Lent, and the wilderness experience again! Still? No thank you. I vote for an alturnative, anybody know a bette way to lead upto Easter? Manzel
I notice it says Jesus was led into this wilderness experience by the Spirit. Makes me sympathize with Tevia in Fiddler on the Roof, "lord, it is said we are the chosen people but couldn't you just this once choose somebody else"! Manzel
I guess we all need to face our own demons every now and then. I've been trying but it just does not seem like a helpful process. Manzel
Don't Brush Off Jesus' Wilderness! The Good Book (Holy Bible) has it there for a purpose. In fact, I believe that a "widerness experience" of some kind is a part of our spiritual journey to Easter Day. Sure...it's much easier to dismiss the "demons" within us and skip the "wilderness experience". But if was important enough for Jesus....it should be all that more vital for us to wrestle with and say "no" to the evil within and about us. Jesus ultimately overcame the forces of evil for us in the wilderness and his encounter with the devil. He was victorious over the darkness of evil, and by God's grace....so can we!!!! I guess I am a little "shocked" at the idea of even thinking of bypassing Matthew 4:1-11 and go on to Easter. JB in Ks.
thanks again to who ever in previous year's discussion of this text, reminded me of Paul Simon's song, Loves Me Like A Rock. and the line, "and the devil would call my name..I'd say who do you think you're foolin..." brings a smile to my face again. Manzel
Speaking of song lyrics, whenever I read the temptations of Jesus in the desert I remember Willie Nelson singing in "We Are the World;" "As God has shown us/ By turning stone to bread." I think not, but is there a scriptural account where God turns stone into bread?- Pace e Bene Deke in Texas
I have been thinking about Jesus as the obedient one after Adam and Eve's disobedience. And I was thinking that obedience has so much less to do with following rules than it does listening to God's voice no matter where that leads you. It is hard to think of preaching obedience in our current cultural context though. I have never looked at this website before, I really appreciate the online discussion of the texts. Peace, Alison in MD
To Manzel,
I agree!!!!!!! The wilderness experience was where Jesus answered questions about His ministry which he was fixing to begin. I think a better Lesson for this week would come from Luke 9:51 Luke adds that after this Mountain top experience (read also Luke 9:31) Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Jesus knew what awaited him in Jerusalem and he was obedient even unto death. I think this is what I will preach on for the first Sunday in lent.
Harold in Alabama
Interesting take on the first temptation in our (UK) Young Church notes for this week: Jesus was willing to let stone be stone. Stephen in Exeter UK
After reading and praying about Jesus' wilderness experience I wonder if the reason that the Holy Spirit was so that he could confront the temptations that would be ahead as his minsitry took off. Jesus' had the chance to leave those temptations behind in the desert with the knowledge that he would indeed be victorious over them.
With that theme of using the 40 days of wilderness to confront and beat temptation, (Even though Luke records that the devil left for a more opportune time.) I'm titling my sermon "40 Days to Beat Temptation" to the theme of Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." Any thoughts (especially rhymes) would be appreciated.
Mark in IL
Saturday, February 9th, 2002
"Hello DPS folks..
I am indeed desperate tonight(Saturday the 9th)... just returned from the Hospital... a 44 year old woman in my church died tonight quite unexpectedly... her brother had cancer surgery earlier this week... they made it through that all right... then, she's out for supper with her husband (they co-chaired our Fellowship Committee in our church, she was FULL of LIFE)... and fell over dead... CPR from a dining stranger near by didn't help, ambulance was there within minutes... nothing... so, my sermon will need a little adjustment tonight... Appreciate any prayers for her husband Sid tonight...
Probably too late this week...
in shock...
pulpitt in ND"
Pulpitt, May God bless and renew your strength and magnify His peace in your life, the life of your congregation and those loved ones for whom you feel such compassion. Manzel
Deke, Jesus created bread to feed the 5000. and in the old testiment mana from heaven was God's miracle bread even though there was no alchamey of stones. Jesus did say (palm sunday) that God could turn stones into decendants of abraham. Jesus did exercise such powers that the tempter identified but not in those ways, not in ways that assume the ends justify the means. Manzel
Fourty days to beat temptation, with a rhythm of 50 ways to leave your lover, great, creative idea Mark. should be fun to work on. Manzel
Mark, just a few crude spur of the moment thoughts on your 40 days to beat temptation:
Just sing a little hymn, Tim
Get on your Knees, Bea
Let your regrets go, Jo
Put it in God's hand, man
Cast all your cares on God, Claude
Give all you can Stan,
Don't need to fuss much, forgive all you see, Lee, and get yourself free. ..Manzel
WOW, everyone has been so hard at work already.
Many in our tradition (Lutheran) "give up" something for Lent. Yet, I've always wondered about the sincerity or purpose of this tradition. I think the following story captures the folly of our "religious" tendencies
A certain Irish priest, newly arrived in New York, decided to visit the section known as the Bowery, haven of homeless alcoholics and other derelicts. As he walked along one of the Bowery blocks at night he suddenly felt a gun against his ribs. Then he heard a raspy voice: "All right mister, gimme all your money!" Quickly, he reached for his wallet and handed it over to the thief, but as he did, the holdup man noticed his clerical collar. The thief was overcome with shame. He said, "Forgive me Father. I didn't know you were a priest. "To which the priest replied, "That's all right, son. Just repent of your sin. Here have a cigar." The thief replied, "Oh, no, thank-you Father" as he handed the wallet back to the priest, "I don't smoke during Lent."
Pr. del in Ia
Thanks Manzel for you kindness... it is much appreciated...
I stood in the ER last night, in shock myself over what had transpired... with his wife's arm hanging down by the side of the bed. Wedding ring on her finger... her husband bent over and kissed her on the forehead... and we stepped out into the hallway in front of the nurses station... they were all busy at their posts... continuing to care, to extend a comforting hand, to move past "the mountain top" and get back to the valley... yes, "LIFE", life is precious and it does go on... for me, my parishoner and those in the helping profession at the hospital.
Right after the baptism of Jesus... we find him tempted in the wilderness... after the peak day in his life, we find him out on the flat prairie with promises made from "the tempter".
Over the years, I've come to believe that the Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness might just be the same Spirit that, once there, now tempted him once again. Yesterday was the heavenly glow and the divine assurance... now comes the reality that he might not be so great...
I think he had his doubts, just as we have our doubts, doubts which left unchecked can ruin us...
