Satan is not particular about when he attacks. He went after Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. At their strongest point, he convinced them that God was holding out. He also attacks us in our weakest moments. That’s what he did when he tempted Jesus in the desert.

Luke 4:1-2
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.

Before this series of temptations, John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). After Jesus’ baptism, the Trinity was demonstrated in great splendor. The Son stood on earth in bodily form, the Holy Spirit descended on him “in bodily form, like a dove,” and the Father announced in a voice from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). This was a special moment as Jesus initiated his earthly ministry. But before his ministry began, there came the test.

Luke says that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Mark writes that the Spirit drove him there (Mark 1:12). The Gospels make it clear that this was a divine appointment. God does not tempt us. Satan does. But here we see that God initiated the confrontation. These temptations were presented to Jesus when he was at his weakest physically, after forty days of fasting. Why? I believe the writer of the Hebrews gives us the answer.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He is the “Lamb of God” who took away our sin and defeated death itself. We will see in these temptations that Satan offered a shortcut to the cross. Jesus is also our high priest who intercedes on our behalf before the Father. We have a high priest who can sympathize with our weakest moments. He is “one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). That allows us to approach God at any time in any circumstance, knowing that we will “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Lord Jesus,
I thank you for taking on every temptation and never giving in. Thank you that you can now sympathize with my weaknesses. Thank you that I can always find grace and mercy, especially when I need it the most. In your name, I pray. Amen.