There are many people, who always feel the need to prove themselves to others. There are even many Christians, who feel the need to prove themselves to others. They want to show others that they belong to God and want to prove they are ‘good’ Christians and have knowledge of the Bible, pray, and live devoted lives. How about you? Do you always want to prove yourself to others? Have you ever wondered, why you want to prove yourself to other people? Jesus was tempted many times to prove Himself, but Jesus didn’t need to prove Himself. Why didn’t Jesus need to prove Himself? What does the Bible say about proving yourself to others?
Jesus was tempted by the devil to prove Himself
Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, fulfilled His work on the earth by doing the will of His Father. Jesus walked after the Spirit, preached the words of God, and called the people to repentance and the signs and wonders followed Him (Read also: God’s work of redemption).
Jezus redeemed many people from the oppression of the devil. But while Jesus was doing the work of His Father, He was tempted by the devil, many times.
After Jesus was baptized in water and with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
The devil tried to tempt Jesus to prove that He was indeed the Son of God. But Jesus knew who He was and didn’t feel the need to prove Himself and defeated the devil with the Word (Matthew 4:1-11).
But the devil didn’t give up and continued his mission to tempt Jesus and lead Him into sin.
The devil didn’t always approach Jesus directly, as in the wilderness, but he used people to accomplish his mission.
How was Jesus tempted by the people? Jesus was tempted by the people by asking Him for a sign, to prove that He really was the Son of God.
Jesus was tempted by the people asking Him for a sign
Although Jesus did so many signs and wonders, it was never enough. The people remained in unbelief and always wanted some other kind of sign.
Why did the people want another sign? Would they have believed if Jesus had given them what they asked for? No! The only reason they wanted another sign was to tempt Jesus and lead Him into sin.
Because all the signs and wonders Jesus did, were done out of the will and the commandment of His Father and not of man.
If Jesus would have obeyed the commandment of man and would have given them a sign to prove Himself as the Son of God, then Jesus would have given into the temptation and would have become disobedient to His Father (Read also: What does Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven mean? and What does disobedience to God mean?)
Jesus never gave in to the temptation of the devil or man. He didn’t need to prove Himself that He was the Son of God.
God testified of His Son Jesus Christ
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased (Luke 3:22)
When Jesus was baptized in water and with the Holy Spirit, God testified of Jesus. God’s testimony was sufficient.
Jesus didn’t need the testimony and confirmation of people, nor some other proof or certificate of the Sanhedrin, that He knew God’s Word. Jesus didn’t need anything and anybody, because Jesus knew who He was.
Jesus’ future didn’t depend upon certificates, titles, PhDs, testimonies, and references of man, schools, or agencies (Read also: Who is Jesus Christ really?).
Jesus knew who He was and didn’t have to prove HImself
Jesus was (and still is) the Son of God, and walked as the Son of God, and did many signs and wonders among the people. But no matter how many signs or wonders Jesus did, the Pharisees and Sadducees didn’t stop tempting Jesus:
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas (Matthew 12:38-39)
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:1-3)
Then answered the Jews and said unto Him, What sign shewest Thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things (John 2:18)
Jesus didn’t fall into their trap. Jesus knew, who their father was. He knew that the devil would use his sons to tempt Him to sin. Jesus knew the nature of fallen man (old creation).
But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25)
Do you need the testimony of the world?
Jesus didn’t need the testimony of the world. The testimony of His Father was enough for Him. Jesus spoke with authority and walked in authority after the Spirit. He didn’t doubt any moment about who He really was. That’s why Jesus wasn’t tempted.
There are many people, who are tempted and always want to prove themselves. And this behavior has also been adopted in the church.
Many Christians are daily tempted to prove themselves and many fall into this trap.
How many Christians put a title in front of their name to prove themselves to others and distinguish themselves from others?
They use titles to put themselves in a position, and to be acknowledged and gain respect from people and feel self-confident.
But the devil isn’t impressed by names, titles, diplomas, and PhDs, in fact, the devil laughs about it!
What really matters is, whether you are born again in Christ and have become a son of God (this applies to both males and females) and whether you walk and live as a son of God on earth.
If you know who you are in Christ, you don’t have to prove yourself
Do you know who you are in Christ and your position in Him? Do you speak the words of God with authority and walk in the Word in authority, like Jesus? (Read also: How to walk in the dominion that God has given to the new creation?)
Jesus knew, Who He really was. When you know, who you really are in Him, you shall not have the need or tendency to prove yourself to others.
What do you do when people falsely accused you?
When people tempt you, to see who you really are, let them. Don’t fall into their traps.
When people (falsely) accuse you of something, let them go, because you know the truth and what you have done. As long as you walk in integrity in obedience to God, you don’t owe any explanation to people. God takes care of you.
When people want to argue with you about the Bible, don’t be tempted into discussions. Don’t fall into the trap and be dragged into heated endless discussions. You have to become aware and know, who is behind all these things; the devil.
Be still and remain silent
It’s so important to stay in Christ and to know Him, and walk in authority as a son of God. Don’t be tempted and don’t be led by your flesh (senses, feelings, emotions etc), but be led by the Spirit and be still.
That’s what Jesus did. Jesus not only defeated the devil by His Word, but He also defeated the devil by His silence at the right moments.
How hard is it to keep your mouth shut and stay silent when you are accused of something that you didn’t do? When you are falsely accused and the accusers are standing before you, you would assume that it would be the right time to defend yourself and prove your innocence. But that’s what you do when you are carnal.
Jesus was brought before the council and was tempted to prove Himself as the Son of God
Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked Him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly (Matthew 27:11-14)
When Jesus was brought before the council and was falsely accused, Jesus could have proven Himself as the Son of God and the King of the Jews, but again, Jesus wasn’t tempted by the devil and didn’t fall into his trap. Jesus resisted the devil by remaining silent.
When you are carnal and walk after the flesh, you will have the urge to prove yourself and when you obey your flesh, you will fall into the trap of the devil.
But Jesus didn’t fall into the trap of the devil. He knew the devil’s works and therefore Jesus stayed obedient to His Father and let silence be His wisdom (Read also: Are we not ignorant of satan’s devices?).
Jesus was tempted at the cross, one last time, to prove Himself as the Son of God
And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him:for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth (Mattheüs 27:39-44)
When Jesus hung on the cross, the devil tried to tempt Jesu one more time through the chief priests, the scribes, the elders, the two thieves, who were also crucified, and the people who passed by.
They not only tempted Jesus into sin, but they even tempted God.
But Jesus kept silent… and finished His work!
‘Be the salt of the earth’
