The Temptations

This Sunday’s gospel is another doozy. It’s the Temptation story—Jesus driven out into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tested by the devil. He’s out there for 40 days and at the end Satan tests him, when he’s at his weakest. Jesus’ time in the desert is why Lent is 40 days, our time of preparation and “mind clearing” leading up to Good Friday and Easter, Jesus’ death and resurrection. Paired with the Gospel is the story from Genesis where the serpent “tricks” Adam and Eve into eating the ‘apple’—the fruit God forbade them to eat. Jesus calls Satan the “father of lies” in John 8, and it seems to me that a lot of our problems come from believing his lies. We’d rather believe sketchy “misinformation” because it makes us feel better than accept an uncomfortable truth. The media is very good at spinning information—to their benefit—and not necessarily according to the truth.

        Which makes the story a doozy. Because the temptations he throws at Jesus are ones that we’d probably say “yes” to, and for good reason. Make it so there’s no more hunger; the Son of God should have worldly power; and make God prove God’s promises. The “lie” is tempting US to believe that Jesus should be that kind of Messiah with that kind of Kingdom. The “lie” is testing US that those are “God” things—so that we will lose our faith when Jesus’ mission, his teaching, and especially his Cross disappoint us. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3). “Worship God alone”… and not earthly power. “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

      There are no easy answers to these temptations because they appear in some form or another in our world today. What do we believe to be good? And why? Where do we get our information from to make these judgments? Jesus’ wisdom is counter-intuitive. And so is the Cross.

Peace,

Pr. Christian