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Have you ever wondered why Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days? Here he is, the son of God, sent to save the world, having only a short time in which to fulfill his earthly ministry. Yet God saw fit that His son should spend 40 days and 40 nights away from civilization, away from any opportunity to help or bless people. Why?
Before we can understand why Jesus went into the wilderness, it is necessary to understand the event which immediately preceded it, and its significance. The event which immediately preceded Jesus’ journey in the wilderness was that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, at which time heaven opened unto him.
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And immediately coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Mark 1:9-11)
The heavens being opened unto Jesus means that he saw spiritually for the first time. Until that time, though he was born of the spirit of God, his only approach to his Father was via the (Old Testament) Scriptures. In this he was just like any other man who lived at that time.
His baptism by John fully represented what happens to us when we are baptized by the Spirit. He went in a physical being, limited by his mind and understanding, but he came out “reborn” as a spiritual being, with the heavens (the spiritual realm) opened to him, with direct access to his Father, God.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up immediately out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:16,17)
So far, only Jesus has seen the Spirit of God descending like a dove (it doesn’t say the spirit looked like a dove, but rather descended like a dove) upon him. But in John we learn that John the Baptist also saw what Jesus saw, and we learn why.
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not (as being the Messiah); but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I saw, and bare record that this is the son of God. (John 1:32-34)
John did not look at Jesus and know that he was the son of God. Seeing by the spirit the Holy Spirit of God descending upon Jesus, that was the proof, the spiritual experience, the knowing in his heart that Jesus was the son of God, because God had told him that would be the proof.
The first thing God ever told His son directly was that he was His beloved son, and that He was well pleased in him (another way of translating this is “This is my son, the beloved, in whom I have found delight.”). The first things God confirmed to Jesus, upon achieving the ability to directly communicate with him, was that 1) he was His son; 2) he was beloved by Him, and 3) in him (that is, inside him) He was delighted.
Now we can address the reason Jesus went into the wilderness.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (being tempted) of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. (Matthew 4:1)
And immediately the Spirit drives him (to cast out, with the idea of force) into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. (Mark 1:12, 13)
And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing; and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. (Luke 4:1, 2)
This was not Jesus’ idea to go into the wilderness, it was his Father’s. It was the spirit of God which “led” him or even “drives” him into the wilderness.
In all of these records is indicated that the spirit of God was with Jesus every moment of every one of those forty days and nights. At no time did his Father every desert him or leave him alone. God was always with His son, and Jesus always walked, from the time of his baptism by John, in the spiritual awareness of his Father’s love and delight in him.
In Mark we see an immediacy and an intensity not seen in the other two records. This was something that God wanted to happen in his son’s life right away. What was that? To be alone with Him, and to be tempted by the devil. The second thing Jesus needed to experience (after learning of his Father’s love for and delight in him) was how his enemy works. Jesus needed to learn to recognize the voice and the methods of his (and his Father’s) enemy.
Why forty days? The number forty (40) is seen a number of times in the Bible as a period of trial, of a testing in order to be cleansed or refined and perfected; like products are tested and their flaws corrected in order to ensure their capability and durability. In Noah’s time it rained 40 days and 40 nights. In Moses’ time, after thinking he could save Israel his way, Moses fled to and lived in Midian for 40 years, returning to deliver Israel God’s way. Also, after rejecting the idea that the Promised Land was theirs for the taking, Israel wandered in the wilderness 40 years, until all those who did not believe died, after which Israel entered into the Promised Land. After Jesus was raised from the dead he remained on the earth for 40 days before he ascended off it.
In the case of Jesus, the ability to access heaven and his Father directly also meant the ability to recognize and deal with the devil and all the devil’s spirits directly. Before beginning his earthly ministry, Jesus had to be tested by his spiritual enemy. It was in the wilderness, away from people, that Jesus not only powerfully drew close to his Father, but also stood against the devil and defeated him, so that this seasoned ability would be completely at his disposal as he fulfilled his responsibilities as the Christ.
For this purpose the son of God was manifested (which began at his baptism by John when he was manifested to John as being the son of God), that he might destroy the works of the devil (the doing of which began in the wilderness immediately afterward). (I John 3:8b)
Since Adam, no other man besides Jesus ever addressed the devil directly. That’s because no other man had heaven completely opened unto him. (If you have any questions concerning how the devil and his spirits dwell in heaven, please read the study Where is Heaven and When do we get there?)