I don't know about you, but I have doubts... some days my faith is alive and well. I see the hope in the Sunshine... and other days... I must admit, I yearn for the "mountain top" revelations that assure me of God's reality in my life and in the lives of my parishoners... when the reality is most days... I get the "prairie type" revelations... small, gentle, tender, yet constant nudges that God is there and that God cares.
That's what the DPS does for me... it finds me in the wilderness of my own loneliness of self doubt... and lifts me up, dusts me off and sends me on into another week. Thank you once again ALL!
Blessings,
pulpitt in ND
Manzel you wrote... that...
"Lent, and the wilderness experience again! Still? No thank you. I vote for an alturnative, anybody know a bette way to lead upto Easter? Manzel"
To enjoy a rainbow, you've got to have some rain... to have a baby, you've got to wait the 9 months and if you're a woman... there are those labor pains... but the baby helps you forget some of the pain... Easter comes... but we can't get there without Lent... and that's not what you find in your belly button...
;?)
With grins,
pulpitt in ND http://faithumcfargo.com
How does this sound? 1. Turn stone to bread would Jesus use His power for his own needs or for the needs of others 2. Jump off this building. Would Jesus use the miracles for a show of His power or to glorify His Father. 3. Worship me? Would Jesus take a short cut and bypass the cross.
Harold in Alabama
I have taken a different approach to the transfiguration, temptation, and following lenten texts. Through the lenten season I will be looking at mountain top experiences in our lives, what they are, how we react, ect. ending with the mountian of Galgatha. Last Sunday I looked at the transfiguration as a "witnessing" experience. P, J, and J witnessed Jesus' MT experience and it changed their lives (after the cross they were empowered using 2 Peter) This sunday Satan takes Jesus (us) to the mountain top. When has Satan taken us there and can we tell teh difference between Satan's MT and God's MT. I am submitting this hoping to spur conversation in this direction. God Bless LoriBNC
LMBC: It did occur to me last week while preaching that not all mountain top experience are of God. You have an interesting perception here. I am weaving prayer and sabbath into the service this week. We have a retreat Sat. so carrying the theme over. Perhaps it is in our prayerful dicerning that we can find out whose mountain top it is. I the mountain top of winning a sporting event. sort of rambling here. Nancy-Wi
LMBC: It did occur to me last week while preaching that not all mountain top experience are of God. You have an interesting perception here. I am weaving prayer and sabbath into the service this week. We have a retreat Sat. so carrying the theme over. Perhaps it is in our prayerful dicerning that we can find out whose mountain top it is. I the mountain top of winning a sporting event. sort of rambling here. Nancy-Wi
Manzel,
I kind of understand where you are coming from, not wanting to deal with the temptation narrative again. I certainly see the need to spend time in our own wildernesses sometimes, but I've been finding the lectionary to be a rather dry well for me lately. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I'm now on my third time around.
Anyway, I've been doing some different things, lately. Preaching outside the lectionary using some passages that are less familiar. A couple of weeks ago I entitled my sermon, "The 'Buts'of Moses" and talked about all the excuses Moses gave God for not doing God's work. (In the NRSV, all the excuse passages begin with "but.") Of course, I ended the sermon with a challenge for all of us to set aside our excuses and say yes to God.
This past Sunday, I did a service on finding the Holy in the Ordinary. The sermon was pretty much done by the congregation. I passed around a large basket full of all kinds of stuff (mostly from my junk drawers), everything from fake flowers and stones, to medicine cups, mini-flower pots, round washers, small crosses, etc. I had about 100 objects in the basket. Everyone picked out an item. I told them not to think about it, but to just grab something and we sang "How Great Thou Art" while the basket was going around. Then I asked them to spend a few moments just silently meditating on their object, to see what God might speak to them through an ordinary thing. The results were more than I had hoped for. I invited anyone to share that wanted to and in each of my churches about a dozen people shared. Some of them had some amazingly profound insights to share. Maybe this idea would work for a service during Lent, too. I used a variety of resources and scriptures.
Thanks to all for your insights and input. I often check in with you even if I'm not preaching on the text.
Grace and Peace, Mel in NE
About 18 mo ago I started a project I called "Elemental Christianity" writing a series of meditations on symolism of the four "elements" of earth, are, fire, and water. I think I'm going to take that work and turn it into a 5-part Lenten sermon series with an introductory sermon this week, then one of the "elements" each of the next four weeks. The Gospels lend themselve to this, sort of, though not in the usual order the elements are listed. The 3rd Sunday Gospel is the Samaritan woman at the well -- obviously a great opening for "Water". The 4th is the healing of the blindman with mud made from spittle -- obviously, "Earth". The 5th is the raising of Lazarus (with Elijah's valley of dry bones and all that breathing) -- a good "Air/Wind/Breath" opening. That leaves Nicodemus's night time visit (2nd Sunday) to be the "Fire" Gospel, which can work in terms of "born of the Spirit" and the fire imagery associated with the Holy Spirit.
What I'm puzzling over is how to introduce this series in the context of the 40 days and the temptations in the desert..... As a Prayer Book Anglican, I don't have the freedom to change the lessons (and wouldn't, I don't think, even if I did). Working on it....
Blessings, Eric+
The sacred journey of "Walking On the Glory Road" through the Season of Lent, I believe, rightly begins with the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert wilderness. Is there not the reliving of sacred covenant history in the life of Jesus, particularly as his baptism emerges and unfolds into the drama of the Exodus wilderness! From a sacramental perspective of "remembrance", i.e., "anamnesis", (and not unlike last week's transfiguration experience with Moses and Elijah), do not the sacred stories hidden beneath the ashes of antiquity across the ocean of the past leap to life in the present; very much like the bush that burns but the flames do not consume the bush.
The Exodus does not belong to a remote past frozen in "what-is-no-more". Just as Jesus relieves (recapitulates) the sacred journey in the unfolding of his life, so we too can experience Holy Ground and the Burning Bush calling us to the resurrection in Covenant Renewal, calling us to new birth in the baptism "from above" as we emerge out of the Red Sea waters in spite of the waves of mud and water that rise to our nostrils before they part, calling us into the desert wilderness, (like the desert father Antonius), in order to conquer the demons of temptations. In this desert we will need to develop the skills and practice of contemplation, meditation, and prayer. No other way leads to the cross, and no other way than the cross leads beyond! The power of the this Sacramental Word peels the layers of consciousness back such that when we look deep within our autobiographical stream of life we discover the sacred journey Jesus walked is none other than our own Glory Road. His desert temptations finally unveil in the depths of our autobiographical consciousness that we are as surely saved by his "life" as we are by his death upon the cross. To escape the Exodus desert wilderness road Jesus walked at the beginning of Lent may be to choose some other "way" than the "WAY" that leads to the cross. (PaideiaSCO in north ga mts)
Eric: Nice idea, this week should be the binder for the elements, what hold them together. Here obedience to God's will comes to mind as "glue". Another possibility could be prayer (consulting with God.) Nancy-WI
Hi, Does anyone have any insight as to why Mark's account of the temptation is so short?
