Search
This fun Jesus in the Wilderness Object Lesson uses candy to discuss the difference between temptation and sin, and how to battle the enemy.

Jesus in the Wilderness ~ Object Lesson

Please note that Future Flying Saucers uses affiliate links.

Share with your friends!

 

So many things in the world tempt us and our kids. There are good things that tempt and evil things that tempt. The goal is for our kids to recognize WHEN they are being tempted and then what to do about it. This fun Jesus in the Wilderness Object Lesson uses candy to discuss the difference between temptation and sin, and how to battle the enemy.

Focus Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Materials:

  • a package of your favorite candy (mine is M&Ms!)
  • a bowl

Geography: Jordan River

Background: The people wondered if John was the Messiah. But he told them that One would be coming Who would baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and not with water. One day Jesus showed up at the Jordan River to be baptized. John said, “It is I who should be baptized by You!” But Jesus told him that He needed John to baptize Him to “fulfill all righteousness.” After Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened up. The Holy Spirit took on the form of a dove and flew down to Jesus. God the Father spoke from heaven saying, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.

Object and Bible Lesson for Jesus in the Wilderness:

[Open the candy and pour it all into a bowl.]

Mmmmmm…this is my favorite candy. I really love to eat this candy, but because I have to teach my lesson, the bowl is going to have to sit here while I teach.

[Look longingly at the bowl.]

I sure do love this candy. Maybe I can have just one piece. It wouldn’t hurt anything. You wouldn’t even know I took one because there are SOOO many pieces left. But no, I said I’d leave the candy alone until I was finished.

{Read Luke 4:1-4, and discuss it as you go. Ask:}

  • Who is in this story? [Jesus and the devil]
  • Where are they? [In the wilderness]
  • When did this happen? [Just after Jesus was baptized]
  • Why did Jesus go? [He was led by the Spirit.]
  • What has happened so far? [Jesus was baptized; He was tempted by the devil; Jesus ate nothing for 40 days; The devil tells Jesus to turn stones to bread; Jesus gives an answer.]
  • How does Jesus answer? [Jesus used scripture.]

{Read Luke 4:5-8, and discuss it as you go. Ask:}

  • Where are they? [a high place]
  • When did this happen? [Just after Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread.]
  • Why did Jesus go? [He was led by the devil {Isn’t that interesting!}]
  • What did the devil do? [Showed Jesus all of the kingdoms on the world; told Jesus he would give him authority over all the kingdoms if Jesus would worship him.]
  • How does Jesus answer? [Jesus used scripture.]

{Read Luke 4:9-13, and discuss it as you go. Ask:}

  • Where are they? [the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem]
  • When did this happen? [Just after Jesus was tempted by the kingdoms of the world]
  • Why did Jesus go? [He was led by the devil.]
  • What did the devil do? [Asked Jesus to throw Himself off the top so the angels would catch Him; quoted scripture to Jesus]
  • How does Jesus answer? [Jesus used scripture.]

M&Ms

Life Application of Jesus in the Wilderness:

{Smell the candy.}

Hmmm…the lesson is almost over.

{Ask:}

  • Can I go ahead and eat one? Just one? [No. That wasn’t the plan. The lesson must be over.]

We must not budge when it comes to temptation. We must do what is right.

  • How did Jesus succeed? [He quoted scripture.]
  • Do you know of any scriptures that I could use to help me not eat my candy during the lesson? [Allow for answers, but lead the kids to say what Jesus said, “We shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.]

Jesus knew enough scripture to be able to quote exactly the Truth He needed when He needed it. The Holy Spirit was able to bring to His mind what He needed for strength. And what is so amazing is that we have this same help when WE need it!

{Ask:}

  • How much scripture do you have memorized? [Allow for answers, but lead the children to recognize that MANY different types of situations can use the same scriptures…but if they don’t have it memorized, then the Holy Spirit doesn’t have anything to work with. He won’t be able to have the scripture come to their minds if it isn’t hidden in their hearts.]

Once we decide to believe in Jesus and live totally for Him, the Holy Spirit resides, lives, inside of us. And whenever we need help, the Holy Spirit is waiting for us. So many times we walk around in defeat, or we continue to try to do life in our own power and defeat temptations on our own. It won’t work.

This fun Jesus in the Wilderness Object Lesson uses candy to discuss the difference between temptation and sin, and how to battle the enemy.

But if you are reading your Bible, memorizing scripture, and thinking about how God can use that scripture in your life, then you are giving the Holy Spirit weapons against the Tempter.

Satan wants you to fail. He wanted Jesus to bow down to him. But because Jesus beat the Devil and rose from the grave, Satan has no power over you…IF you believe in Jesus AND know His word.

{Ask:}

  • Did Jesus sin when He was tempted? [No]

The temptation itself is not a sin. It’s the ACT of doing the temptation. Temptation always looks good.

{Show the candy. Ask:}

  • Am I sinning by holding the bowl? [No]
  • Am I sinning by talking about eating the candy? [No]
  • {Pick up a piece of candy.} Am I sinning by holding the piece of candy? [No]
  • Am I being tempted? [Yes]
  • What would I have to do to sin? [Actually eat a piece of candy]
  • Is eating candy sinful? [No]
  • So why would my eating THIS candy be sinful? [Allow for answers, guide the children to see that eating the candy would go against what you said you were going to do at the beginning. You would be untrustworthy because you did not do what you said you were going to do.]
  • If I was to sit here and eat this entire bowl of candy, what would happen? [I’d get sick, gain weight, be a glutton.]
  • What does sin do? [Allow for answers, it hurts those who sin and those around the sinner.]

Temptation can look really nice, fancy, fun, and exciting…but in Truth, it’s yucky, evil, and goes against the heart of God.

What can we learn from Jesus in the Wilderness? Prepare for the battle with Satan by reading and memorizing scripture. Then when temptation is in your face, call on the Holy Spirit. He’ll be waiting for you.

This lesson is a part of The Jesus Storybook Bible Hands-On Activities

 

 

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

CAUGHT IN THE

What to teach next spiral?

Sign up below for three lessons from the Victory in Jesus book you can use now to jump start your object lesson Bible teaching plan. 

bible object lessons

We help Creative Bible Teachers to train children and youth by using Object Lessons.

Scan for free lessons
what god is doing

Sign up below for a Sample LESSON from What God is Doing: Old Testament Object Lessons for Kids (16 pages!). 

Have you read these yet?