Jesus: A priest that understands us

Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 2:18 ; 4:15-16

That the students understand that Jesus, being completely human, was exposed to all types of temptations and emerged victoriously from them

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3a, NIV*).

Sometimes the students of your group may be asked: “How does God help us resist temptation?” They might say: “By making it disappear.” People who have this concept are often disappointed. Preadolescents should know that God will help them resist temptation. Sadly, some do not recognize that help, and seeing that it does not disappear, they surrender to it. Then they blame God saying: “I asked the Lord to remove the temptation, but he did not, so I surrendered to it.”

It is good to know what kind of help God gives us to face temptation. This will help the students identify their own responsibility. Every day, they face some kind of temptation. In this session, they’ll learn that temptation is not sin. It is sin only if they surrender to it.

They’ll also understand that God helps us in many ways. First, he alerts us when something is wrong. Second, he makes sure that the temptation is not too great, so that we can resist it. And third, he provides us an escape to avoid sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must accept the exit or way that God gives us. That’s our responsibility.

Jesus’ experience in the desert will encourage the students. Seeing that the Son of God faced the temptation and emerged victorious, he will help them realize that they too can overcome temptation.

Jesus showed us that a powerful tool in the face of temptation is the Word of God. This lesson challenges your students to learn Bible verses, since that will help them fight temptation. Jesus showed us the way. It is up to us to follow this tool.

The goal in the life of every Christian is to be like Jesus. Christ is our example of holiness in word, thought, and action.

Seeing through the revelation of the Gospels what Jesus’ life was like, it is easy to think that the same thing can happen to us too. Matthew 4:1 says: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Can we expect less? It is important to know that throughout our Christian life, we’ll also be tempted by the devil. And even though we pray, asking, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13), we should not be surprised when temptation arises.

This shared experience is the basis of our special relationship with Jesus. Since he knows human suffering, he understands all the tests we go through as mortals, as human beings.

However, he’s also God. In no other religion is there such a relationship between humanity and divinity. This is unique for Christianity.

What temptations and weaknesses that Jesus went through allow him to identify so much with us? If we examine the first chapters of Matthew, we can identify several of them.

In Matthew 4:1-11, we see that Jesus knew what hunger was; he knew what human appetite was. He also knew the danger, and possibly felt that extreme danger when the devil tempted to push him from the “pinnacle of the temple” (v. 5). Likewise, he learned what it was to desire power and fame.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) shows us that Jesus understood the human condition and all its consequences, and for that reason he taught about them. He knew that people lost their focus on the real mission (5:13-16), that they committed murder (5:21-22) and adultery (5:27-30). They also divorced (5:31-32). He recognized the human tendency to seek revenge (5:38-42), to accumulate material things (6:19-21, 24), to worry about food or clothes (6:25- 34), and to judge one another (7:1-5). He knew that they would need to seek the right help (7:7-12).

Due to his experience as a human being, Jesus knows what people are like. We can pray with the full confidence that Jesus understands us and that God will help us in whatever difficulties we have to face.

When preparing to teach your students, consider these two questions:

Think of a time in your own life that has been difficult. Do you feel that Jesus understood?

Meditate on your years as a preadolescent. What experiences did you have that can help you understand your students?

Talking about temptation

Hand out Student Activity Sheet #376-A (Let’s Talk About Temptation). Tell the group to get together again with a partner and talk about the questions on this activity sheet. Give enough time for each person to tell about their experience to their partners. Then ask some volunteers to tell the rest of the group about their experiences. Then discuss the other questions on the page.

Say: “We all face temptations everyday. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by this and we need someone to help us. Let’s see if we can discover some truths about temptation in today’s lesson.”

Ask the students to begin thinking about which the following ten statements are true. (Note that the group will respond after the lesson story.)

Temptation is sin.

Adults have more temptations than children.

Temptations come from God.

Jesus was tempted just like us.

If you are tempted, it means that you’re not close to God.

Jesus can help us overcome temptation.

There are some modern temptations today that Jesus does not really understand.

Temptation is something we all have to be concerned about.

There are some temptations that are impossible to resist.

There is nothing we can do to resist the temptations of our life.

Say: “During this activity, some interesting questions will come up. Let’s learn more about Jesus’ experiences in the face of temptation and how they relate to us.”

Distribute Student Activity Sheet #376-B.

The desert test

If you have a blackboard or whiteboard write these three questions on it before the session begins. (If you do not have a blackboard or white board, use a large sheet of paper or a poster.):

What did the enemy want Jesus to do?

Why was Jesus tempted to do that?

How did Jesus respond?