Also none of these accounts mention prayer. Any comments on that?
Nancy-Wi
First, to Mel in NE,
I can't resist a little joke/offering to you for your sermon series on Moses: On preaching the "But's of Moses" you should remember that, on the mountain top when God finally honors Moses' request by being seen, God objects because, if anyone views the face of God, they will die. So God says, "I'll let you see my backside as I walk past. (Exodus 33:18-23)" The Hebrew word is more 'earthy' than the rather sanitized english translation- literally translating as 'ass'... or, to relate to your title, final "butt".
My apologies to anyone who might be offended but I couldn't resist. I'll try harder not to yield to temptation next time!
Second, in relation to Sunday's scripture:
As for the wilderness temptation story of Jesus- in our neighborhood, we have a growing number of young families facing layoffs and many who have already lost jobs. There seems to be an upswelling of struggle in many lives- parents needing care, financial worries, and all the strains that come from these basic struggles. Given how good our ecomomy has been over the past decade, for many of our families, they are facing hard times for the first time and are struggling to find their way. Temptations to take shortcuts (stones to bread), to give up on life (throw yourself off the tower and hope to be saved) or turn away from one's strength and faith (worship me, says Satan) are very real. This story is a wonderful way to approach what could be a very difficult time for many people who may not have truely experienced difficult times before. Lent, as a walk through tough times, seems very real this year.
TB in MN
To TB in MN, Thanks for the laugh. I wasn't offended...my sense of humor is a little warped.
To all, I really appreciate the valuable conversation on the importance of lent. I, too, feel that it is essential to our lives as maturing, growing Christians. So, beginning with my Ash Wednesday service tommorrow night, I will be returning to the lectionary. I think Sunday's sermon will deal with the ways temptation can sneak up on us. I liked what someone else said about how temptation doesn't just hit us in our weaknesses, but also in our strenghts (through the temptation to think more of ourselves and our abilities than of what we're supposed to be doing!) Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Grace and Peace, Mel in NE
Nancy,
You ask a very good question about Mark, Luke and Matthew's accounts.
Scholars have thought that Mark's account is shorter because his text was written first and the others, following his lead, expanded upon the story to fill in more detail. The reasoning goes something like this: Mark, writing his gospel largely from oral sources such as travelling evangelists, storytellers and possibly the disciples themselves, created his gospel by simply collecting the various stories he found most truthful together from what he had heard. You can somewhat see this in that many of his accounts of Jesus' healings and teachings, taken individually, tend to have a clear beginning, middle and end as if they were individual stories collected together into a book. They do have a 'storytellers' quality about them even as we read them today. Matthew and Luke, writing later, at times appear to be taking some of Mark's stories and filling them in with more detail thus making them longer and richer.
In Conservative traditions, they would possibly say that Mark approached his account to simply 'report the facts' about Jesus while Matthew and Luke, seeking to emphisis Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, presented a more indepth report of the events- thus each is reporting the event but some are chosing to present more detail depending on the gospel's particular emphisis. Tradition holds that these gospels are first hand accounts from the disciples themselves and so the differences might also reflect differences in their memories of what happened when.
In Liberal traditions, they would say that, as the Christian church was growing in those early years, the traditions surrounding Jesus were deepening and being enriched by the communities understanding of who Christ was as the years went on. Mark, earlier in this tradition, reflects a simpler understanding of Christ and so his stories are simple, direct and lack the detail of the later accounts. Matthew and Luke, writing some time later are affected by the historic events of their times such as the tearing down of the Temple around 70 AD and the growth and development of the church (a footnote: one big change in this time is that Christians, for many reasons good and bad, are leaving their Jewish roots behind and becoming independent communities of their own and so need to find new traditions and establish a new understandings of who they are). The remarkable events of 50-80 AD would naturally cause dramatic changes within the Christian circles as the world changes, traditions grow, stories are told and retold. Matthew and Luke reflect this in the detail that is contained in their stories- each seeking new meaning from the life of Jesus to speak to their times (much like we try to do in writing a sermon for Sunday morning). Though the following might be a somewhat shallow analogy: think of it as a decade long game of 'Telephone' and reflect on how a simple story could grow and change as it is told, retold and retold again. On a deeper level, think of how the telling your church's history might have changed as time passes on. Once you could talk to the first members and hear first hand accounts of the churh's roots, now they have passed on and those same stories have become something akin to history or even legend, as those pioneers have become saints in the eyes of the church.
Sorry about babbling on like this (and I doubt it would help a sermon) but, just as there are different accounts of the widerness story, there are different explainations of why the differences exist. In the end, I think it all still comes down to the question of 'Where do you find the truth? Where is the Spirit, from this story, speaking to you today?"
TB in MN
As a lay preacher it is easy to get bound up in a certain routine of life. My son said to me the other day "Dad - all you do is get up in the morning, go to work, come home, do stuff for the church, go to bed - you need to break out of that routine." I thought reading the gospel for Sunday and trying to think of a new angle on the reading, that that is what Jesus did to test out his vocation. He broke free from the normal routine of life by deliberately going into the wilderness to be close to his Father. Maybe what we need to do this Lent is to break free from our routine - to make time to be alone with God - to get close to our "soul friend" - to discover or rediscover our faith. I find it interesting that to be really close to his Father, Jesus didn't go near a synagogue - the place of worship. What do other contributors think?
I find the discussions every week on DPS really stimulating and they have inspired several sermons recently when the words just don't seem to come.
Brian in London, England
The other night, insted of watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics, my family watched (again) the Michael Jordan/Bugs Bunny movie "Space Jam." The theme song was "I Believe I Can Fly." After reading this passage, I have this image of Jesus on the pinnacle of the Temple, with the devil singing this song, and inviting Jesus to join in. How often are we tempted to "be like Mike" rather than to "be like Jesus," to soar above everyone else rather than serve among the "least" of these?
