Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the temptation in the wilderness as the first event following
the baptism of Jesus. They agree that he was driven there and that he was filled with the Holy Spirit at the time.
They also agree that the purpose of that journey was to confront the power of the Devil. The only notable difference
between the three accounts is the mention of Jesus being ministered to by wild beasts which is only found in one
of them. This was a long anticipated sign of the promised Messiah, that the wolf and lion would lay down with the
lamb, and the serpent would no longer bite.
Since Jesus was alone in this wilderness one can only ponder how any of these gospel writers knew any of these
details. Or was their combined purpose here at the beginning of Jesus ministry to share something that would prove
Jesus was absolutely human in every way? Were they trying to show how he had to overcome the very same obstacles
that we do, but that he was successful where we are not?
I mentioned a few weeks ago that no one really doubts the existence of sin. We actually revel in giving into
it, in yielding to temptation, and we seem to find it most entertaining when it becomes public that someone else
has fallen and fallen big time. Take for example the current fascination with reality TV, and most graphically
the show: "Temptation Island."
For those who have not seen the show, its a 'reality' show like "Survivor", but in this one four unmarried
couples, who are in long-term relationships, are taken to a Caribbean island for two weeks to test and explore
the strength of their commitment. Upon their arrival, they are separated from their partners and sent to opposite
ends of the island. The four women stay at a resort where there are thirteen attractive single men with whom they
will mix and date during their stay. The four men go to the other end of the island where thirteen gorgeous single
women are waiting for them.
The purpose of these thirteen men and women is to be the "temptation" for the couples … who are not
allowed to communicate with each other for the duration of their time on the island. They do see each other, though,
in person and on video dating the singles. The whole process forces the individuals into situations where they
are tempted, and their emotions manipulated. Tears, humiliation, embarrassment and anger are common.
In the words of the host, its a "sick and cruel show", where infidelity is encouraged. The initial
question I think is "Why would anyone intentionally put themselves, or someone they supposedly loved, through
that type of horrendous experience?" And the answer is "Money and false expectations about one’s own
strengths."
There are those who argue that if the couple's relationships are strong enough, they'll survive the experience.
Others less charitably, have commented that if they're stupid enough to put themselves in such a risky position,
they've got no-one to blame but themselves if their relationship falls apart. Let's face it, no one today needs
a "Temptation Island" to put relationships under pressure. There are enough stresses on couples as it
is without consciously putting them in the direct path of temptation and insecurity. And its not just relationships.
If you're trying to live any kind of life where integrity, commitment, honesty and principle are involved, temptation
is something we would rationally want to avoid. What tempts Jesus is not the usual "sex, money, drugs..."
list that too often has turned the church's confrontation with sin into a cartoon. Jesus is tempted here at the
beginning of his ministry (and that’s very important) with taking "short-cuts," going for the easy way,
and then rationalizing the choices he made. Any one of the "ministry styles being offered to him - feed the
world, claim authoritarian power, or become the miracle worker and master showman - would have brought him instant
success at no personal cost. In the current atmosphere of discussions about political pardons, of having obvious
wrong-doings written off, the theological approach might be to contrast two very different truths: "Pardons
might be for sale... but forgiveness will cost you everything you trust more than God."
Paul wanted to make sure that his readers understood that point in our epistle reading this morning. Nothing
we do can bring about our own salvation. It takes emptying ourselves of our own desires to become filled with the
power of God in order to resist the power of the Devil.
We don’t talk much about "the Devil" or Satan with any real conviction any more. It’s as if we reserve
that character for those silly horror movies. But with all our sophistication we may forget that we hear his name
every time a child is baptized, and every time someone joins the church - that same question that has been asked
for generations. "Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness and repent of your sins?" Most likely,
our parents and godparents answered on our behalf with a firm "Yes, I do." Most likely we also said it
at some point. We gave ourselves to God on a day when God promised to be our constant companion through life, and
when we responded with our own words of loyalty and trust in God, we promised that we would not fall victim to
Satan’s tricks. How successful have you been in carrying out what you promised?
It is most interesting that Satan uses Jesus "strengths" to try to draw him in, and not his weaknesses
(which we often consider to be our undoing). After all, the point of this whole testing process is the belief that
Jesus had it in his power to do any of the things he was being asked to do, so it is a matter of constraint of
power not submission to weakness that is at the center of the confrontation. If this is the case, how does Satan
use our strengths to win us over into his grasp?
Jesus was tempted to use his God-given power for his own immediate purposes, rather than the purpose for which
they were intended. We, too, are tempted to misuse or abuse our strengths: to use them for power over others; to
serve ourselves at the expense of others; to become our own little god. We can be overconfident and complacent
because of our strengths and abilities, and not realize the danger inherent in them. Any virtue taken to an extreme
becomes a vice: thrift can become stinginess; neatness can become a fetish; cooperation can lead to becoming a
doormat; strength can become tyranny over others; parental love can become over-protective and spoiling. The greatest
temptation sometimes is to become so obsessive about a virtue that it becomes a sin.
We're probably familiar with Paul's words in II Cor. 12:10 "When I am weak, then I am strong." Well,
its also true that "when I am strong (or think I am strong), then I am vulnerable!" Temptation is mostly
about misusing our strengths …it is often intensified at a point of weakness or vulnerability — when we're tired,
lonely, hungry or afraid; when we're stressed, grieving, or out of touch with our feelings.
You won't find the word Lent in your Bible dictionary, and nowhere is the word to be found in Holy Scripture
at all! There was no such thing in biblical times. It just didn't exist. There is some evidence that early Christians
fasted 40 hours between Good Friday and Easter, but the custom of spending 40 days in prayer and self-denial did
not arise until later, when the initial rush of Christian adrenaline was over and believers had gotten very "ho-hum"
about their faith. Kind of like we are today? During Lent, the "seasonal disciplines" allow us the opportunity
to see if we seek fulfillment/completeness in anything less than God. Can anything separate us from the love of
God -- the answer to this is more often revealed in the small temptations than in the big challenges to our faith.
And sometimes they are so small they seem almost invisible. Evil and anonymity - You see, one of the ways that
evil hides itself so effectively is by never having a face or a name. What is the major thing that happens whenever
there is a campaign about some clear evil in the world of business or politics? When campaigning against the release
of toxins into a river, or against the mistreatment of racial minorities while in custody, or against the mounting
pressure on people to work longer and longer hours unpaid and neglect their families. What is the biggest obstacle
we’re up against in any such campaign? Every time it is the same thing - inability to identify where the buck stops,
who is responsible.
The further you chase the lines of responsibility regarding something that is inherently evil the more those
lines get blurry, indistinct and impersonal. Everyone and everything and every decision is a helpless victim of
market forces, or global trends or economic imperatives. You try to find where the buck stops, but it not only
doesn’t stop it vanishes in the haze.
So we find the reminder throughout today’s readings to keep clear on our responsibility to bring offerings and
to worship on a regular basis. We are reminded that such discipline was part of the ritual of life, and that not
all rituals are bad. Reminded to remember that "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor…" and that everything
I have I owe to God. Reminded that if I receive these gifts with gratitude I must also give back in the same way.
Today is World Day of Prayer and we are encouraged to remember that the concerns of God’s people are not limited
to the world of or own experience. That prayers are needed for all people at all times, and that we have been given
this moment to seek God’s power for the most oppressed. There is a basic Gus and Tom philosophy of Lent. The Gus
route suggests we "give up something," and the Tom route suggests we "take on more."
Mindful of the words of the psalmist: Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With
long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
Forsake that privilege of responding to life as God would have us respond, and we have yielded to the greatest
temptation of all!
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