Read: Matthew 4:1-11
Angels came and were ministering to him. (v. 11)
When was the last time you were tempted to take the easy way out? Perhaps it was cheating on a test, blaming someone else for your mistake, or giving in to one more glass of alcohol. The temptation in such situations can be so strong, it feels unbearable. We can see our temptations reflected in the temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness.
Jesus’s ministry was bookended by the presence of angels during temptation. At the end of Jesus’s fasting in the desert, Satan used the promised presence of angels mentioned in Psalm 91 when tempting Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple. It would have been so easy for Jesus to call upon the angels in that moment to relieve his hunger and prove himself as Messiah—but he did not. Shortly before his death, Jesus prayed fervently in the garden of Gethsemane for the cup of suffering to pass from him. Luke’s account tells us that as Jesus prayed, “there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43). Once more, Jesus withstood the temptation to circumvent suffering as he prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (v. 42).
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples twice to pray so that they might not enter into temptation. But both times, they fell asleep. How easy it is to fall asleep to the spiritual dangers that surround us! If we are not watchful, temptation will overtake us before we are aware of it.
As you pray, ask God for the strengthening presence of angels to help you in times of temptation.
Katelyn J. Dixon is a contemplative writer, speaker, and poet living in the Seattle area. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys cooking, photography, and exploring the enchanting Pacific Northwest with her husband, Drew, while partnering with him in life and ministry.