OLAS
A stray thought...
No where in the Bible does it say that Jesus can turn stones into bread, jump off buildings and not get hurt, or has the ability to rule as king. I realize such a suggestion smacks of heresy but maybe, if we look at this another way, Jesus was really facing the potential of a mouthful of broken teeth, going splat on the ground when he jumped or becoming an emperor and facing all the live-taking problems of such a position. Satan knew that Jesus didn't have these powers and so tempted him with the thought that he might... much like when a politician or public figure begins to believe their own press clippings.
Just going off the deep end,
TB from MN
TB From MN
Just a thought: If Jesus turned water into wine why would it be so hard to turn stone to bread. If he walked on water and didn't sink then why could he not jump from a tall building?
Hatold in Alabama
Why not?
TB from MN
USE your sonship for feeding yourself- temptation one. ABUSE your relationship with the Father by tempting Him to guard you - temptation two. REFUSE for a moment to worship God, worship me and the wealth I promise - temptation three. I also see some parallel in strategy of temptation with Genesis. DOUBT God's Word - "If you truly are the son of God..." AND "Did God say?" CONTRADICT/ALTER God's Word - "You will not die," and "He will guard you" MAKE NEW PROMISES - "You will be like God" and "All these I will give you"
Just sorting through this stuff for possibilities. ARMY CH E, Middle East
Ah! Temptation! How sweet it is! Those beliefs just out of reach, just beyond reality. Are they bad or are they good? Temptations are the things that actually draw us into the future. They are the tempting morsels at the end of the string which keep us moving forward.
Why did Jesus resist?
(My answer) Because Satan offered the end result without the necessary effort.
I believe Jesus ended up achieving all the offerings which the spirit proposed in the desert, but they came centuries after his death and with a whole lot of effort on the part of a whole lot of people. Similar to the blessings of Abraham.
The temptation still today, is to shortcut the process, so as to avoid the mundane but necessary effort required, in reaching the goal. Sorry! In God's terms that is to gain joy, without knowing pain. That is to know life, without experiencing death.
Jesus (the church) has turned stones into bread. Every Christian should be an example of this. Jesus (the church) has thrown himself from the highest ramparts and not been harmed. For me this is what it means to overcome life, through the grace of God. Jesus (the church)has reached to every kingdom of the world.
It all starts with serving God, and not myself.
Ah temptation! Still drawing me further. God or Satan??? I wonder.
Regards for a tremendous week of God given insight.
KGB in Aussie.
If you haven't read it, go buy and read Henri Nouwen's "In the Name of Jesus." It is a short book about ministry, with reflections based on this passage. I read it over and over every year - it is extremely challenging, truthful, and grounding for anyone in church leadership, especially ordained ministers. Nouwen says Jesus faced 3 temptations in his wilderness experience which we too face - the temptation to be relevent, to be spectacular, to be powerful or influential. He discusses our truer callings and offers ways to address these temptations with disciplines and understandings. Anyway, with this passage I am drawn more to looking at the temptations we deal with as CHristians - and not simply lust, but the more subtle things - along the lines of success and power. The wilderness is the setting but not the point of the sermon here for me, I guess. Jim in CT.
Has anyone noticed the connection between the last temptation and the end of Matthew's gospel. Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. At the end of Matthew Jesus says "All authority is given to me in heaven and on earth." But he had to go through the cross first. Satan is offering the painless shortcut. But Satan doesn't really own all the kingdoms of the world, anyway. -- Mike in Maryland
Mike in Maryland
Jesus said Satan owned it. Check out John 16:11; 12:31 14:30; Ephesians 2:2.
Harold in Alabama
Mike in Maryland
Jesus said Satan owned it. Check out John 16:11; 12:31 14:30; Ephesians 2:2.
Harold in Alabama
In Marcus Borg's book Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, he speaks about the different understandings of just what was the "sin" commited by Adam and Eve. Two of the understandings are the "Primal Act as Hubris" - meaning to give oneself the place that belongs to God alone; the second is the "Primal Act as Sloth" - meaning to "leaving it to the snake," or to let some one else author one's existence, to live the agenda of another. I want to tie these in with Jesus' resisting temptations, and I sense a tie-in with globalization and modern morals and values, consumerism and on and on... But I am having trouble getting started. Any ideas or opinions? Blessings LGB
Why did Jesus tell this story? Nobody knew but Him! So, why did Jesus tell the story? To let us know about the reality of the devil? if the devil is real then Why is that we hardly believe that? If we are to be tested like Jesus, what is the purpose? Why our Heavenly Father allow it? Is this life a school and everybody must be tested? If so, then what is the purpose of life? Where we were before we were born? In heaven? Why we were sent to this world? A lot of questions!!! Naive..
Naive... asked, "If so, then what is the purpose of life?"
That reminds me of a t-shirt I once owned. It said: "This is a test life. It is only a test life. If this had been a real life, you would have been told where to go and what to do."
I used it a couple of times to preach on the fact that we HAVE been told where to go and what to do!
Blessings, Eric in KS
Speaking of the differences between Matt and Mark, remember how each discribes the action of the Holy Spirit? Matthew says the spirit "led" Jesus into the wilderness; went out before him, took him by the hand and said, "I know it looks rough, but you can do it. Trust in yourself and trust in the Father." Mark says the spirit "drove" him in. In biblical times to "drive" meant to force unwitting and/or unwilling animals, to go where you want them to go...to go where they DON'T want to go. It involves whips, switches, rods, harsh words and gutteral sounds; behavior that, in a sense, seems cruel. The Holy Spirit says, "GO!" (whipsnap) "GIT!" (poke in the backside with the staff). The suggestion, IMHO, is that Jesus is resisting, unwilling. How many of us entered pastoral ministry that way? How many laypeople try to escape their calling?
By the way, TB from MN: Interesting take on the story concerning what Jesus may or may not have been able to do. Harold in Alabama: Way to keep us true to the Word! But the two perspectives may not be as contradictory as might appear. Jesus said he did and said nothing apart from the Father's will(please, don't demand chapter and verse!). He turned water to wine and walked on water because that is what God called him to do in those moments in order to demonstrate his messiahship. If Jesus wished to turn stone to bread as a shortcut out of his Spirit-directed suffering, his dental health may very well have suffered; if he wanted the trill of hang gliding or bunjee jumping without the required equipment, he very well could have wound up as sidewalk pizza; if he went after riches and power by forsaking his Father, he very well may have ended up a fat, ulcer-afflicted potentate, dreaming of escaping the demands of state and ending is days with a blade in the back from a wrongly trusted, overly ambitious prince.
