Contemplations: THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Jesus was led by the Spirit;

Into the desert He vanished.

After fasting forty days and nights,

He wasn’t just hungry; He was famished.

The devil could see He was weak,

So he came to Him and said,

"If you are really the Son of God,

Tell these stones to turn into bread."

Jesus quoted from the Bible,

Tho’ it is doubtful Satan heard:

“Man cannot live on bread alone,

True life comes from God’s Word.”

Then the devil took Christ to Jerusalem,

To the temple’s highest height.

"If you are the Son of God," he said,

"Jump off this holy site."

"For it is written in God’s Word:
You will never be left alone,
The angels will lift you up in their hands,
So your foot doesn’t strike a stone."

Tho’ the devil twisted God’s Word,

Jesus knew the Bible best.

So He answered, "It is also written:

‘Do not put the Lord to the test.'"

Satan took Him to a high mountain,

Where the kingdoms of the world they could see.

“All this I will give you," said Satan,

"If you’ll bow down and worship me."

"Away from me, Satan!" Jesus said.

"For it is also written there:"

'Worship the Lord and serve him only.’"

So the devil slithered back to his lair.

When the devil left Jesus alone,

Angels tended to Him.

If He hadn’t withstood the temptations,

Our future would be quite grim.

Becky L. Wall

Contemplations