WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
We are tempted by our own desires. There is no superhuman `satan` in God`s universe.
Finally, in this section 4, we must look at some places in the Bible where `satan` and `the devil` are referred to, and ask `if this is not a super-human evil being, who or what is it?`
We start with the Old Testament because `satan` (though not `the devil`) is mentioned there in a way that seems to contradict what I am suggesting.
There are two clear examples where someone called `Satan` appears, but he is a character in a kind of drama set in a tribunal, or a court of law.
In these `dramas`, `Satan` represents the opposition to God`s ways coming from men and women at the time.
Job chapters 1 & 2.
Job was the most godly person of his time. He was also very rich and powerful. It was natural for envious minds to suggest that Job only served God because God rewarded him with the good things of this life.
The `sons of God` are His worshippers: we are not told whether they are angels or humans.
A character called Satan appears in the early scenes of the drama (the first two chapters of the book) to oppose Job or be a satan to him).
Satan makes this evil suggestion openly, and God gives Satan the power to test this out.
Then in plainer language we see how Job trusted in God and survived the test, in spite of his friends` advice.
Finally in chapter 42:11 his family console him for all the trouble that the Lord had brought upon him.
The Satan character, having played his part, has disappeared. In Isaiah 45:7 God says “I form the light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity.
I am the LORD who does all these things”. The idea of a rival god who is responsible for evil is quite wrong.
Zechariah chapter 3.
This book describes the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple after they were destroyed by the Babylonians.
There was much opposition from Samaritan people who settled in the area after the Jews were taken away, but God would defeat the opposition and allow the rebuilding to succeed.
Ezra chapter 4 describes this in plain language. Zech 3 is a vision which shows this contest in the form of a play or drama.
Here the Satan character represents the opposition from these Samaritans, who would be `rebuked` by the angel of God.
The High Priest would then change his working clothes to Priest`s robes, and the Temple services would start again. This was the meaning at the time.
More important, the chapter is also a wonderful prophecy of the crowning of Jesus as our perfect High Priest. Jesus came about 400 years later.
The Hebrew name `Joshua` means the same as `Jesus`, which comes from Latin. Both mean `Yah shall save`.
Joshua`s garments were soiled – building is dirty work. This represented human nature which as we have seen is `dirty` stuff.
When Jesus was here he had the same nature as we do, but because he always pleased God he was raised to life again with God`s nature – like the High Priest changing his robes for clean and splendid ones.
So now to the New Testament to see how Jesus` temptations are shown in the same dramatic way – Jesus versus Satan.
Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13.
These temptations of Jesus are recorded in three Gospels, which shows how important they are.
If we forget what the Old Testament tells us about temptation, they do seem to say that an evil super-human visited Jesus. But here is one more Bible `drama`.
Remember - when we asked where opposition to God come from, the answer in plain (not picture) language was always “from human nature”. Jesus shared this nature.
Look at Luke 4:6, where the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment. This happened in his own mind, because even from space you can only see half of the world.
Then satan offered Jesus all the glory of them, saying “it has been delivered unto me, and I give it to whom I will”.
So we ask “who has the world been promised to, and who has the right to share it with others ?” The answer is in Psalm 2:8-9; Luke 22:28-30; Rev 2:26-7.
The world has only been promised to Jesus, and he was so sure of it that he promised his followers a share in it. Jesus` temptation therefore was in his own mind, as were the others.
Temptations came into Jesus` mind in his human weakness, but he always overcame them by recalling God`s words. This is the example he gives us.
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What The Bible Says