Geeez, I'm long-winded tonight! Pastor Andy, Ionia NY
I'm thinking about a Rolling Stone Song -- from the 70's I think, called Sympathy for the Devil. As an Episcopalian, we sometimes have trouble understanding the presence of evil in the world, and are troubled over a little red man with pointy horns tempting Jesus. But the song makes a point or two. Here are a few of the words:
Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste I've been around for a long, long year Stole many a man's soul and faith
And I was 'round when Jesus Christ Had His moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed His fate
Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name But what's puzzling you is the nature of my game
Stuck around St. Petersberg When I saw it was a time for a change Killed the Czar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain I rode a tank, held a general's rank When the Blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank
I watched the gleam while your kings and queens Fought for ten decades for the Gods they made I shouted out, who killed the Kennedys When after all, it was you and me
Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails, just call me Lucifer 'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
HW in HI
I have been checking in for a year or so, but this is a first contribution... In the "Spiritual Exercises," St. Ignatius Loyola identified the temptation strategy of Satan as "riches -- honors -- pride." In paraphrase (by David Fleming, S.J., in his version which includes a rendering in modern English), that roughly equates to: "I have ___" -- "Look at me!" -- "I AM" ("ego eimi"). The pattern seems to me to fit the sequence of Jesus' temptations in Matthew. Riches or possessions - "I am hungry, therefore, I need to HAVE bread (stuff) to 'FIX' me." Honors - "Look at ME! I am God's beloved - I can jump off buildings! Neat trick, huh? God loves ME more than he loves you!" And pride - "Just worship me (Satan) this once - sort of a practice run for worshipping false Gods - and I (Satan) can set you up to BE GOD ('I AM')! You, too, can be God!" This last one would probably be especially powerful for Jesus, who in his divine nature had the write to say "I AM," and did so, often, in John's Gospel. Reminds me of the heightened danger and awfulness of the Ring of Power in "Lord of the Rings" to beings who are already spiritually powerful, like Gandalf or Galadriel. There was another thought but I lost it. It's late! Thanks to one and all for your consistent inspiration and faithfulness to the Word and to your (God's) people. Dan in Baltimore
How quick we Christians are to hop on the bandwagon of Satan bashing.
The temptations Jesus faced were very real aspects of his humanity. Suddenly realising himself to be God's creation, and his divine capability through his baptism, Jesus faces the dilemma of human faith. Is faith, simply sitting back and letting God's will unfold, or are we to be active and participatory in the end result. Can I get any satisfaction from simply turning every rock into food? We are told that we only need a mustard seed of faith, to throw down whole mountains. Can I just throw myself down, and faith will ensure my safety? Can I truly feel happy practicing evil, even if it means I gain the whole world?
The temptations raise the eternal tension of the paradox of the faith journey, and in particular ministry in the church. Is the process far more important than the event? Is the scenery and the action of the journey far more important than the final destination? Is the satisfaction of hunger more important than the process of satisfying it. Is the preparation of people more important than the eating?
And so in these "days in the wilderness", Jesus was struggling here with that infamous aspect of humanity. Avoidance of pain and suffering. That very real human attribute - Escapism. You know. Trying to gain resurrection without going through death. Trying to gain adulthood without going through adolescence. Trying to be a better person, without facing up to my faults. Hard work in other words. Remember we are called to take up our cross daily.
There is an easy formula for happiness in this world. It is simply, Do not care about anything or anyone! You will be happy, nothing will hurt you, you will suffer nothing; but you will lose your soul. That is what is contained in the temptations.
I would therefore offer another perspective to Harold of Alabama. The ruler of this world, is the human spirit, which strives against the will of God. Remember it was plain old human beings that tried and crucified Christ. Yes, Satan is real, as real as you and me, because that is exactly who it is. It is too easy to blame some external force for our inability to deal with our own faultiness.
But it is not totally negative, because in opposition to Satan there is the Holy Spirit, the spirit of goodness. The Spirit of God also operates on the earth, and when we give ourselves over to the will of God, we are aware of that. We exhibit and contain both. Life is our continual struggle with each of these spirits in every aspect of our being. It is worth the struggle. Too many people give up at the first hint of suffering.
The beauty and wonder of Jesus, is that he never gave in to that human demand, and trait, to avoid the pain of caring. His life was centred upon God (All that is good)and in that, he realised he uncovered the fullness of life. All that it means to be truly human.
Let us not try to cop out of this dilemma ourselves, by conjuring up some justification based on our inability to defeat all that temptation throws at us. Or by suggesting that the little red man made us do it. Or was that a woman???
Keep it going people. Good stuff.
Regards,
KGB
Sorry, that should read, "Is the preparation of the food far more important than the eating?" Apologies. KGB
kgb, I found your piece to be very thought provoking. Our culture is a culture of short cuts. Every thing it seems we do is to save time and we use our time to do more things to save time. Have we come to worship time? Do we use the "extra" time to serve God? The vacumn cleaner, the dishwasher, and many other inventions make our physical life easier, but we lost some "meditative time". I am not sure where this will go, but I have a start. praying for illumination for all of us. Nancy-WI
Don't get me wrong! I would not want to give up my time savers! Nancy-Wi
Eric+
I realize this is rather late, but your Earth Wind Fire and Water theme intrigues me. The devil took Jesus up on the mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, promising the EARTH, as it were, but the promise is false, the earth is the Lord's.
The devil suggested that Jesus turn stones into bread, bread which is naturally made (in his day) by mixing the dough, letting it rise, and baking it in an oven, heated by FIRE. But to turn stones to bread is to bypass the gift of the fire, again false to what God has given.
The devil takes him up on the pinnacle of the temple, and suggests he tempt the promise that the angels bear one up. This reminds me of another part of the Psalms, on wings of eagles, which brings to mind the AIR, the lift, the loft. But again, the temptation is to use the gift in a way it is not intended by God. The loft of the air is for eagles' wings, not for Jesus, and not for me. Jesus came to be one with us, not to take advantage of the gifts for himself.