The ministry of Jesus as the Christ could not begin until Jesus, as God’s manifested spiritual son had been successfully tested by (and thus had learned to clearly recognize and defeat) Satan (the devil and all his spiritual host of devil spirits).
Only after his successful stand against the devil in the wilderness, Jesus having manifestly acquired and operated power over the evil one, was he anointed to be and began his earthly ministry as the Christ.
And Jesus returned (from the wilderness) in the power of the Spirit into Galilee … And he came to Nazareth … And there was delivered unto him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the scroll, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me (verb form of “Christ”) to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
(Luke 4:14a, 16a, 17-19, 21)
In too many church bodies today, those that seem to represent the things of God, by teaching and preaching and exerting authority over others, have not been successfully tested by the devil. Though they have been taught the Bible and how to teach it and how to administer the things of their denomination, heaven has not been opened unto them so that they are able to learn to recognize the voice of their enemy and to stand against him. And so the devil’s ways get mixed with God’s ways.
Every man and woman who desires to serve the living God by the spirit must of necessity, at some point in their spiritual education and according to God’s timetable, go through a period of testing by the devilish principalities and powers of the heavenly realm and come away cleansed and strengthened by God on the other side. When they do, the service to the body which Christ works in their heart and life can be carried out successfully and powerfully, free from the deceit of the enemy of God.
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Related Studies
If you enjoyed how this study challenged your thinking and opened up your understanding of Christ, click on one of the related studies below:
The Benefits of Tribulation
Where is Heaven and When do we get there?
Conform, Reform, or Transform
The Unforgivable Sin
Why do we get Tempted?
Satan’s Justification
An Un-Polluted Gospel
The Devil, Our Enemy
Satan Exposed
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Thank you.
You’re welcome. Thank you for the feedback.
Good thoughts….. helpful
God bless……
Powerful. Thank you
Excellent word, every blessing
“Every man and woman who desires to serve the living God by the spirit must of necessity, at some point in their spiritual education and according to God’s timetable, go through a period of testing by the devilish principalities and powers of the heavenly realm and come away cleansed and strengthened by God on the other side. ”
Where in the bible can I find a verse about this? New to this 🙂
Great blog!
A good (related) study is “The Benefits of Tribulation,” also found on this website (type in “tribulation” as a search word).
In Timothy, look at the sections which describe the traits of a bishop and deacon. “Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into devilish judgments.” I Timothy 3:6
I can provide more, but I’d have to do another study! lol! Glad you enjoyed it… there’s lots more on the website. Also, consider getting my two books, “Give Me Christ” and “More Christ.” The study you reference is found in the second book, along with 31 other studies (32 per book). Let me know if you have any more questions. Blessings.
Saa er du Norske da! Jeg pleide aa bo der (for nesten 40 aar siden), men fremdeles har gode, troende venner der… i Oslo og Fredrikstad.
Thanks Steve for the article. I would like to know why we prayed the Lord’s prayer lead us not into temptation.. When the spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to be tempted?
Great question! The “Lord’s Prayer” (the “Our Father” if you’re a Catholic) was taught by Jesus to the inner circle of his Jewish followers while being under the law of Moses (so technically, still in the Old Testament). Keep that in mind as you look at each phrase of that prayer. During the time of the Old Testament, the devil was NOT exposed, the spiritual realm was still every bit a mystery to the natural man (the man without the spirit of God), which was EVERY man who lived from Adam until the day of Pentecost (except for Jesus, the Christ). During the time of the Old Testament, EVERY spiritual influence was presented as coming from the one true God. He gave and He took away. He killed and He gave life. He blessed, and He cursed. The true God and the devil could not be discerned (separated, differentiated), because THAT would take a spiritual ability which man did not yet have, and which would not occur until the day of Pentecost.
If you would like further clarification, please let me know, and I will send you 2 or 3 links to studies which go into further depth. I appreciate you sending me this question. I pray you continue to pursue the hunger you have to know the truth.
Love and blessings from your brother in Christ,
Steve
Another answer (there may be more than what I present 🙂 Jesus died so that we don’t have to. He bore our sins on the cross. He suffered our suffering, including being led into temptation. It is a given that all men will be tempted, but the true God does not lead any man into temptation. Even the verse that talks about Jesus being led (Mark says “driven”) into the wilderness TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL tells you that God didn’t tempt him.
