In the pattern of the Mosaic tabernacle, Jesus’ time before His ministry was represented by the outer court. Next in the journey through the Mosaic tabernacle is the veil at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Only priests, from age thirty to age fifty, were allowed through the second veil into the Holy Place of the tent of meeting where they daily performed duties.
“Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, from thirty years and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting.” Numbers 4:2-3 NASB
This requirement suggests that in order for Jesus to symbolically pass through this veil as He enters His ministry, He must be at least thirty years old. And, of course, Jesus was thirty years old when He was baptized and began His ministry.
And when He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, Luke 3:23 NASB
The veil at the entrance to the tent of meeting represents the third and final public ceremony for Jesus as a Jewish son, the declaration by his father that he is a mature son and heir. This declaration for Jesus occurred at His baptism in the River Jordan officiated by His relative, John the Baptist.
As the eldest son of a priest, John the Baptist would have had the opportunity to become a priest in the tradition of the Levites, but instead he was called by God Almighty to minister outside the established order.
Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:1-2 NASB
John’s message, his clothing, his diet, and where he delivered his message were such that the Jewish leadership questioned him to learn whether he was one of those whom the Jews were anticipating from prophecy. One of those was the Messiah/Christ. A second one was a prophet like Elijah preceding the Day of the Lord.
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6 NASB
A third prophecy was a prophet like Moses, known as the Prophet.
“And the LORD said to me [Moses], ‘They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.’ ” Deuteronomy 18:17-19 NASB
With these expectations, the Jewish leadership was interested in whether John was the fulfillment of one of these prophecies.
And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” And he confessed, and did not deny, and he confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” They said then to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice crying in the wilderness, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD’, as Isaiah the prophet said.” John 1:19-23 NASB
John identified himself with the words in Isaiah 40:3 as one crying in the wilderness who was sent to prepare the way for the Christ.
For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!” Matthew 3:3 NASB
The religious leadership did not recognize the contemporary work of God Almighty. Unfortunately, throughout time, this has proven to be the rule rather than the exception.
Though John indicated that he was not the Elijah ministry which the Jewish leaders were looking for, Jesus confirmed that John was the fulfillment of an Elijah ministry.
“For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you care to accept it, he himself is Elijah, who was to come.” Matthew 11:13-14 NASB
However, Jesus stated that there will be another Elijah ministry.
And His disciples asked Him saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; but I say to you, that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist. Matthew 17:10-13 NASB
John was similar to Elijah in several ways. Elijah and John had similarities in appearance. The description of Elijah included mention of hair and leather.
And they answered him, “He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” 2Kings 1:8 NASB
The same is true for John.
Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather belt about his waist; and his food was locust and wild honey. Matthew 3:4 NASB
Elijah anointed and John baptized the one who succeeded them. At God Almighty’s direction, Elijah anointed Elisha as his successor.
And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.” … So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 1Kings 19:15-16,19 NASB
John was directed to baptize the multitudes, and from the multitudes would come the One. John did as directed, and God Almighty sent the Messiah/Christ to John.
And it came about in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mark 1:9 NASB
Elijah and John were persecuted by the wife of a king. After he killed the prophets of Baal, Elijah was persecuted by Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab.
Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done; and how he had killed the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 1Kings 19:1-3 NASB
John was persecuted by Herodias, the wife the King Herod, because of John’s criticism of their relationship.
For Herod had seized John, and bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet. Matthew 14:3-5 NASB
Elijah and John were removed from the story in dramatic fashion. Elijah was taken to heaven.
Then it came about as they [Elijah and Elisha] were going along and talking, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 2Kings 2:11 NASB
Events surrounding John the Baptist’s execution were quite dramatic.
But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Thereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. And having been prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” … And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl; and she brought it to her mother. Matthew 14:6-8,10-11 NASB
In addition to his role as Elijah, John was sent to prepare the way of the messiah.
“And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17 NASB
Jesus acknowledged John’s role in preparing the way for Him.
And as these were going away, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces. But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it was written, ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’” Matthew 11:7-10 NASB
In the role of a forerunner, John’s ministry offered a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4 NASB
This was a new concept for the nation of Israel, because for them the atonement for sins was accomplished with animal sacrifices conducted by priests at the temple in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, the people of Israel came to John to be baptized.
Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. Matthew 3:5-6 NASB
John as a forerunner announced the coming of the Messiah/Christ who would manifest the kingdom of God Almighty on earth.
The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one is forcing his way into it. Luke 16:16 NASB
Hence, John preached the immediacy of the kingdom of God Almighty and the coming of a new, spiritual light.
There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. John 1:6-8 NASB
John, though not the light, was one of the stars who give light to a world in darkness.
