Was Jesus really tested by Satan? - Part #2 - some of the impossibilities.

Friends,


This is Part #2 in the series "Was Jesus really tested by Satan?". If you haven't read Part #1, please do read it before reading this one.

Can someone who was fasting for 40 days walk 90 miles and climb up a hill?

The wilderness to which Jesus was led by the spirit immediately after He was baptized by John the Baptist is nearly 20 miles (32 kms) to the south of Galilee. The tallest mountain in the vicinity of Israel is Mount Hermon which has a height of 1.75 miles (2.8 kms). The distance between Jerusalem and Mount Hermon is about 70 miles (113 kms). The approximate distance between the wilderness and Mount Hermon is about 90 miles (145 kms).


Given that there were no buses or trains during the days of Jesus, is it possible for someone who has been fasting for 40 days to walk 90 miles (145 kms) and climb up a mount that is 1.75 miles (2.8 kms) high?

Please note the plight of someone who was starving for just 3 days:

1Sa 30:11 And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;

1Sa 30:12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights

The spirit of that Egyptian, who has been starving for just three days, came back to him only after eating and drinking what the servants of David served him. Just imagine the plight of Jesus who has been starving for 40 days!

Did Jesus return to Galilee while he was still fasting? NO.

Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

As can be seen from other parts of the scriptures, angels ministered unto him implies that the angels gave Him water to drink and food to eat. (See Mar 1:31; Luk 4:39...)

Where was the temple? Was it in Jerusalem OR in the wilderness?

It is said that Jesus was tested in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. While He was in the wilderness, Satan took Him to the pinnacle of the temple in order to test Him:

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Luk 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, ...

Visualize this: while Osama Bin Laden was still alive, if someone found you walking through streets of your city or town, will anyone in your city/town ever forget it? Not merely you, they won't even spare your children and your grandchildren. Not merely that, you will always be watched by cops and law enforcement agencies.

Given such public attitude or sentiments, if Jesus did really move around the streets of Jerusalem with Satan (who is supposed to have a fearsome appearance) is it likely that His opponents would have kept quiet about such an event? (One may argue that Jesus was brought to the temple at night; but will the temple be opened during nights?) Was not Jesus having thousands and thousands of opponents, including Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes and Herodians? At the time of Jesus' trial, why none of them and even the false witnesses whom they brought came forward to accuse Jesus of moving around with Satan, if such a thing had taken place? (Mat 26:60, 61)

Ask these questions to your pastor / preacher and I am sure they will tell you that these things did not take place literally. I also say the same thing! If your pastor/preacher has discernment he/she will know that these thing did not take place, literally, but if they openly admit that truth, probably, they will lose their jobs!

Satan's suggestion to turn stones to bread.

Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

If someone undertakes fasting, he/she will have unbearable hunger on the the first two, three days. After 10 to 15 days hunger would subside. After 20 days there won't be hunger at all. It would be extremely unhealthy and even hazardous to start consuming solid food after fasting for 40 days. For this reason, those who break their fast, would do so by consuming moderate amounts of fruit juices.

It is not that easy for Satan to tempt Jesus (who was wiser than Solomon and was bestowed with the Holy Spirit without measure) after He has fasted for 40 days. If Satan had to tempt Jesus, it had to be done during the first few days of His fasting.

Did not Satan tempt Jesus after those 40 days in the wilderness?

Most of the preachers would say that Satan did not tempt Jesus after those 40 days. Let us see what the scriptures say:

Luk 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

While it is said 'he departed from him for a season', does it not imply that Satan did not leave Jesus once for all?

to be continued in part #3...
In Christ,
Tomsan Kattackal