Challenging Temptations: The Journey Begins

1^st  Sunday in Lent  +   February 21, 2010

 

Scripture

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. ³The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” ⁴Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”  

5 Then the devil^* led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And the devil^* said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” ⁸Jesus answered him, “It is written, ’Worship the Lord your God,  and serve only him.’ ”  

9 Then the devil^* took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰for it is written, ’He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you’, ¹¹and ’On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” ¹²Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” ¹³When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

    --- Luke 4:1-13

The text of this passage is taken from The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible © 1989 by The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and used by permission.

 

 

 

Commentary

When Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descends upon him like a dove and a heavenly voice announces that he is God’s Son. Immediately after this, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where he remains for 40 days.  Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is faced with the question of what it means to be God’s Son and how he will carry out that role.

Jesus would have been familiar with the various expectations about the Messiah. Some believed the Messiah would be a political figure, much like a Davidic king, who would overthrow the Roman occupation and reestablish the kingdom of Israel. Others expected a priestly Messiah who would focus on the religious and worship life of the Temple. These political and religious roles form the essence of two of the temptations that the devil presents to Jesus.

The first temptation is personal. Jesus is famished after not eating anything for 40 days, and the devil invites him to turn a stone into bread. The second temptation is political: the devil invites Jesus to worship him in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world. The third temptation is religious: the devil quotes from the Psalms to remind Jesus that God’s angels are supposed to protect him. Therefore Jesus can safely throw himself from the pinnacle of the Temple.

Jesus’ response is simply to reject each temptation by quoting scripture. He does not engage in discussion or argument with the devil. Arguing with temptation could allow the temptation to become too attractive to resist. Jesus will not use his power for his own benefit, nor will he flaunt his power by miraculous acts.  He will carry out his role through faithfulness to God, and he will not put God to the test.

The temptations invite Jesus to do things that appear to be attractive, pleasant, and even make sense. They are an indication of his strength rather than his weakness, because all of them are within his power to do. Jesus knows, however, that on the way to Jerusalem his power is to be expressed not through miraculous acts, but through humility and service.

For Reflection

1. How is Jesus’ time in the wilderness connected to his baptism?

2. How does this passage help you understand who Jesus is?

3. What do you remember or what have you been told about your baptism? How are you living into the promises made at your baptism?

4. Jesus relied on scripture in his response to temptation. What role does scripture play in your life?

5. What can you learn from Jesus about how to deal with temptations? How will you apply what you have learned to the temptations in your life?

 

Prayer

 

Give us the courage, O God, to hear your word and to read our living into it.  Give us the faith to rely on you as we face the temptations on our journey. Amen.