The Temptations of Jesus
At the beginning of Chapter 4 of Luke's gospel we read the story of the three temptations that Jesus faced in the desert. All this took place after Jesus was baptised by John in the River Jordan. It was all part of the scene setting necessary before Jesus began his ministry which was to change the world. First we saw the baptism at which Jesus is affirmed by God as his son. Now we come to a scene in which Jesus starves himself for a period as part of a reflective period as he plans his work. Having no food inside him, Jesus really feels the temptation to take a shortcut to demonstrating his power and his authority in a mighty way.
First, he is tempted to turn into bread the small round stones he sees lying in the wilderness. The devil speaks to him and suggest that because Jesus is the Son of God it would be easy to end his fast in this way. But, instead, Jesus, taking the image of small loaves of bread which the stones there resemble, is reminded that man is not meant to live on bread alone.
Now, in his mind, he imagines himself being taken to a mountain top where he can see many countries stretching away into the distance. The devil now makes him an offer. "All this dominion I will give you, and the glory that goes with it; for it has been given into my hands and I can give it to anyone I choose. All you have to do is recognise me as you master." Despite the great offer, Jesus, nevertheless, speaks up for himself, saying, "You shall do homage to the Lord your God and to him alone." This is unequivocal. God is one and he alone may be worshipped. There are no compromises, no deals, no fixes that can be made by any other power. God is one and he alone is the one Jesus is to serve and call others to serve.
Suddenly, Jesus is lifted to the top of the Temple pinnacle and set there. He looks down the height of the Temple wall and into the Kidren valley below. If he wished, he could leap down as a death defying jump and the angels would catch him as he fell. Now that would be an act the crowds would never forget. That would certainly establish his credentials. But once more comes that knowledge from the heart of Jesus: "You are not to put the Lord God to the test."
By rejecting these three temptations Jesus is establishing a ministry founded on vital principles. He has come as the Suffering Servant who will be rejected by the priests and eventually the people who are to follow him. He has come to show that the long and patient way of love will be the means of offering salvation to the people. No flashy ways that are short-lived in the mind will work at all. No short cuts may be taken. He has to take the long route whereby people discover abiding love through the grace of God. A quick fix has no place in his mission for God.
Another Lectionary reading for this week is Deuteronomy 26: 1-11 where Moses tells the people that when they enter the Promised Land they must do an act of remembrance before God. They are to recite some sentences which God lays down for them. Before they can take up a permanent place they need to remember how they were led out of Egypt, eventually to this land flowing with milk and honey. This is how they will give thanks for the land they have just entered.
It is important that they always remember who it is that has brought them to this place. they need acts of remembrance to ensure they give God the credit and therefore the worship for what he has done for them. The new life they will know in the new land has to be one which is God centered and God led. Can you see the approach resembling that which Jesus opted for at the time of his Temptations?
These two Bible readings show us how our lives are to be God centered in faith and hope in the footsteps of Jesus who showed "The way". In an age of quick fixes and instant entertainment we have a hard job to see the way forward. But, in fact, it has never changed. Our path is the long and winding path spread out before us by God. With faith in him, through Jesus, we will make it to journey's end and win the glittering prizes God has for us. It is not an easy path but it a certain and reliable way to which we are called to travel.
First, he is tempted to turn into bread the small round stones he sees lying in the wilderness. The devil speaks to him and suggest that because Jesus is the Son of God it would be easy to end his fast in this way. But, instead, Jesus, taking the image of small loaves of bread which the stones there resemble, is reminded that man is not meant to live on bread alone.
Now, in his mind, he imagines himself being taken to a mountain top where he can see many countries stretching away into the distance. The devil now makes him an offer. "All this dominion I will give you, and the glory that goes with it; for it has been given into my hands and I can give it to anyone I choose. All you have to do is recognise me as you master." Despite the great offer, Jesus, nevertheless, speaks up for himself, saying, "You shall do homage to the Lord your God and to him alone." This is unequivocal. God is one and he alone may be worshipped. There are no compromises, no deals, no fixes that can be made by any other power. God is one and he alone is the one Jesus is to serve and call others to serve.
Suddenly, Jesus is lifted to the top of the Temple pinnacle and set there. He looks down the height of the Temple wall and into the Kidren valley below. If he wished, he could leap down as a death defying jump and the angels would catch him as he fell. Now that would be an act the crowds would never forget. That would certainly establish his credentials. But once more comes that knowledge from the heart of Jesus: "You are not to put the Lord God to the test."
By rejecting these three temptations Jesus is establishing a ministry founded on vital principles. He has come as the Suffering Servant who will be rejected by the priests and eventually the people who are to follow him. He has come to show that the long and patient way of love will be the means of offering salvation to the people. No flashy ways that are short-lived in the mind will work at all. No short cuts may be taken. He has to take the long route whereby people discover abiding love through the grace of God. A quick fix has no place in his mission for God.
Another Lectionary reading for this week is Deuteronomy 26: 1-11 where Moses tells the people that when they enter the Promised Land they must do an act of remembrance before God. They are to recite some sentences which God lays down for them. Before they can take up a permanent place they need to remember how they were led out of Egypt, eventually to this land flowing with milk and honey. This is how they will give thanks for the land they have just entered.
It is important that they always remember who it is that has brought them to this place. they need acts of remembrance to ensure they give God the credit and therefore the worship for what he has done for them. The new life they will know in the new land has to be one which is God centered and God led. Can you see the approach resembling that which Jesus opted for at the time of his Temptations?
These two Bible readings show us how our lives are to be God centered in faith and hope in the footsteps of Jesus who showed "The way". In an age of quick fixes and instant entertainment we have a hard job to see the way forward. But, in fact, it has never changed. Our path is the long and winding path spread out before us by God. With faith in him, through Jesus, we will make it to journey's end and win the glittering prizes God has for us. It is not an easy path but it a certain and reliable way to which we are called to travel.
posted by Keith Alexander at Monday, February 19, 2007
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