Thanks for this post.
BXVI in his Book “On The Way To Jesus Christ” uses these temptations to refute the modern day demand by atheists that if Christ were God why doesn’t he do something demonstrably spectacular to prove himself. It was no different that that of the unrepentant thief who demanded that Christ prove Himself by coming down from the Cross. Christ, as Benedict XVI informs us, has already answered this in His response to the three temptations.
Yes, this passage shows us the Christ as man. A model for us to resist Satan in all temptations. Although we have niether the knowledge nor the power that Christ has.
I especially like the part you posted about this disproving the taunt to Jesus on the Cross. Wow!