As I was reading about the temptation of Jesus I was stricken by the fact that the three major components of His being were tested.  His body was tempted by turning stones to bread, His mind by the thought of jumping from the high pinnacle and being rescued by God, and His spirit by the offer of power should He agree to bow down to Satan.  Mind, body and Spirit demonstrated once again as being inextricably intertwined. 

The temptation in the desert marked the beginning of the ministry of Jesus which would culminate in the saving Word of the Gospel. If Jesus had failed the initial trial, I dare say, He would never have made it to the cross.   This was never really a risk, however, because God already knew that Jesus would not fail.  Perhaps the temptation was not so much about seeing what Jesus would do, but rather showing us what WE should do and how to put Satan in his place. 

It seems to me the war was won before the first battle began, in that very moment when Jesus chose to defy the enemy in favor of God’s way.  Perhaps it is that way for us as well.  The best time to snuff out the temptation to sin is when it is just a smoldering suggestion, a whim, a fancy....for even the most heinous of sins has it’s small beginning within the dark recesses of the mind.