“You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. But the witness which I receive is not from man; but I say these things, that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.” John 5:33-35 NASB
John, filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15), announced the coming of the kingdom of heaven, but he was not a member of the kingdom of heaven.
“I say to you, among those born of women, there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28 NASB
John acknowledged the difference between his spiritual standing and that of Jesus.
“As for me, I baptize you in water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not even fit to remove His sandals; He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11 NASB
John the Baptist’ ministry as a forerunner included baptizing the Messiah/Christ of God Almighty. Although God Almighty did not specifically identify for John who was to be the Messiah/Christ, He did tell John how he would be able to recognize the Him.
“And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ ” John 1:33 NASB
At the date set by the father (Galatians 4:1-2), Jesus presented Himself to John for baptism.
And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him,” Matthew 3:16 NASB
“And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34 NASB
John understood that, after he had baptized the Messiah/Christ with water, his role thereafter was to diminish.
John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ’, but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ … He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:27-28,30 NASB
After John baptized Jesus with water, God Almighty anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power.
“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 NASB
This anointing or filling of Jesus with the Holy Spirit was not something new, for others, including John the Baptist (Luke 1:15), had received the Holy Spirit. Yet there was a demonstrable difference between what John received and what Jesus received, and that was the fullness of the Spirit.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness. Luke 4:1 NASB
“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. John 3:34 NASB
Jesus could be filled full of the Holy Spirit because He was empty of sin. A sinner can be filled with the Holy Spirit, but not fully because of the sinful nature inherited from his/her spiritual father. With the lack of sin and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was a life-giving spirit of a heavenly realm.
So also it is written “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 1Corinthians 15:45-48 NASB
Another facet of Jesus at the Jordan River is his adoption as the Son of God Almighty. Most societies provide a declaration to signify the transition of one from adolescent to adult, and that declaration of adulthood in the USA is codified in governmental policy as the 18th birthday. In Jesus’ time, the child’s father made a public declaration that the child had reached full maturity (adoption), and the time of this declaration was at the father’s discretion (Gal 4:1-2), though there were probably conventions that were followed. Per the custom of the time and as the supposed father of Jesus, Joseph would have had the responsibility to make the public declaration of the adoption of Jesus as an adult son. As we have discussed, Joseph is not mentioned in scripture after the time when Jesus, at age twelve, remained behind in Jerusalem to participate in Temple discussions after the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So, scripture is silent concerning whether Joseph made an announcement that Jesus was a mature, adult son.
However, we do have a record of the public declaration of Jesus’ status as a mature, adult Son by His spiritual Father, God Almighty.
And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 NASB
Thus God Almighty, following the practice of the time, made a public declaration that Jesus had reached the status of His adult son. By this declaration, God Almighty fulfilled His obligation as Father and declared that Jesus, His beloved Son (Matt 3:17), had been given the Father’s full authority.
“The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.” John 3:35 NASB
A consequence of Jesus’ adoption as a mature son was that He was made a priest of God Almighty and thereby became eligible to pass through the veil and enter into the Holy Place within the tent of meeting.
And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, but He [Jesus], on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Hebrews 7:23-24 NASB
In addition, God Almighty also made Jesus His heir.
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Hebrews 1:1-2 NASB
Being named heir of all things implies that Jesus will become King of kings and Lord of lords (ITim 6:15, Rev 17:14).
Jesus’ adoption at the River Jordan, at the time set by His Father, released Jesus from the tutelage of guardians and mangers (the Law, Gal 4:1-2), declared Jesus as God Almighty’s mature Son, anointed Jesus as a priest with the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and made Jesus an heir of God Almighty. However, there was one more event required of Jesus in order to complete preparation for His ministry as a life-giving spirit, and that was to encounter temptation by Satan.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 NASB
The temptation of the man Adam is a pattern for Jesus’ temptation, and the temptation of the two Adams, the first Adam and the last Adam (1Cor15:45-48), are displayed in the following chart.
Both the man Adam and Jesus were brought to a new place where the temptation would occur. The man Adam was placed in the garden of God Almighty.
And the LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Genesis 2:8 NASB
Jesus was led into a natural wilderness,
And immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. Mark 1:12 NASB
Both men were with beasts. The man Adam was with the beasts of the field.
And out of the ground the LORD formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. Genesis 2:19 NASB
Jesus was with the wild beasts.
And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Mark 1:13 NASB
Both men were in communion with the spiritual world. The man Adam was in the presence of God Almighty. We can see conformation of this by contrast with the situation after the disobedience.
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 NASB
Jesus was ministered to by angels.
