"Getting Ready For The Resurrection:
Tempted Not To Get Ready"
(Luke 4:1-13)
[1] Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, [2] where 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. [3] The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." [4] Jesus 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. [6] And 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. [7] If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." [8] Jesus 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, [10] for it is written,
'He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,'
[11] and
'On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' "
[12] Jesus answered him, 'It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " [13] When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
(NRSV)
INTRODUCTION:
This morning I want you to journey with me into the wilderness of Judea. We don't know exactly in what part of the wilderness Jesus wandered while being tempted but we do know where the wilderness is and what it is like. If you look with your mind's eye you can see this place of emptiness and loneliness. So dry and barren you can feel the moisture being sucked out of your skin and your mouth. After days without water, swallowing doesn't even help.
Over there you can see an outcropping, an overhang under which Jesus might have hidden from the blazing sun. Over there, in the side of that craggy cliff, you might find a small cave in which Jesus tried to sleep at night. But it was fitful sleep.
During the day the rocks were unbearably hot. But at night you hugged them for their warmth until the cold air of the wilderness leeched that warmth and made them cold. Because of the contrast of heat and cold, you could only sleep a couple of hours at a time. But then it's hard to sleep any time that you've got rocks for a mattress. Or you've got the devil on your back like Jesus did.
As we look at the temptations, we need to realize that Scripture doesn't say that Jesus spent 39 days in prayer and then was tempted. Scripture says that immediately after his baptism by John, Jesus was led into the wilderness and was tempted for 40 days. This wasn't a one day ordeal. Jesus was tempted the whole time. The temptations took on three forms: Internal, External and Eternal.
I. INTERNAL:
We tend to think of these temptations as something that went on only in the mind and spirit of Jesus. We tend to think of them as internal temptations. This temptation was internal but it was very real. You see, there's a wondrously wicked anomaly in the Judean Wilderness. Most of the wilderness is covered with sharp edged, ragged, brittle stone. Stone much like granite and flint. But scattered amongst all this hard craggy stone, there are also soft flat stones. Round stones that look like loaves of bread baking on the floor of the wilderness. Sometimes you find them in piles as if the baker has just pulled them out of the oven and made them ready for sale.
If you've ever fasted, the first day isn't really hard. It's sort of an adventure, a spiritual adventure. The second day is hard. They say the third day is even harder but I wouldn't know. I've never made it past two. Jesus fasted for 40 days. Everywhere Jesus turned, his hunger stared him in the eye. Everywhere he turned he was tempted to not only feed himself but to let his compassion take control and to feed all those he knew who were as hungry as he was.
That was the great temptation, to fill his own physical need and then to let his compassion, his heart, win out over his purpose and God's plan. It was a very real temptation. But he didn't give in. He knew there was more to faith than food and said, "Man does not live by bread alone."
II. EXTERNAL:
We shift to the third temptation, the external temptation. This is the temptation that everyone in leadership faces. This is the temptation to be the bright and shining star. We all like to be recognized. We've all probably thought about being world famous whether it be as a musician, composer, editor, preacher, software engineer or sports figure. We'd all like to be known as one of the
best in our field. We like to be known.
That's one of the reasons why I like to have my sermons published. It's nice to be recognized. But that's not the main reason. I really just want to share the gift God has given me with others. I want to help other preachers and I want to reach more people with the message of God's love.
This temptation to jump off the pinnacle of the Temple, to put God to the test was really a temptation of show. It had nothing to do with the inner strength of faith. It was the temptation to gain audience approval through any means, even the grandiose act. It was the temptation to turn the movement and ministry away from faith and make it a side show.
God had promised to protect the Messiah, so jump, let the angels catch you. The crowds will go crazy. It was true, the angels would protect him, Jesus would have instant recognition, he would have the world's attention.
The problem was the price. It would have reduced the ministry of the Messiah to a dog and pony show. It was a test of Jesus' faith too. Jesus knew that God would keep God's promises. But Jesus also knew you didn't play games with God. And so he told Satan to button it. You don't test God that way.
III. ETERNAL:
A. And that leads us right to the eternal. The reason I moved this one to last is because I think it is the most insidious of all the temptations. This is the temptation that is both internal and external. It is both physical and spiritual. It's about compassion and faith. But mostly it's about commitment. This is the temptation to short circuit the process, to side step the pain and avoid the cross completely.
You know that had to have been going through Jesus' mind out there. He wanted the world so much we can't begin to fathom his love for us. He wanted the world so much he was willing to die for us, had volunteered to die for us. And suddenly here was this offer that the whole world could be his without the pain and humiliation of the cross. It was like a dream come true.
But one thing Satan didn't know and didn't understand about Jesus is that Jesus didn't want the whole world for himself. Jesus wanted the whole world for God. He didn't come to serve himself, he came so that through him, we might know God's love. He came so that through him, our broken relationship with God could be mended. He didn't want the glory, he came to glorify God.
Satan couldn't understand that. And that's where Satan made his mistake. Jesus knew that we should "Worship the Lord our God, and serve only him." Jesus knew his commitment and stuck to it.
CONCLUSION:
So, what does that have to do with us. Well, everyday you and I face similar temptations. Some of them are simple and self indulgent like the bread. They don't seem to hurt when we give in. And we don't seem to drift very far from God. Some are as simple as seeking recognition or fame. Some are complex like the need to be in control or in charge. Some of them are insidious and call us to avoid the pain of self denial, the pain of personal discipline. But they are all temptations that can lead us away from our loving relationship with God. Jesus reminds us that relationship is the most important relationship of all.
This passage reminds us that Jesus DIDN'T give in to temptation. Jesus was tempted not to get ready for the resurrection. He was tempted to take the short cut and avoid the cross. But He told Satan to buzz off like the harmless little hornet that he was. A hornet who would soon have his stinger cut off. And the beauty of it all is that since Jesus was tried and tested, tempted in every way like you and I are tempted yet didn't give in; we can call upon him for strength when we face temptation.
No matter what it is you face; whether it's internal, external or eternal; Jesus has already face that temptation for you. All you have to do is call upon him for strength and wisdom and the ability to stand firm with him. Just remember his promises: "Lo, I am with you always." "I will not leave you orphaned." "Ask and you shall receive."
That's the secret to fighting temptation. Remember the promises of God and call upon the name of Jesus for help and strength.
This is the Word of the Lord for this day.