Mmmm... Tempting Pasta....

As we forge ahead in our study of Luke, I have decided to attack the book in a bit of a topical manner. Part of the study will focus on parables. Part of the study will focus on miracles and healings. Part of the study will focus on significant events in the life of Jesus. That means that we will not move from chapter to chapter, but I think it will make for an interesting study of the book.

Right now, we are looking at the temptation account in chapter 4. As we discussed on Sunday, the account is critical to us, and the event is critical to the the ministry of Jesus.

Consider this- the scripture tells us that Jesus was "led by the Spirit in the desert..." That means this "wilderness time" was by God's design. And he was there for 40 days. It seems God has a tendency to take His chosen ones through the wilderness. Moses spent time in the wilderness by God's design. The nation of Israel spent time in the wilderness by God's design. Jesus spent time in the wilderness by God's design.

So what does that mean for us? Well, I don't know how it is for you, but sometimes this life feels like a wilderness. Now don't get me wrong- I do not for a moment take for granted the wonderful things I have - a wife who loves me in spite of who I am, wonderful children, a vital church, all of creation to enjoy, (and photograph) - I am grateful for all of that. But sometimes it feels like we are just trudging along from day to day and it is hard to see what God is really up to. Can I get a whoop whoop?

But the thing we have to remember about God is that He takes all those He loves through the wilderness. He wants us to rely on Him. He wants us to see what can happen when we place our faith and trust in Him. If everything was milk and honey all the time, we might never realize the power and the faithfulness of our God. It is in the wilderness we learn who God really is.

So we see that this time in the wilderness was designed by God. And Jesus was tempted all this time by the devil. And here at the end of the 40 days, the devil comes with his "best shots". In the coming weeks we will consider each of the three final temptations, Jesus' response, and what all of it means for us.

Last Sunday- for those who could not be there- we discussed the first temptation; "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." It is an interesting challenge that the devil throws on the table.

Look at the first part... "If you are the Son of God..." Wow. This is totally a playground bully challenge. Before we even get to the part about stones and bread and the idea that Jesus was hungry, we see what the devil is trying to do. He might as well have said, "If you think you are so tough why don't you just prove it!" The first level of this temptation is nothing but a challenge of pride. Jesus could have done it too. He had (has) the ability to do any number of things that would have proven that He was the Son of God. But, like we said Sunday, just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Then we come to the second part of the temptation- the appeal to Jesus' hunger. The devil was trying to goad Jesus' into ill-advised action on the basis of human instinct and desire. And this is where Jesus shows us how to live in one kingdom while being a member of another. This is where Jesus shows us that though we are human, we are not at the mercy of human cravings. Jesus shows us that we can shoot for something higher- that life is not about satisfying the lust of the moment, but it is about intimate companionship with God. He did not waste any time setting the bar high. Which is what He came to do.

And think if Jesus had somehow failed this test. The entirety of His ministry would have been rendered null and void before it even began. When the time came for the cross, there had to be a blameless sacrifice- without blemish. I have to believe that Jesus knew the reason He came, and He was not about to put God's plan of salvation in jeopardy. Not then, not ever.

There is a great deal to learn here. And more to come. In the next few weeks we will consider the remaining two final temptations.

Just Keep Swimming...

Jon