Lastly, I like the idea of the angels ministering to Jesus, bringing him WATER, for who is to become known as living water, but Jesus himself. (I realize I'm mixing my gospels somewhat, but in this context, it may work.)
This does not tie together too neatly, but you may be able to use it along with what you have already developed. Blessings in your work.
Michelle
Eric+
I realize this is rather late, but your Earth Wind Fire and Water theme intrigues me. The devil took Jesus up on the mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, promising the EARTH, as it were, but the promise is false, the earth is the Lord's.
The devil suggested that Jesus turn stones into bread, bread which is naturally made (in his day) by mixing the dough, letting it rise, and baking it in an oven, heated by FIRE. But to turn stones to bread is to bypass the gift of the fire, again false to what God has given.
The devil takes him up on the pinnacle of the temple, and suggests he tempt the promise that the angels bear one up. This reminds me of another part of the Psalms, on wings of eagles, which brings to mind the AIR, the lift, the loft. But again, the temptation is to use the gift in a way it is not intended by God. The loft of the air is for eagles' wings, not for Jesus, and not for me. Jesus came to be one with us, not to take advantage of the gifts for himself.
Lastly, I like the idea of the angels ministering to Jesus, bringing him WATER, for who is to become known as living water, but Jesus himself. (I realize I'm mixing my gospels somewhat, but in this context, it may work.)
This does not tie together too neatly, but you may be able to use it along with what you have already developed. Blessings in your work.
Michelle
The Old Testament and Gospel lessons both deal with the theme of limitations. Adam and Eve rebell against the inherent limitations of the human condition, and in doing so the garden becomes a wilderness. Jesus refuses the temptation of the devil to reject the limitations inherent in the human condition, and in doing so, at the end of the passage, the wilderness seems to be transformed into a garden (angels show up and the devil disappears.) There is something within us that yet wants to be like Gods, that wants to be exceptional, to rise above the frailties of life: we want to find that which will take away loneliness, death, vulnurability, and the inherent mediocrity of our existence in some absolute existence. It is not possible, and our attempts to do so have destructive consequences. Jesus, in contrast, shows that it is possible to move through the longing to a place of acceptance that is full of grace. God grant us the grace to accept that which cannot be changed. Any thoughts? Jeff
Michelle:
Thanks for your note. I rather like what you have done tying the temptations to the elements. (And it wasn't too late ... with a couple of hosptilalizations in the parish, Ash Wednesday, area clergy meeting, and whatnot ... I'm not even the least bit started on this week's sermon!)
Thanks again.
Eric in KS (that "Eric+" thing is how I sign e-mails... I must have been confused when I posted to this site. I'm always confused, I think, maybe... but what do I know?)
Dealing with my own temptations this week. Wanting to just throw in the towel. Hard work, parish care calls 100 miles away, writing an article for the local fish wrapper to invite more local folk to join in the Ash Wednesday service, etc. And then have only a handful of folks show. I'm a part-time minister doing what feels like a full-time job and little support from the congregation. Low attendance, grumbling folks, I just feel like quitting. Am I a whiner or what?
But then maybe Jesus felt like quitting too. After all his mentor had just been beheaded. His friend John no longer there to help Jesus with his theological dilemmas. Herod was probably out looking for him too. All he wanted to do was teach/preach some good news to those outside the mainstream.
I don't think Jesus told this story at all. I think this is Matthew's story, who was determined to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. I don't believe it is necessary to believe that Jesus could walk on water or turn stones into bread to believe and have faith. I believe God created the world good, and that there would be no reason for God to contradict or to defeat the laws of nature (i.e gravity) to make a point. Oh, but I digress.
But the three points that Matthew lifts up about God and temptations are: We can't live by just eating or drinking, we have to turn to the still small voice of God calling us to live fully and love as wastefully as possible. 2)We can't test God, God is a mystery, Job tried to test God, Adam and Eve story tested God, not the answers I'd like to hear from God...I'd want to hear mercy, "it'll be ok" no banishment from the garden, but someone said it "you can't get to the cross without going through Lent." 3)Worship God only...hummm, guess that confronts my own temptation, if I'm judging my ministry by the numbers in the pews rather than how the ministry affects those present. Why worship? For the self-righteous "I did a great job with that sermon/service?" Or we do this because God calls us to. Certainly, I think Jesus had his doubts, his temptations to quit, but then bottom line--he lived, and loved as fully as any one human being could, and that keeps me going, lets me know I can do it too. Whoa, guess I needed to vent and wrestle with the dark side of this profession. BB in IL
Great posting this week. Anyone have a good illustration on temptation?
Paula
Dear BB IN Il, We all have those moments of wonder and doubt. I always ask myself could I be happy doing anything else? If the answere ever comes out yes then it's time to hang it up. You will find that in all congregations only 20% give 80% of the funds and only 15% do 90% of the work. for the new year I preached of Faithfulness and two families left and haven't been back since. simply because I told them God expected them to be faithfull. Jesus chose at lwast 6 fishermen for disciples because they knew that they couldn't catch every fish they went after. That there would be more bad days than good ones. That they were familiar with disapointments and kenw how to handel it. Just be thankful for the few fish that do take hold and come in.
Harold in ALabama
Thanks to everyone for your great contributions, especially regarding Satan offering a shortcut to what God offers already. One person contributed to the Genesis passage for this week, commenting on the difficulty of preaching about the temptation in the Garden of Eden when many people no longer believe in Adam and Eve as historical figures. But what about Satan? How can we preach about an ancient, seductive, malevolent, and horrifically powerful being when we think of him as some guy in a red suit with a pair of plastic horns and a toy pitchfork? As Elizabeth Hurley said in the remake of "Bedazzled", "that's so trick-or-treat". Some of you might be able to take this opportunity to remind your congregations to take Satan, or at least Temptation, seriously. After all, if Satan isn't real, why does he get so much press in the Bible (Genesis, Zechariah, the Gospels, 1 Peter, Revelations, etc, etc)? Remember also C. S. Lewis' take on temptation in "The Screwtape Letters". Satan doesn't want us to eat apples or jump off buildings. He has only one purpose: to lure us away from God and God's will for us. Satan wants us to be separate from God, useless to God and as good as dead. As usual, I get nearly as much good material from hymns as I do from scripture. Specifically "Once to Every Man and Nation" and "A Mighty Fortress is Our God". I'll be back with more later. Blessing to you all. zombiewoof68, Chicago
BB in IL --
Where are you? I AM giving up. DS is encouraging this, which makes it even more discouraging.
