His lack of belief troubles me every day and is a constant motivation for prayer. My hope is that the Lord will call him back to belief, and I am sure you know someone for whom you share this same hope.

Whether this season is celebrated in joy, in grief, or in uncertainty, I hope you can cling to Jesus as the joy and truth above all circumstances. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Serving on the worship team at NorthStar is a true delight for me. I started playing the bass guitar when I was 15, and in spite of what Mike Lindeman says, I do actually know how to play it a little.

Serving alongside great musicians to play worship music is one of the best things I get to do on a Sunday, and this is doubly true during the holiday season. I love playing Christmas songs, and although I cannot sing very well, I love to sing them too.

When I was growing up, I developed an affinity for heavy metal music, and I still enjoy listening to “Christmas Sarajevo 12/24” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a song you probably know even if you do not recognize the unusual title. Yet only recently did I learn the origin of the song.

The end of the Cold War caused uncertainty and unrest across parts of Europe. The nation of Yugoslavia, after the death of its unifying leader, broke apart due to complicated and deeply rooted tensions among its regions. What followed was a crisis period involving a multitude of nations, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. A period of civil war ensued, and numerous tragedies occurred.

Among them was the siege of Sarajevo, which lasted nearly four years and cost over 13,000 lives, roughly 5,400 of which were civilians. One morning, in front of a bakery, a mortar attack killed 22 people who were standing in line to buy bread and injured more than 100 others. In the midst of the horror, many wondered what to do.

One local affected by the attack was a man named Vedran Smailović. He was the principal cellist of the Sarajevo Symphony. After the attack, he donned his formal tuxedo, grabbed his cello and a chair, and placed them directly in front of the bakery, at great risk of gunfire, and played Tomaso Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor in memory of each victim. He did this for 22 days straight to honor each person who was killed, often appearing at different times of day to avoid sniper fire.

Incredible photos and videos emerged from this tragedy, showing a man bringing his bow and cello into piles of rubble and bloodshed, attempting to shine a light in a moment of darkness. The humble “Cellist of Sarajevo,” as he became known, was eventually able to escape the war and now lives in Northern Ireland, where he still performs and composes music.

There is a beautiful parallel tucked away in his performance to the birth of Jesus. To us comes our Savior, shining light in the darkness, giving us hope when hope is lost, and reminding us of the beauty around us even when it is hard to see.

The next time you hear “Christmas in Sarajevo,” I hope you will remember how Vedran and his cello brought hope to a broken people. And this Christmas season, may we be reminded that the arrival of Jesus, our perfect gift, brings us eternal hope.