In the group, remind them of the theme of this unit, Jesus is Unique. Remind them: “Last week we learned that Jesus is completely God and completely man. What Bible story illustrated that truth?” Let them respond. Then ask, “Could you give me some examples of the qualities that show Jesus as God and others as a human being?” Allow them to give you examples. If they need help, review the Bible story from the previous session, as well as the verse of the month (Hebrews 1:3). Repeat the verse several times.

Ask: “Do you think that Jesus ever had to face temptation?” Let some respond. Then, tell them that the Bible passage they’re going to read happened immediately after John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

Have your students help you read Matthew 4:1-11. Then read the first verse again. Explain that this passage describes the three temptations that Jesus had to endure. Then, divide into three groups and assign them the following parts to discuss:

Group 1: verses 1-4

Group 2: verses 5-7

Group 3: verses 8-11

After reading the verses, ask each group to discuss and answer the three questions you wrote, according to the part of the story that each one had.

What did the enemy want Jesus to do?

Why was Jesus tempted to do that?

How did Jesus respond?

When they’re finished, let them tell the rest of the group their answers.

Choose some of these activities to help the students connect the biblical truth with their lives.

Truths about temptation

Say: “Now that we know some details about Jesus’ experience in the face of temptation, let’s go back to the sentences from the beginning in which we had to put true or false.”

If possible, have some students volunteer one by one to read the 10 statements from the Introduce the Lesson section.

Temptation is sin.

Adults have more temptations than children.

Temptations come from God.

Jesus was tempted just like us.

If you are tempted, it means that you’re not close to God.

Jesus can help us overcome temptation.

There are some modern temptations today that Jesus does not really understand.

Temptation is something we all have to be concerned about.

There are some temptations that are impossible to resist.

There is nothing we can do to resist the temptations of our life.

After each statement is read, provide the correct answer, and open the discussion so that everyone can comment on it.

Temptation is sin. (False) Read James 1:14-15. Explain: “All people experience temptations and that is not a sin. It is when the person begins to think about the possibility and imagining doing the wrong thing and finally does it that it becomes sin. Jesus was tempted. He experienced all kinds of temptations, just like us. But he did not sin. He did not give in to them.”

Adults have more temptations than children. (False) Make two lists on the blackboard, writing the situations with which children are tempted, and those that adults have. Help them understand that we all have to face temptations.

Temptations come from God. (False) Read James 1:13. God sometimes allows us to have trials, but he never tempts us to do wrong.

Jesus was tempted just like us. (True) Read Hebrews 4:15. Jesus truly suffered and was tempted in everything. It is not that he has specifically experienced every temptation we have, but he did experience all kinds of temptations.

If you are tempted, it means that you’re not close to God. (False) Jesus was closer to God than any other human being in the world and suffered difficult temptations. Generally, the closer we are to God, the more temptations we seem to have.

Jesus can help us overcome temptation. (True) Read Hebrews 2:18. Jesus has the ability to help us overcome temptation and resist the desire to carry it out. All of us can overcome them if we ask Jesus to help us.

There are some modern temptations today that Jesus does not really understand. (False) Tell your students some of the reflections of the “Biblical Commentary.” The specific temptations we face differ from those that Jesus experienced, but they’re the same kind of temptations.

Temptation is something we all have to be concerned about. (True) Read 1 Corinthians 10:12. Everyone must be alert to temptation. We do not have to be obsessed or constantly think about temptations, but it is necessary to be on guard so we can resist when temptations come.

There are some temptations that are impossible to resist. (False) Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. God allows us to be tested to a certain point. He knows what each one can resist, and that’s why he will never allow us to be tested beyond that limit.

There is nothing we can do to resist the temptations of our life. (True, False) Read: Matthew 18:7, 1 Corinthians 16:13, James 4:7, 2 Timothy 2:22, and Matthew 6:13. These passages show us that temptation is always present. But there are things we can do to face it: pray for help, resist those that come upon us, and flee from those situations where we’re more likely to be tempted.

He himself suffered being tempted

Have two students help you read Hebrews 4:16 and Hebrews 2:18. Then say: “When we face temptations, we need someone to help us, and we have it. Jesus experienced all kinds of temptations, and overcame sin! He is willing to help each one of us overcome sin.”

Have the students form four groups to talk to about the following questions.

Group 1: Why was it important that Jesus didn’t sin when he was tempted?

Group 2: What weapon did Jesus choose to use to overcome temptation?

Group 3: What can you do to be firm and overcome temptation?

Group 4: How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus was tempted in the same way that you are tempted?

After talking for several minutes, allow them to share their answers with the group.