3.4.8.3 Jesus' temptation in the wilderness
After His baptism in the Jordan, Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness "to be tempted by the Devil" (Matthew 4: 1). He remained there for forty days and was tempted several times by the Devil. Jesus withstood the temptation and rejected the Devil.
This event is of significance for the history of salvation: Adam succumbed to temptation and fell into sin, while Christ–"who ... was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4: 15)–resisted temptation as the New Adam. Already before the start of His public activity, He proved Himself as the victor over Satan.
SUMMARY
The history of Jesus of Nazareth is the story of the saving intervention of God in the course of the world. The gospels are not biographies, but rather testimonies of faith. (3.4.8￫)
The uniqueness of the Man Jesus is emphasised by the virgin birth. His conception and birth are events of salvation and are thus part of salvation history. (3.4.8.1￫)
Although Jesus Christ is without sin, He allowed Himself to be baptised by John the Baptist and to be counted among the sinners. After the baptism, the divine Sonship of Jesus was proclaimed to the entire world by God, the Father. (3.4.8.2￫)
Just before the start of His public activity, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness. He proved to be victor over Satan. (3.4.8.3￫)
The focal point of Jesus' teaching was the kingdom of God in its present and future form. In Jesus Christ it was personally present. (3.4.8.4￫)