February 22, 2026
Today we’re talking about temptation. Jesus was born, he grew up, and when he was about 30 years old, he started his ministry. But first, he does a couple of unusual things. First, he walks out to where John the Baptist is baptizing. And Jesus says, “I am here to be baptized.” John says, “What? You are greater than me. You should baptize me.” But Jesus says, “This is how it’s supposed to be.” So, John baptizes Jesus! And when he’s baptized, the spirit of God comes down and alights on Jesus. God says, “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus could have shown up differently. He could have said, “Here I am! Gather around, everybody! Prepare to be amazed by my greatness! Oh, just a minute, I gotta post my selfie I took with the HOLY SPIRIT! How great is that?” How would you feel about Jesus if he showed up that way? You wouldn’t like him! We don’t like arrogant people who boast, who are full of themselves. But I kind of like to boast, do you? It’s tempting to be arrogant, to tell people all the great things we have done! We don’t like arrogant people. But sometimes we want to be arrogant. Jesus had a choice. He could brag; he could take over baptizing from John and tell people how lucky they are to meet him. But he didn’t. Jesus was humble. That’s how he started his ministry.
The second unusual thing Jesus does before he starts him ministry is the Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness to be tested. Jesus goes without eating, fasting for 40 days! That was a long time without food! Jesus is weak and vulnerable! He is God, but he is also a human, who needs food. This is boot camp for Jesus: can he handle human life and stick with what he came to do? Will he pass the test and stay humble, following God? The devil says to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” The devil is taunting him, “If you are the Son of God…” Prove you’re great! Turn a stone into a loaf of bread! Jesus is the Son of God. He has the power to do it! But he replies, “In the Scriptures it says, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Jesus refuses the first temptation.
Then the devil tries again! Ok, Jesus, you didn’t take the bait the first time, but come on, God will work a miracle to rescue you, if you are the Son of God, so show me. The devil and Jesus go to Jerusalem to the highest point on the temple, and the devil says, throw yourself down from here, because the Scriptures say the angels will take care of you; you won’t get hurt.
Jesus says, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Jesus refuses the second temptation.
There’s one more test coming. The big one. The main one. It’s more of a bribe by the devil. The devil takes Jesus to a high mountain and shows him the kingdoms of the world and all their splendor! The devil says, “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus says, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Jesus passes the test! Jesus knew he didn’t come for the things of this world. He came for you! He came for all of us, to save us from our sins. Jesus’ identity was all about seeking and saving the lost.
We’ve all heard stories of people who were tempted by money and power and didn’t pass the test. Famous people who had it all, power, fame, and wealth. They were tempted by more money, more fame, and more power. They gave into temptation and did something illegal. They end up in prison. It’s shocking! They had so much. More than us. But they weren’t satisfied. They didn’t realize how much was at stake.
You don’t have to be wealthy and powerful to fall into the trap of doing something wrong or trying to gain the things of this world. We’re all human. We are weak and vulnerable. You and I are going to be tempted.
But if you follow Jesus, he’ll help you find the way out. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all the things you need, you’ll receive. What’s most important in life isn’t getting more. It’s following Jesus. That leads to the best life.
At the Olympics Scott Hamilton is a commentator on figure skating. He won the Olympic gold medal in 1984. He was asked in an interview recently, “Where do you keep your gold medal?” Scott said he got rid of it and all his medals. He donated them to the US Figure Skating Museum. He explained that he’s seen too many Olympic athletes get stuck. They can’t move forward past their Olympic experience; that’s their identity. So, he got rid of his medals. Scott says after he won his gold medal, he was asked to speak at the paralympic banquet the next night. They told him to wear his gold medal and his Olympic clothing. So, he did. As he stood there at that podium, he looked out and saw every kind of body out there: athletes without legs, or without arms, or who couldn’t see, or couldn’t hear. He knew that for them, everyday life was a huge challenge for them. And here they were, competing and winning Olympic bronze, silver and gold medals. And it affected him. He thought, I’m nobody. These are the amazing people!
Scott said that after he came to faith, he realized his medals had been like idols to him. They didn’t make him feel good and he didn’t want them.
No matter what our greatest successes are, what we have or who we know, those things are not who we are or whose we are. We are servants of God. Jesus didn’t come for things that don’t matter, like fame, money, being the boss, or showing off. He came for you and me. And the whole world.
Jesus passed the test. He knew who he was. The Son of God. He was here to follow God alone and do and say only what God the Father told him. He knew what was most important in this world. And he teaches us to seek God and love our neighbor. That’s how we stay out of trouble and live the best life.
We live in a world that is always trying to get us to want more and buy more, watch our screens more, and get others to pay more attention to us. It’s hard to be humble and satisfied! I think about how when a team wins the Super Bowl, they say to the quarterback: “You just won the Super Bowl! Where are you going?” And he’ll say, “To Disney World!” Or something like that. What if the quarterback said, “I’m going on a mission trip!” That would be different! Or what if he said, “I’m going to help my friend move!” Wow!
Scott Hamilton gave away his gold medal, which is pretty amazing. And he actually felt better. It makes me think, what can I give away or give up that has me stuck? My challenge for you this week is to ask yourself, what would it look like to chase humility and to give a little part of your life away?
Jesus didn’t come to get more of what the world offers, he came for you! He came to save you. He knew who he was: a servant of God. He knew what is most important in life: not achievements or money or fame. What’s most important is all the people in the world! Jesus wasn’t rich or powerful in the world’s ways. He came to change hearts and lives. Selfishness means you lose out on what’s most important in life. People with the biggest lives are the most selfless people. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and the things you need will be given to you. Amen.
A Martinez interviewed Scott Hamilton on Up First Winter Games.
Maureen Duffy-Guy's blog 