Jesus (Temptation)

Jesus-Full of Holy Spirit

Why do you think this statement is important? Remember when Jesus, after the Resurrection, told His Disciples to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the Spirit to come to them? It was important for Jesus to be full of the Spirit here and it is important us to receive it as well.

You know when you are hungry and have not eaten for a long period of time, you are also weak. (NRSV)

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” The Devil knows that we are weak and when we are our weakest we are vulnerable. But Jesus is able to withstand the temptation here. (NRSV)

4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ” Jesus’ answer is thoughtful at the least and at best it gives us an idea of how we should pray. Jesus quotes scripture. Remember scriptures given to us, (NRSV)

10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

(NRSV)

28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Once that test is passed the Devil goes directly to the next test. Have you ever felt that life is treating you like this? We barely get time to celebrate the test we came out of and here we go again. I think it is not unlike your favorite college basketball team. The big game comes up and you play with all your heart and mind. The game is give and take for a long time and in the end you and your teammates overcome the challenge. You and your teammates rejoice, raise your hands towards heaven and you even thank God for delivering you from the challenge. But every good coach has already begun to prepare the players for the next game; the next challenge. The next temptation.

(NRSV)

5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. In our humanness it is easy to see massive kingdoms and the expanse of this world as a temptation. We can see this temptation working in our world today as many use money and processions as a sign of blessing rather than measuring our blessing according to how we bless others. What the Devil is asking Jesus here is much like Daniel and the lion’s den. (NRSV)

16 Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” Daniel was cast into the den because he would not stop praying to his god. You see leaders of this world have always expected us to give them our elegance. In many ways it sets them up to be like God. The Devil says look at all this which I have been given authority, and if you will bow to me I will give you the same authority. (NRSV)

8 Jesus answered him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,

and serve only him.’ ”

Let’s recap for a few minutes. Jesus goes into the wilderness led by the Spirit. For forty days he fasts. At the end of that time he is challenged by the Devil to make bread from stones. Jesus rebukes Satan. Then the challenge is a blessing of great authority over all the world, which Satan has been given authority; for a time. Jesus offers no attempt to accept this offer because it would mean that he would bow to Satan.

During these temptations, even the last one, Satan is not trying to talk Jesus into believing that there is no god, but that he is not the Son of God. He uses these same tactics with us.

(NRSV)

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, Satan wants to put doubt in your heart as to the authority God has given you and me. Notice that in every temptation Jesus is at his weakest state and the Devil wants to ask him to worship him. At our weakest state God makes us strong.

We may be put to the test but we are, (NRSV)

12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Not to put our God to the test. Denounce Satan in the midst of the temptation and Satan will flee from you. But remember it is not over yet. It is not the final game of the season yet. NCAA Basketball players are young and need help finding their full potential. The coach helps them to overcome their weaknesses and find victory. But it is not over yet because the next game may be their biggest challenge. This is why we must fast to find ourselves at our weakest state and then find guidance through prayer. Fasting for us is a little like practice for the basketball player. We must practice if we want to overcome our temptations. Then we will be prepared to hear from God and know how to handle the next temptation.

(NRSV)

13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.