Jesus at the crossroads

Jesus at the crossroads.

What did Jesus do when He was at a crossroad?

He was shown four signposts one after another:

Satisfy your bodily needs!

Jesus hadn't eaten for 40 days & Satan says:

"If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

It is quite legal to satisfy your creature comforts.

But Jesus knew the importance of not following human appetites, because the mind will be dominated by earthly values, & concerns.

Paul wrote to the Philippians,

"For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears,

many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach,

and their glory is in their shame.

Their mind is on earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven.

And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,"

Philippians 3:19-20 (NIV)

Where was Jesus' mind?

Was it on earthly things, or heavenly things?

Jesus answered:-

"It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

He rejected the idea of going down that pathway.

How important is the Word of God to you?

Are you the master of your appetites?

If we don't answer these correctly, then we can waste years going down wrong pathways.

Put on a show for the benefit of the Kingdom of God!

Why not put on a show, have some hype & razzmatazz to impress the people?

"Then the devil took him to the holy city

and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down.

For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

The city would have been packed with people.

Wouldn't it have been a good opportunity to have put on a show to impress the crowds?

The people would certainly stop to watch this exhibition, & they would think about Godly things.......wouldn't they?

But Jesus answered him,

"It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Here was Jesus answering with the wisdom of the Scriptures again.

If we are not going to waste time in wandering along wrong pathways, then we need to be feeding on God's Word.

Just think of what you could do for God with riches, power & influence!

All these things are mans way: riches, power & influence.

Think of what God's way is:

He chooses the poor people, to be His representatives.

He chooses those without status, to proclaim His message.

And He chooses those that are weak, to turn this world upside down!

Remember what Paul said to the Corinthians in his 1st letter:-

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.

Not many of you were wise by human standards;

not many were influential;

not many were of noble birth.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;

God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--

and the things that are not--

to nullify the things that are,

so that no one may boast before him."

1 Cor 1:26-29 (NIV)

The devil took Jesus:-

"to a very high mountain

and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour.

"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

If you lust after the wealth, the power,

the influence & the splendour of the world, you will have Satan in your heart.

You will unknowingly be bowing down to him.

"Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan!

For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Not your will, but God's will be done!

That was the road Jesus took.

"Not my will, but Your will be done!"

That was Jesus' whole attitude.

He put aside His wants, & submitted Himself to the Fathers will.

Jesus left the desert where Satan had tempted Him, & He began to preach.

At that particular crossroad, Jesus chose the ancient path where the good way was, & He did that throughout His whole life.

"This is what the LORD says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is,

and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. (Jer 6:16)

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Images: thanks to Serif RESOURCE CD.