The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
(Luke 3:21-4:13)
All the people were coming to John the Baptist to be baptized in the Jordan River as a sign that they were turning away from their sins and turning toward God. Jesus came and was baptized too. He had no sins to turn from, but He stepped into the water alongside everyone else. As He was praying after coming up out of the water, something extraordinary happened. Heaven opened. The Holy Spirit descended on Him in a visible form, like a dove settling gently on His shoulder. And then a voice came from heaven: "You are My Son, whom I love. With You I am well pleased." In that single moment, all three persons of God were present: the Son in the water, the Spirit descending, and the Father speaking from heaven.
Immediately after this, the Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness. For forty days He ate nothing, living in the barren desert where there was nothing to eat and no one to help. He was completely alone and desperately hungry. That is when the devil came to test Him.
The first temptation: "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'" The second temptation: the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered them to Him if He would simply bow down and worship. Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" The third temptation: the devil took Jesus to the highest point of the Temple and told Him to jump, claiming that God's angels would catch Him. Jesus answered, "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Every single time, Jesus defeated the devil with Scripture. When the devil had exhausted every temptation, he left Jesus alone, waiting for a better opportunity.
A Curious Question
Jesus had just heard the most encouraging words anyone could ever hear: "You are My Son, whom I love. With You I am well pleased." And then, immediately after, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tested. Why do you think God sometimes leads us through hard things right after a great moment of feeling close to Him?
Old Testament Connection
Every detail of this passage points back to the story of Israel in the wilderness. After God rescued Israel from Egypt and they passed through the Red Sea, He led them into the desert for forty years. There, He tested them to see what was in their hearts. They failed repeatedly. They complained about food. They worshipped a golden calf. They tested God again and again. The book of Deuteronomy records Moses reviewing all those failures before the people entered the Promised Land.
Jesus' forty days in the wilderness mirrors Israel's forty years exactly. And every time the devil tempted Him, Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy, the same book that reviewed Israel's failures in the desert. Where Israel failed, Jesus succeeded. Where Israel demanded bread from God, Jesus trusted that man does not live on bread alone. Where Israel worshipped the golden calf, Jesus refused to bow to anything but the Father. Where Israel tested God at Massah, Jesus refused to put God to the test. Jesus did what the first Adam could not do in the garden and what Israel could not do in the desert: He obeyed perfectly. He was not just a good example. He was doing something no human being had ever been able to do, living in complete trust and obedience to the Father under the most extreme pressure. That perfect obedience is the foundation of our salvation.
Discussion Questions
- At the baptism, the Father said He was pleased with Jesus before Jesus had done any miracles or preaching. What does it tell us about God that His love and approval come first, before the work?
- Jesus used Scripture three times to defeat the devil's temptations. Why do you think knowing what the Bible says is so important when you are facing something hard or tempting?
- The devil's temptations were not random. He tempted Jesus with comfort, power, and safety, three things every person wants. Which of those three do you think would be the hardest for you to say no to, and why?
"So What?" What Can I Do?
Jesus defeated every temptation with the same weapon: the written Word of God. He knew Scripture so well that it was the first thing that came out of His mouth under pressure. This week, memorize one verse from the Bible that speaks directly to something you find hard. Maybe it is a verse about patience when you get angry, or courage when you are afraid, or honesty when it would be easier to lie. Write it on a piece of paper and put it somewhere you will see it every day. That is how you build the same kind of readiness Jesus had in the wilderness.
Memorize God's Word
Luke 4:4: "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Hand Motions:
- Man shall not live: Shake your head "no" and hold one hand up flat like a stop sign.
- on bread alone: Pretend to hold a loaf of bread in both hands.
- but on every word: Open both hands flat like an open book.
- that comes from the mouth of God: Point to your mouth, then point both index fingers straight up toward heaven.
Praying with Kids
Dear Father, thank You for sending Jesus to do what we could never do on our own. Thank You that He faced every temptation we face and never gave in once. Thank You for the words You spoke over Him at the Jordan: "You are My Son, whom I love." Help us to know that because of Jesus, You say those same words over us. When we face temptation this week, help us to remember what Your Word says and to stand firm in it. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Craft: The Shield of Scripture
Children will make a small shield decorated with a memory verse, a reminder that Scripture is the weapon Jesus used against every attack and the same weapon God has given to us.
Materials Checklist
Instructions
- Pre-cut or help children cut a shield shape from the cardstock. A classic rounded-bottom shield works well for this age group.
- Cover the front of the shield with a piece of aluminum foil, wrapping the edges to the back and taping them down. The foil gives it a metallic, armor-like look.
- In the center of the shield, have children write the phrase "It Is Written" in bold letters with a dark marker.
- Below that phrase, have them write the memory verse reference: Luke 4:4.
- Let children decorate the edges of the shield with crosses, stars, or other designs using markers.
- Tape a strip of paper or cardstock across the back to create a simple handle so children can hold the shield up.
Effective Teaching Techniques
The temptation scene is most effective when you let the repetition build naturally. Each time the devil speaks, lower your voice slightly to make it sound cunning and persuasive. Each time Jesus answers, raise your voice and speak the Scripture confidently. That vocal contrast teaches children something important without you ever saying it out loud: the Word of God is stronger than anything the enemy can say. Do not soften the wilderness setting. Jesus was genuinely hungry after forty days with no food. Acknowledging that the temptations were real and the conditions were brutal makes Jesus' victory all the more impressive and meaningful. For the baptism scene, take a moment to point out that the Father spoke words of love and approval before Jesus had done a single public miracle. Ask children: "What does it feel like to know someone is proud of you before you have even done anything?" That question opens a door to talking about grace, identity, and how God sees us.