And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Mark 1:13 NASB
The temptation of both the man Adam and Jesus included the presence of a spirit from the kingdom of Light and one from the kingdom of darkness. These differing spirits represented a choice for the men. For the man Adam, the choice was described as between the fruit of two trees (Gen 3:16-17). In fact, the man Adam was offered the choice of doing the will of God Almighty or doing the will of Satan. The man Adam was offered the choice of suffering the denial/death of self-will or suffering the death of the body. The man Adam was offered the choice of life or death.
For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5 NASB
Jesus was tempted in all ways just like the rest of humanity, including the man Adam.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB
Jesus was tempted in each of the three components of humanity. First, Jesus was tempted with food for the body.
And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:2-3 NASB
Then, Jesus was tempted with a challenge of His spiritual identity.
Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, … Matthew 4:5-6 NASB
Finally, Jesus was tempted in the soul with all the kingdoms of the world.
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9 NASB
The trade-off was that Jesus would have to worship Satan, and, if He were to do so, Jesus would be doing the will of Satan rather than the will of God Almighty
The two men responded differently to their temptation. The prophet Isaiah told us the origin for the choice made by the man Adam.
“But you said in your heart, / ‘I will ascend to heaven; / I will raise my throne above the stars of God, / And I will sit on the mount of assembly / In the recesses of the north. / I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; / I will make myself like the Most High.’ ” Isaiah 14:13-14 NASB
From Ezekiel 28, we find that Adam’s heart was lifted up because of his riches (vs.5), and he wanted to make his heart like the heart of God (vs. 2, 6). The man Adam was expressing himself through his will.
Jesus, like the man Adam, was offered the choice between doing the will of God Almighty and doing the will of Satan. Jesus chose to do the will of God Almighty and overcame all the temptations of Satan.
“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 5:30 NASB
Jesus dismissed Satan after the final temptation.
Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’ ” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Matthew 4:10-11 NASB
Both men must face death. The man Adam chose the life of the soul/self-will and must face death of the body as a consequence of his sin.
So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. Genesis 5:5 NASB
On the other hand, Jesus willing accepted an unwarranted death.
“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 10:17-18 NASB
Hence the temptation of the man Adam is a pattern for the temptation of Jesus.
From this point on, Jesus is covering new ground for humanity, because Jesus is the first of humanity to overcome all temptation and thereby remain true to God Almighty.
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NASB
Furthermore, Jesus has shown us what we must do in order to be overcomers. We must die the spiritual death that Jesus died, that is, death to self and will, because only God Almighty’s will is done in His kingdom or in His presence.
“Thy kingdom come. / Thy will be done, / On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 NASB
There can be no other wills in the kingdom of God Almighty. Therefore, one must die to self/will if one is to be in the presence of God Almighty, either on earth or in heaven. For those on earth, if one loses his life of self/will, then one will gain eternal life. On the other hand, if one chooses to keep the life of self/will, then s/he will lose the opportunity for eternal life while on earth.
“For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 8:25-26 NASB
God Almighty’s call to us is not to succumb to temptation as did the man Adam but to overcome as did Jesus. And, humanity can only be overcomers through death to self and will.
Jesus’ temptation occurred during forty days when He was in the wilderness.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, while tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, he became hungry. Luke 4:1-2 NASB
Forty is the number of years Moses lived in wilderness around Midian before he met God Almighty on the mountain.
“And after forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH.” Acts 7:30 NASB
Forty is the number of days Moses spent on the mountain in the wilderness after the exodus while he met with God Almighty.
“When I went up to the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which the LORD had made with you, then I remained on the mountain forty days and nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water.” Deuteronomy 9:9 NASB
Forty is the number of days that Elijah spent traveling through the wilderness to meet God Almighty upon His mountain.
And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him [Elijah] and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. 1Kings 19:7-8 NASB
Forty is the number of years that the Israelites spent in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
“According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you shall know my opposition. I the LORD have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathering together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they shall die.” Numbers 14:34-35 NASB
Based on these scriptures, the number forty is symbolic of a time of trial, testing, and/or temptation.
Of interest to us is what happened in these instances after the forty days/years. After forty years, Moses met God Almighty at Mount Sinai. After forty days upon Mount Sinai, Moses delivered the tablets of the ten commandments to the Israelites. After forty days of travel, Elijah met God Almighty upon Mount Sinai. It appears that these times of trial, testing, or temptation produced a cleansing or purification of Moses and Elijah that allowed them to enter the presence of God Almighty or to provide service to God Almighty.
Similarly, Jesus, having overcome the temptations of Satan during the forty days in the wilderness established Himself as an overcomer, and Jesus was ready to begin his ministry.
And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. Luke 4:13-15 NASB
Jesus’ ministry brought the kingdom of God to earth.
Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He [Jesus] answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20-21 NASB
The kingdom of God Almighty is not of the realm of the physical world.
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, them My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” John 18:36 NASB
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