JG in IL
JG in IL you can email me at jnorwich@aol.com. BB in IL..
I like what Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary says about this passage:
"The temptations invite Jesus to abuse his Sonship, to use God rather than to be used by God—to refuse God in order to have things for himself. But Jesus shows his true Sonship and power by defeating the tempter through simply remaining loyal to God."
I don't need any devil to tempt me to sin. I can do that quite nicely (and do so regularly) all by myself. I am focusing not on Jesus' temptations, but mine, and how they lead me away from being loyal to God. The only way to resist temptation is obedience to God. Simply put. Not so simple to live out.
Manzel, may I use your "Revised Common Simon and Garfunkel"?
RevJan
I'm in a peculiar situation. I am a fourth year seminarian here in Chicago. As a last year student I was given an opportunity to preach in rural central illinois (100 miles south with a population of 700 people). This past Sunday, a man shot and killed his soon-to-be-ex-wife and her live-in boyfriend. Since it is such a small town everyone is aware of it and has been affected by the incident through family ties to one another. One woman called me on the phone wondering if she should pray for the man who did the shooting, or just the victims.
My difficulty is twofold. First of all, since I am just a pulpit supply preacher I have little contact with the congregation. A few minutes on the weekend together does not allow me to get to know my people very well. I feel it necessary to preach on this issue, especially since it is so central to their lives right now, but I am not sure what to say about it since I am not living in the community and cannot say I understand their pain. I think God wants me to speak about the temptation to hate and get revenge, but I'm not sure if it is too premature to do this.
Secondly, Romans 5:12-19 seems to lend itself to this situation very well: "just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned-" Seems to say to me that just as the man sinned, we too sin when we seek revenge, when we hate, when we fill ourselves with anger. This continues the spread of sin and the cycle of hate. My question is: "is it too soon to deny people the human desire of anger?" Is this part of the normal healing process or does it just perpetuate sin?
Please help me all you experienced pastors.
Vicar in Chicago
Vicar in Chicago,
First, I would check the posts on this site for the weeks following 9/11/01. Some of the same anger, etc. that we felt then apply to your parish now.
Secondly, eventhough you are not part of their community, you are still their pastor. Welcome to the real world of ministry! You need to acknowledge thier shock, their pain, their anger. You need to provide healing words -- which may or may not be "heard," but which will probably be remembered at a later time. I always use "nothing can separate us from the love of God . . " You might want to use some liturgy from your denominations funeral service.
Third, I would be very careful in talking about sin in this situation. People hear things differently, especially when they are in pain. You don't really know the entire situation. Yes, to kill is sin, but there are other sins that appear to be involved here and it may seem that you are condemning the dead. Not a good pastoral move at such a time . . . That is why most of us talk in generalities when we don't know the deceased, and why we sometimes talk in generalities when we DO know the deceased. Good luck. We will all by praying for you.
Come back to ask more questions and for clarification. DP is your best resource in this situation.
RevJan
First off, my sermon for this week will focus on the idea that Goid DROVE Jesus into the wilderness. Calling it "Designated Driver". It should be fun and challenging without being too much "in your face"
Second, for those who are thinking of quitting. No you are not whining. And it does not matter what size of congregation. i am senior pastor of a large growing relocating Methodist church...I should be on top of teh world but still struggle with the diea of quittinga nd throwing in the towel. So take heart...keep the faith and let me hear from you.
Peace,
marty
Marty,
My Mom said the other day "At leasst in large churches the pastor doesn't have the headaches a small church pastor does!" I informed her that not only do large church preachers have to "put up" with lay people grumbling and fighting, they have to put up with the staff doing the same, AND they are still responsbile for everything -- there's just more of it. My hat is off to you. I've been on staff of a large congregation, and pastor of several small congregations. I'll take small any day!
JG in IL
You are right Jg. Early in my ministry this is the ladder I wanted to climb. But now I wonder if, as Steven Covey writes,if the ladder is against the wrong wall.
The Good News is that the sermon is finished and I think it will preach.
Peace
Marty
Vicar in Chicago, just as it was said before, you are their pastor. Doesn't matter if you are physically their or not. What matters is that you are God's loving arms and soothing voice. It may not have been as big a surprize as it seems to you, for the congregation. I would urge you to check the week of sept, 11 too. It shows that temptation can come in very strange forms. Our prayers are with you. Nancy-WI
For BB an JG in IL,
I just finished reading Philip Yancey's "Soul Survivor: How My Faith Survived the Church". It is an excellent book and an inspiring reminder that we are called to serve God in love. Yancey returns repeatedly to the theme that when the church lets us down, God is still there loving us back to ourselves and to God.
Many blessings on you both,
SueCan
LoriBNC, thanks for the ideas on the mountain top experiences. I used a bit of that thought last week, but also like the thought of "Whose MT are you on". Since attending the clergywomens conference in San Diego I, a Buddhist mindfulness meditation day - 8 hours of silence -- pretty tough for this preacher! -- and reading the Kitchen Mystic, as well as attending several workshops on spirituality for our agency, I have tried to open up a more careful prayer line. I find when I don't live in the awareness of God's presence, I miss so much of abundant living. However, I must choose to be conscious in that process. Jesus' MT showed how his awareness, his mindfulness, allowed him to remember who he was. Phyllis Trible spoke of this passage at a lecture I attended this week. Jesus quoted scripture for strength, but did not proof text! Perhaps we could really listen for the small voice of guidance as we sit in the wilderness for awhile. Not always fun, but often necessary for growth. SisterKlare
pulpitt in ND,
I can appreciate your words of pain and loss. In parish ministry we are called to go from loss to celebration of worship, often without a lot of time in between. Ash Wed. I had a similar experience only was leaving a terminally ill patient just before heading for worship. The patient became tearful and I could not leave without some time of comfort. I had not had a lot of time to prepare for worship as I had dealt with several other terminally ill patients the past week (I am a hospice chaplain). Between funerals and deaths, I was feeling burned out (not to mention the feuding of the building committee!) Praying for a snow storm didn't work! Anyway, feeling overwhelmed, and depleated as I sensed in your message, is something I often feel. Perhaps I'm living the wilderness experience, but also sensing the power of the spirit in very real ways right now. My prayers are that you will find a moment -- hopefully longer -- to process this major loss. Ken Doka, a grief specialist in the US, calls this kind of grief, disenfranchized grief. It means that someone close to us, a friend, a parishioner, but not a family member, has died and we are feeling deep grief. However, because the person was not a family member like a parent, spouse, child, brother, sister, etc., the grief is not acknowleded as significant. Pastors need to take time to grieve and also help their congregation grieve the significant losses in their midst. My prayers are with you.
