Christ had already met Peter, Andrew and Philip.This was not their first interaction with him. Christ had already changed Simon's name to Peter at this point. So, contrary to what people want to think, they did not answer to the call of the complete stranger. They had already received the witness from John and had seen Christs miracles. If we look at each of the records in turn, especially that of Luke, we get the feeling that after announcing himself in Nathareth, he returned to Capernaum where Peter and most of the Apostles lived. While there they fell back into their daily routines of fishing for a living. Then according to Luke 5 he came and called them to leave their nets and dedicate themselves to the ministry.
Each of the four gospels contains the testimony of one of the Apostles regarding the life and mission of Christ. Each of them chose different events to speak of, and some might have been only known by a few. Thus it makes sense that the scriptural accounts differ from one another on the chronology of certain events. There is actually quite a bit that occurs between verses 11 and 12 of Matthiew. The first meeting between Philip, Andrew, Peter and Christ, while in the wilderness of they where learning from John. Nathanial meets the savior and together they go to the wedding in Cana, where Christ performs his first miracles.
As you can see a lot happens between these two verses. to read the account in chronological order i would advise consulting the LDS Institute manual for the New Testament The Life and Teachings of Jesus and the Apostles.
It only makes sense that at this pivotal time in our saviors ministry that the Tempter came to him. Although Christ was the son of God in the flesh he still suffered from all the pains that we do. So it is rational to assume that his body was weakened to a point that would have killed a normal human being, and as suck would have left him in a weakened state. It is in this state that the tempter come to him, offering him exactly what the body wanted. Food. To use his divinely given gifts to quench his hunger.
The temptations that are presented to the savior fit into one of three categories.
Giving into the desires of the flesh
Giving into our fears
Giving into our pride
Each is a man category that Satan uses against us.
Also of note is the use of the word "if". It was Satan's desire to bring doubt into the mind of the savior as to his own ability, or that of the father, to fulfill the great and everlasting plan of happiness. ]
He uses the same temptation on each of us. How often have we wondered "if" we were good enough. How many have questioned "if" God cared at all, "if" he would answer their prayers. "If" we really received a witness of the spirit or "if" it was just our own minds. It is the great "if" of doubt that the advisory chose to use against he greatest of us all, and which he uses on us each day.
Ancient Hebrew used lots of numbers as metaphors. Forty is a metaphorical number. Which should makes sense since the number pops up too many times to be coincidental. Forty is a number that represents a transition period, a time of change and metamorphosis. Thus it most likely does not mean that Christ fasted for forty days. He he could have fasted for less, or more time. All it means is that things occurred during that time, that transitioned Christ from his pre-ministry period, and prepared him, to begin his earthy ministry.
Jesus did not go into the wilderness to be tempted. According to the Joseph Smith Translation Jesus went out to be with his father. To commune with God, and while he was there being spiritually fed, then the devil came to him to tempt him. This is an important destination. We should not seek out temptations, we should avoid them. But you will also find that as you serve the lord, temptations will come all by themselves. You don't need to go looking for them.
Quote on the matter
“Jesus did not go into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil; righteous men do not seek out temptation.
He went ‘to be with God.’ Probably he was visited by the Father; without question he received transcendent
spiritual manifestations. The temptations came after he ‘had communed with God,’ ‘after forty days.’ The
same was true in the case of Moses. He communed with God, saw the visions of eternity, and was then
left unto himself to be tempted of the devil. After resisting temptation he again communed with Deity,
gaining further light and revelation.” (McConkie, DNTC, 1:128; see also Mosiah 3:7.)
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