TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Matthew 4

On one level, the baptism and temptation of Jesus can be considered a coming-of-age story of the Messiah. At His baptism, Jesus formally announced he was submitting to God's call to be the Messiah and following in obedience. The weeks in the wilderness were wrestling over what kind of Messiah He would become. We know He chose to follow the path of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah, rather than the warrior king most of Israel expected.

Still, it is vital to notice this is not a normal temptation, even though “He was tempted in all points as we are.” His were the trials only the Son of God could face. Command these stones to be made bread. Use your miracle working power to feed yourself and others. Use miracles virtually to make people follow you and diminish the role faith plays. Provide a divine welfare state, and they will flock to you.

The second temptation was to embrace spectacle and showmanship. Jump off the temple and land as if gliding in on a parasail. Many today respond to pageants and the like. Consider the coronations of rulers. But remember that a short while ago we were gathering in memory around a manger in Bethlehem. God's magnificence is not from human ways. Rather He can enshrine the simple, and turn that feeding trough into a beautiful world-wide symbol.

Finally, Satan shows Jesus the whole earth, all its kingdoms and rulers. Bluntly he offers Jesus rulership over all of this globe if He will fall and worship Satan. Do you see the contrast that lies at the heart of the entire Gospel of Matthew? John and Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of Heaven, and Satan offers only the kingdom of earth. The tension continues throughout the gospel, and the challenges of the scribes and Pharisees are similar to those of Satan.

The kingdom of this world is also at hand. Consider ISIS and their vicious beheadings and almost random murders. Indeed, consider America and our movement to an “anything goes” ethics, supported more and more by law. Sex without responsibility, gay marriage, abortion, increasing drug usage,rampant government corruption. Which side seems to be winning?

Jesus fasted for forty days. Fasts then and today varied in how severe they were. Most take at least enough water to stay alive and awake. Some do total fasts for a day or so. Longer fasts may be limited with a small meal once or twice a day – again enough to stay alive and alert.

The wilderness was not a jungle, but a desert. If you've seen pictures of the Dead Sea Scroll community (Qumran), that will look more like the area Jesus retired to.

What can we take from this experience to apply to ourselves. The first thing that comes to my mind is to take personal retreats from time to time, especially at critical points in life. Too many wander through life, almost blundering into whatever job opportunity is offered, and little consideration over who to marry, or how we shall raise our kids. How about a spousal retreat as the kids leave us with an empty nest or retirement approaches. Not only at this temptation, but throughout His ministry, Jesus would withdraw to pray and meditate.

Scholars also bring out the importance of obedience. Jesus was obedient to the Father and showed his faithfulness throughout the temptations. In the NT, faith and obedience go hand in hand. Nowhere does the Book protray a free-floating faith, but one always linked to obedience. It is important to recognize that only faith brings salvation, but saving faith always, always results in obedience and good works.