Luke writes about humanity as a son of God. In Chapter 3 from verse 23 there is a genealogy of Jesus that goes back ultimately to Adam who is called the son of God. In the beginning of the bible Adam is referenced as a description of the first human, humanity as we would recognise it.

Therefore when talking about humanity Luke equates this to a son of God. (Use of the word ‘humanity’ is clearer as in this context ‘son of God’ could actually be male or female). We will see that Luke (and the bible) refers to a number of different ‘sons of God’ as God intervenes in history to demonstrate humanity as intended. The next series of studies looks at these in more detail.

Each time God introduces a new version of humanity he gives it a name. The first was Adam, the second Israel (as written about in the Old Testament, not to be confused with the modern country) and the third Jesus. The Kingdom of God was described by Luke as where God’s will was being done, the humanity that was expressing the life of Jesus.

Following his baptism, Jesus withdrew from contact with people, being led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for a period of days. Although Luke mentions that he was being tempted by the devil during this time, the main purpose would seem to be to clarify his understanding of what this ‘Kingdom of God’ was to be like, and how best to communicate it. The temptations of the devil indicate that he listened into these debates between Father, Son and Spirit, and then challenged Jesus specifically to divert him from achieving this aim. Before bringing this message, Jesus has to overcome these temptations that would have sent him on a different course.

If you are the Son of God?    

The first of the foundational subjects picked out by the devil from the discussions is about humanity and what it will be like in this new kingdom. The discussion is not about heaven, it is about earth and humanity. What will humanity (‘son of God’, new birth) be like? The discussion would have been about Jesus being the forerunner, the example, the first of a new humanity, the type of person who would characterise the new kingdom. The devil therefore puts doubt into the equation ‘If you are the Son of God?’. Are you really going to be someone who expresses humanity as God intends?    

Son of God

We have 3 examples of humanity referenced within these passages.

In the genealogy set out by Luke, he refers to Adam as the son of God. Adam is therefore the first example given of a type of humanity.

The second example is Israel. The 40 days in the wilderness is significant as it echoes the 40 years Israel spent between leaving Egypt and their birth as a new nation. The temptations address nations as well as individuals, and place a focus on Jerusalem, the spiritual capital of Israel. In the Old Testament Israel is called the son of God.

Overcoming the temptations of the devil, Jesus becomes the new example of humanity. The ‘Adam’ humanity fell for the devils’ temptation and therefore did not fulfil his potential. ‘Israel’ as a nation similarly did not fulfil their potential. Jesus, by resisting the devils’ temptations, stayed on track to fulfil his and new humanity’s potential.   

In Jesus, we all have the potential to be ‘sons of God’, new humanity.  

Messiah

The person the people at that time were expecting to lead them into a new experience of life was known as the Messiah. Messiah means anointed. Kings and priests, for example, were anointed to fulfil a duty. There were 3 things that the people of Israel were looking for in the Messiah:

1 He would provide ‘manna’ from heaven, as God had provided for Israel in the wilderness;

2 He would ‘rule’, as David had, so that they would be free from oppression;

3 He would demonstrate a ‘sign’, to bring belief and reassurance of His Messiahship.

These are the subjects of the 3 temptations in Luke chapter 4 verses 1 to 12.

At the start of chapter 4, Jesus is establishing his approach, and at the end of the chapter, at verse 43, states his aim of preaching the Kingdom of God. The chapter therefore gives us some insight into the foundational aspects of this kingdom, particularly through the record of the temptations and the first reading at Nazareth.