Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

He Helps Overcome Temptation

Jesus came to save men from the dirge of sin. He left His heavenly place with His Father to embody the fleshly form and die on the cross, redeeming sinful men. The scheme of redemption was formed before time began and was fulfilled in exacting details to the will of the Father. All men rejoice at God’s saving grace to give His Son that whosoever believed in Him would find eternal life. Heaven is a promise given by God, who cannot lie. The Bible unfolds the story of God’s mercy to save humanity from His wrath. Eternal life is real and made possible by Jesus.

The sacrifice of Jesus was not only to save men from their sins but also to help men in the trials of life. Jesus was born of a woman under the law to become an example of living in a world of temptation and serving God faithfully. His life demonstrates the completeness of serving the law of God to perfection as a human being fashioned as all men. Jesus experienced every facet of humanity. He was tempted in every fashion as any man today. There is nothing a man can face today that Jesus did not face. Jesus was made like a man to bear the brunt of temptation, as all men face.

If Jesus came to earth as a full-grown man and, within a week, died on the cross, what value would there be for anyone to follow His example? The Father willed Jesus to be born of a woman. God’s Son was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin who carried the Son of God for the natural time of birth. Mary gave birth to Jesus like any woman. Someone had to cut the umbilical cord of Jesus and wash His tiny body. Jesus learned to walk, talk, put his clothes on, use a hammer in his father’s shop, and help with the family business. The Son of God shared a home with stepbrothers and sisters.

When Jesus came of the age of knowledge, He was tempted by sin. Satan came to Jesus at the beginning of His ministry not to tempt Jesus for the first time. The devil had been after Jesus, the Son of God, for many years. He failed. What Satan sought to do was to tempt Jesus to take a different course than the will of the Father, and again, he failed. Jesus was willing to complete the will of the Father, even if it meant to die on the cross. All this was done to give all men the hope of salvation from one tempted in all points.

Jesus suffered the cruel temptations of Satan so that He could help those who are tempted by the same evil. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but not Jesus. He never sinned. His example is not given to brag or shame men. The example of Jesus is saying to anyone facing temptation that through the power of God, Satan can be defeated. Jesus defeated Satan every time He was tempted, and through His love for the Father, He left a pattern for anyone to look to the Son of God with hope and assurance. There is no temptation – no exception – a man will face a situation for which Jesus does not have an answer.

The story of Jesus is the power of God, showing all of us that Jesus is our help in temptation. He was made like to us to help us, and no one can help us like Jesus. There are great examples of faithful men and women who are examples of faith, but we have all sinned. How can anyone compare to the example of Jesus? He is the perfect pattern to overcome temptation. He lived on earth for over thirty years as a man and never sinned. He is my example. Jesus is my answer.