The three temptations of Jesus correlate directly to the three affirmations spoken over him following his baptism. The first temptation, “If you are the Only Begotten, command these stones to turn into bread” (Matthew 4:3–4), gets at the lie I am what I do and the program for happiness of power and control. Certainly, if Jesus was God’s Child, he should be able to demonstrate that through his spectacular power. In the second temptation, the liar brings Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and says, “If you are the Only Begotten, throw yourself down. Scripture has it, ‘God will tell the angels to
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