Which is harder? A person, who is powerless and is constantly taken advantage of, to refrain from taking the law into his own hands or a person who has absolutely power and yet for the sake of his subjects refrains from wiping them out?

I believe the latter is harder. Why is this relevant? Because that is what Jesus had to refrain from. That, I believe was the temptation Jesus faced and had to endure – the temptation to use His absolute power to unleash His wrath on evil doers!

Hebrews 2:18, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

What could God (Jesus) possibly be tempted with? Sex? Money? Power? Can’t be! He created those. Then what? I believe His greatest temptation was to break His loving nature with His holy nature. His temptation was to not send immediately to hell everyone who did not choose Him!

Imagine if you had absolute power and there are some that want to kill your own son. What would you be tempted to do?

Lesson: Break those we want to lead (children, students, friends, disciples, etc) with love rather than with power. Power often repels the rebellious. Love brings them back.

If Jesus was so patient with us that He refrained from wiping us out, how much more sinners like us should be longsuffering to those other sinners who irritate us!

PH