I well recall the battle I entered when the doctor told me, “It is cancer and you are in trouble.” I had a wife and two sons at home to live for and it was my great desire to stay and see the boys raised and on their own.

Within a couple of weeks I was wheeled into the operating room for my first procedure to try and remove this enemy of our bodies. Through the subsequent years I have had five more visits to the surgeon to fight this disease.

To be in some kind of “battle” with a powerful enemy is certainly a challenge and possibly a frightening experience for all of us. The verse today describes the beginning of a series of recorded battles between our Lord and His most powerful and determined enemy. The first record of Satan doing his evil attacks on Jesus is here at the commencement of our Lord’s public ministry.

Some preachers in their desire to be clever pose the question about the possibility of Jesus sinning. These people assert that it was a matter of Jesus being able to sin but refusing to do so.

Everyone agrees Jesus did not sin (John 8:46). But some people do not understand that Jesus was God and God does not change. Our holy God will not, cannot, do evil.

Scripture speaks of God being incapable of denying Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). God is holy and therefore cannot commit sin. Jesus cannot act in any way that is contrary to His holy character.

The purpose of Jesus being tempted was to demonstrate to us that He is always the same as we read in Hebrews 13:8. This scene of Jesus’ temptation when Satan brought suggestions to Him that He refused, tells us that when Jesus promises something to us He is as good as His promise.

Jesus will not change His mind concerning what He has told us He will do. He always does what He says He will do.

Jesus promised that He would never reject anyone who comes to Him (John 6:37). Everyone Jesus embraces is certain to be with Him forever. We may have promises made to us by someone in marriage and that person later breaks their promise and leaves us, but with Jesus a promise made is a promise kept.  He will never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

If you have been abandoned by your parents, a spouse, children, or anyone else, do not ever think that Jesus would do the same. Jesus is the friend Who stays closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).

Jesus will never forsake anyone who believes in Him. As difficult as it is when another person in this life abandons you, never forget that the Lord in Whom you trust will never leave you. You are His forever.

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same.
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!
Glory to His Name! Glory to His Name!
All may change, but Jesus never! Glory to His Name!