No good deed goes unpunished- what a phrase- yet, you have heard it said and have experienced it in your life- It’s one of those things that you were sure you were doing everything right- and maybe it begins pretty good- then something happens, the person your helping, the act of kindness you did, the excellent job you did; instead of receiving an atta-boy or great job you were criticized and unappreciated! The rug was pulled out from under you- it’s almost like someone gut-punching you and all the air leaves your body! Is this resonating with anyone? Been there done that?!
This happens in life, and it happens in our faith journeys as well. You’ve accepted Jesus, you are going to church, reading your Bible, and you’ve made some commitments and headway in your faith- and then BAM! This faith stuff- this relationship with Jesus isn’t what we signed for. Jesus said, “follow me” but it feels like you fell off the map and that He’s left you in the lurch. You are in good company- we have all been there.
In Matthew chapter 2, Jesus was 4-6 years of age moving back to Nazareth. Matthew doesn’t mention Jesus again until chapter 3 when he introduces us to John the Baptizer and the ministry down by the Jordan River. The main focus of John’s ministry is to prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to begin His ministry on earth. And now Jesus arrives on the scene at the Jordan River.
Jesus went to John for the purpose of being baptized by him. Jesus wasn’t being baptized to show that he was repenting of his sins- He went there to be our example and to have this event be the beginning of His ministry on earth! This was an act of amazing humility on Jesus’ part-He who knew no sin became the atonement for ours. “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18. Jesus, in obedience to His Father- God, went to the Jordan river to be baptized and to submit to going under for your sins and my sins.
As Jesus exited the water the Father God made it known He was pleased and that what Jesus did would not go unnoticed. God said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him.” Jesus received affirmation from His Father God- He was right where He was supposed to be, doing exactly what He was supposed to be doing!
You and I need encouragement and the affirmation from God that tells us- affirms us that we are on the right track or that we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing.
For Jesus this was a mountain top experience. It was a time to enjoy His position in the Trinity and build on this to begin His ministry to the masses. Jesus could have gone straight out of the Jordan and begin preaching and telling everyone that He was the Messiah sent by God. He could have chosen his disciples and gotten started on the city-to-city tours that He led for the next 3 years. He could have, but He didn’t!
Instead, as we read in chapter 4, God the Father had other plans for Jesus. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.”
Jesus faced this time in the wilderness for 40 days. 40 days of fasting and praying. 40 days in the wilderness- 40 days of solitude to think and pray and prepare for the next 3 years. 40 days without food! 40 days of preparing and thinking. Then at the end of the 40 days- Jesus got a huge reward! NOT!!! In fact, the opposite happened! Instead, what happened to Jesus happens to most of us at one time or another. For every good and great event in our lives- the time that follows can almost feel like we are being punished. Jesus experienced a huge high event in his life- hearing His Father affirm him and having the Holy Spirit physically alight on his shoulder. And then 40 days later He is faced with terrible testing from Satan himself. Just when Jesus is hungry and tired and ready to go home and get a good meal and a bed to sleep on- here comes the enemy- to destroy Him if possible.
Again, you and I have faced these times too. I’ve went away on a retreat- heard some great speakers, made some decisions about vision, and the future. I’ll come home feeling confident and ready to take on the world! And then, everything hits the fan. The plans are shot down by people I respect, the everyday workload is super heavy, family problems appear and the time on the mountain, the time of hanging out with God meets reality and lies shattered all over the ground. When we are in this time of ‘why God, didn’t I hear you right?’ This is when the enemy will attack- when we are tired, hungry, and spiritually spent!
It doesn’t seem fair- but such is life. Jesus lived it so that He could better identify with us and so that we could see that we too can say no to the temptations of the evil one. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing’s we do, yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15.
As followers of Christ temptation is going to happen. We aren’t sinning when we are tempted- that happens when we decide to follow that sin- that’s when we sin against Christ. Jesus was without sin, yet He too was tempted.
Jesus went from the ‘mountaintop’ experience to experience a difficult time alone. He didn’t have an ‘easy’ time of it. Even after this time of testing, His life was full of ups and downs- good times, high times, and terribly bleak times too. He experienced life as we do.
Our faith journey will be filled with those same ups and downs too. If Jesus went through it- we will as His followers as well. Jesus said to his disciples, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”-Jesus. God is taking away His hand so that we can learn to walk with Him. God isn’t punishing you. God is shaping you into the son and daughter He wants you to be.
Are you in a tough place right now? Walk with Jesus – don’t fall for the lies of the devil. Keep walking! If you are experiencing the mountaintop- enjoy it and appreciate it and be prepared for the days ahead. Follow Jesus!
He is with you, and He is for you.