From the time of Adam until Jesus, it is not recorded that any man spoke directly to the devil. No man COULD, because the devil is a spiritual being.
I have a question. If people can’t talk directly to the devil because he is a spiritual being, how can a Christian or anyone speak directly to God (pray for example) since God is also spirit?
How did God speak to Adam, Noah, Abraham and many others if he is spirit?
Great question. It’s not the words which God hears, it’s the heart. How did God speak to those in the OT? Burning bush, a donkey, angels, etc. Because it was God’s will being communicated, (and in many places it is not specified HOW God got His will across), the Bible says, “And God said”, but it was always through an intermediary, which was not always a person.
If this answer is not clear, feel free to write again, and thank you.
PS. I’m not sure if you get notified of my reply or not. Would you mind letting me know, by leaving another comment, that you received my reply, and HOW (ie: did you get an email notification and then found my reply on the website, etc.). Thank you.
I really enjoyed this commentary and perspective.
It opened my eyes and brought so much to light.
Thank you
Thanks for the comment, Ed. I appreciate it. It was an enlightenment to me too!
Really enjoyed your article! Question?: Was it also important for Jesus to know what man faced regarding temptations?
Not sure! I know he did, but not sure how important it was that he did.
Wow. This has been the most insightful article I’ve ever read concerning Jesus purpose duly being in the wilderness. Simply put and well said. I have thought that a “ wilderness fast” ( a longer period of fasting while fasting on Jesus and his Word) might prepare me for His use. I’m sure it will help. But as I think about the amazingly intense ways that the enemy would have used to try Jesus ( I’m sure he pulled out all the stops), I don’t see how a period of fasting in itself would qualify as a true wilderness period for us. But maybe Jesus covered some of it on our behalf? Obviously testing is necessary, and you have put a new angle on it to help me see just why. To help me see the need to stop being a big baby and keep going in some things/ doing the right thing when I don’t feel I have it in me. We can never imagine fully the great pressure Jesus would have been under.
Can you offer any thoughts on a possible need for a long fast / what the wilderness time looks like for us? ( not the wilderness we put ourselves in due to sin / rebellion etc….)?
Thank YOU for this insightful comment! There is nothing in the flesh which automatically qualifies one to serve Christ. A wilderness trial period might be going years without hearing from God, without getting inspired by reading of the Scriptures, without anyone believing when you preach. A wilderness trial period might be everyone you know and love walking away from you, rejecting you, treating you poorly. Every trial period is unique, and the resulting strengthening also unique. The important thing is the drawing close to Christ for comfort, strength, wisdom and direction. Until we die to the world and the world to us, Christ can not be our head IN PRACTICE. Thus, we are all (every one who desires to serve Christ) on a journey of discovery. That journey is the ONLY arrival point! God speed in your journey!
My inquiry in regards to the wilderness journey is more specific to knowing what was Jesus doing during the 40 days and nights.
No one around to minister to, no one to comfort him and so what did his daily days look like? The Bible doesn’t give any commentary on what he specifically did.
I know he fasted and stood strong against the enemy, but was that all or can we learn something to help us when we’re in our spiritual wilderness?
May not be possible to know but what did Jesus daily days look like? It can help many who are walking obediently but don’t always know how to handle the “daily” walk through their wilderness journey.
Thanking God for you sharing His wisdom and allowing Him to use you.
I truly ate from the Lord’s table today.
God bless you, may He pour back into you and bless you with a 30,60, 100 fold blessing
marvine
Why thank you Marvine. I’ll take all I can get! 🙂
Thank you for the article. I have a similar view of things as you do. I thought Jesus was like any other man till he was filled with the Spirit, I just get that from reading scripture. I have had a experience with God that I have spent my whole life trying to understand and get scripture to explain. I have problems with Churches and they don’t understand me. My feeling is that the leader of a church should have the Presence of God to be Qualified. There is nobody to instruct new believers correctly and they go through life with no power. I was like all other Christians and I decided to find out what was in the Bible. I read it cover to cover, some time 3 books a day. I prayed like all others, very little with no power. I started praying an hour a day and eventually I prayed what I thought was 30 minutes, but I had prayed 8 hours. There is no time in Gods Presence! There seems to be 2 camps of Spirit Filled people, the Gifts type and the Fruit type. I still have many questions.
You’re on the journey into Christ!