Plot summary

JESUS CHRIST, The Son of God, at age 30 sets out to prepare Himself for His earthly mission to save humanity by dying on the cross to atone for the sins of the world. After being baptized by JOHN THE BAPTIST in the Jordan River, Jesus is led into the Judean desert by the HOLY SPIRIT in the shape of a dove to strengthen His spirit with fasting, prayer and time with His heavenly Father. After 40 days, weak from hunger, Christ is met by SATAN who attempts to tempt Him to sin and abandon His painful mission to bring salvation to the world.Christ begins his journey strong, prayerful and resolute. He stumbles upon a set of sheep tracks and follows them into the desert, stepping into His role as The Good Shepherd going after His sheep. He progresses forward, He is fondly reminiscent of His childhood with His earthly parents MARY and JOSEPH. Obedient to God, Mary and Joseph had taken on the role of His custodians and raised Him with such love and care, as if He was their true son. Christ recalls some of the most profound and powerful moments of His childhood such as being found preaching in the temple, the revelation His real father is in heaven, the death of Joseph, and the realization He would be put subjected to severe pain here on earth.Satan becomes aware of Christ's presence in the desert and knows He has come to release His people from the bondage of sin and restore His people to righteousness. Satan is determined to stop this from happening and follows Christ closely creating turbulence in His path in an effort to cause fear, doubt, and terror. Jesus is also haunted by thoughts of what the future holds and nightmares of the inevitable agony He will endure on the cross. His strength is fading quickly, but he presses on, guided by the Holy Spirit and encouraged by the sounds of a bleating lamb.After 40 days, Christ frail and depleted encounters Satan. Taking advantage of the emotional bond Christ has with His earthly parents, Satan assumes their likeness in an effort to tempt Him into sin. Presenting himself first as Mary, Satan tries to convince Jesus that His suffering on earth is futile, he needs physical sustenance, and prompts Him to "turn these stones into bread." Jesus draws upon Scripture for truth, is able to see through Satan's deception, and maintains that man must live by the Word of God.Next, Satan takes on the form of beloved Joseph, asking Jesus to reveal Himself as the Son of God by throwing Himself off of His true father's house--the temple, and invoking the protection of the angels. Again, Jesus is not deceived, stands upon the truth of Scripture and states: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."Last, Satan appears to Jesus as himself, an angel of light clothed in royalty, and finally reveals the lost sheep Jesus has been seeking. Satan attempts to convince Jesus he is aligned with His mission and claims Jesus does not have to suffer in order to save His people. He shows Jesus the kingdoms of the world and offers an alternative path in order to fulfill His purpose-Satan would give Jesus the kingdoms, but He must bow down and worship him. Jesus, though haunted by the pain He knows He must endure, knows His death is the only way to save His people.40: The Temptation of Christ, not only explores the struggles of Jesus in His 40 days in the desert, but also reveals the nature of Satan as the Father of Lies, the Word of God as truth, and the love of Jesus as our Savior and Good Shepherd. It is our hope and prayer that through this film, people will come to know Christ and accept Him into their hearts as Lord and Savior.