SisterKlare
Vicar in Chicago People who suffer loss go through a greving process Deinal, anger, blame, depression and finally acceptance. Sometimes just being there and a warm hug will do more than words. Let your people know that you love them and that you care that they are hurting offer them a time at the altar to talk to God and encourage them to tell God just how they feal.God has big shoulders to cry on. I had a great nephew who was murdered in the same way just a few weeks ago.
Harold in Alabama
Marty, JG and all, This is such a wonderful forum. It is a garden of Eden for this exiled preacher. Even though nothing has changed except my perspective, I'm ready to keep the towel for a while longer, try and calm my mind to hear that still small voice, breathe deeply, and then write that sermon. Thanks for all the valuable input this week. Harold in Al. you are in my prayers for your loss. BB in IL
Thanks for all the great words of wisdom...I having been lurking for several years...and only imput occasionally...
As for this scripture, it seems so very timely...not only is this text about tempation, but it is also about confrontation and perseverance.
Confrontation in that Jesus confronts the evil one, confronts his temptations, and confronts his vulnerable points. The evil one is most apt at cloaking itself in a guise which is most appealing to our weakest points. To each of us, the evil one might come differently, but to each the evil one comes, and hits us right where we are the most vulnerable. This text, and specifically Lent, is a time of self-reflection, a time to do a gut check as to where we are the weakest, to know exactly what is our "Achilles" heel...
Secondly, this text is about perseverance. But not ours...in Luke, the evil one awaits a more opportune time...not because Jesus won, but because the evil one has retreated...and will come again...the evil ones perseverance must be matched by ours, and that is what the Lenten discipline is all about in the spiritual wilderness where we find, so many times, ourselves surrounded. The struggle with evil first begins with the evil within us...and to understand that, we must commit ourselves to self-knowledge: who are we? what are our limitations? where are we the weakest? For me, Lent is that perfect time for just this sort of introspection.
Just some thoughts, very, very late in the week...
Peter in Ohio
Pullpit, I just got back from a short trip and just read of the death of the young member of your church. Indeed, you have every right to be in shock. I lifted up a prayer for you, your congregation and for the family. Blessings! lp in CO
Vicar in Chicago, I agree with others that stated, regardless of the amount of time you spend in your ministry setting, you are their pastor. I believe that compassion is the most important thing that we can do and possess. You might think of some type of healing service--especially during this season of Lent. You need not address the particular issue. As another suggested, I would stay away from that, a well. However, it is not just the families directly involved who need healing. It is the entire community. Just be tactful in the way you approach this. Listen a lot. Pray a lot. This reminds me of the Columbine Shootings here in Colorado. There was a need for everyone to come together in prayer. That is why I suggest a Healing Service. What I mean by that is more like a prayer service with the emphasis on the healing grace of God. You might even have an anointing service. Just some random thoughts. lp in CO
BB in IL, I couldn't help but notice your post about "throwing in the towel." Sometimes,I think, we all have moments when we wonder if it is worth it. I've been dealing with a church that has some difficult people in it, but others in the congregation don't want to deal with, or even acknowledge that the behavior of a few causes a lot of grief in the church. I've felt like throwing in the towel with them for several years. And I have requested a move this year. But the doubts come. My D.S. told me that I should not let anyone or anything take away the "joy of my salvation" or the joy of my calling. Remember the Psalm: "return to me the joy of your salvation." I have held onto that. And I have used it as a mantra. I've also picked up yet another book on conflict management and this one is great. It is called, Never Call Them Jerks: Healthy Responses to Difficult Behavior. It is put out by the Alban Institute. I haven't finished it yet, but I am finding it to be of tremendous help. It comes from a "family systems" approach, but is (for me) easier to digest than some of the others.
Hang in there. You are not alone! And it's good to know that none of us are alone as we follow Christ in our ministry.
Grace and Peace, Melanie (sorry, this had nothing to do with this week's scripture!)
pulpitt in ND and Vicar in Chicago: heavy loads for both of you to carry into Lent. My prayers are with you.
To all: lots of good thoughts this week.
I have been struggling with how to make Lent 1 texts fresh and alive, while at the same time being faithful to our need for penitence and preparation during Lent. Brian in London, I like your idea of looking at Lent as a time for breaking free from routine! We all so often hear "We've always done it that way!" (or variations on that theme!) from people who are unwilling to stretch themselves to new ministries or new heights of experience. Daring to break free of routine by taking ourselves off on retreat, or stepping out in faithful response to God, or even facing the temptations in our lives head-on can be a frightening experience. Having the faith to do it, though, brings its own rewards. Or at least I have found that to be true as I answered the call to ministry and seminary a few years ago at the age of 47. It was very frightening to give up the security of a stable, if low paying, government job for the unknown frontier of a "parti-time" three point charge and full time seminary studies. But the end of seminary is in sight and the rewards of rural ministry have been many. But I had to break free of my personal routines to experience those rewards.
StudentPastor in KS
For me this rings very clearly from this passage:
God does not do the bidding of Satan.
John near Pitts.
another idea.
satan uses the scripture to encourage jesus to succomb to temptation. people can use & twist around anything to get their point across (ourselves included, i guess). our congregations need to be especially DISCERNING in this age of bush-ly politics, when the president apparently believes that legislating morality will decrease our country's sinfulness (an editorial by mcFeatter).
also, i agree w/the emphasis here being on the non-cultural value of OBEDIENCE... but obedience to what, especially? "Let God be God," perhaps?
may God inspire. deb in the 'burgh
Illustration: My dog and I just completed 6 weeks of obedience school, and oh, did we learn! One routine that astonishes me is when I put a piece of food on the floor and tell Molly "Leave it" and she looks up at me, expectantly, and not at the food.
I don't want to get into allegories or paralells, like God training Jesus to be obedient. But Jesus was becoming aware that just because it's out there and looks juicy and delicious, it isn't necessarily his. He is learning not to look at the kingdoms, or bread, or any other good stuff, he is learning to keep his attention focused on God.
My sermon is entitled "Leave It."
kbc in sc
kbc, thanks, that'll preach.
kbc, Thanks, that'll preach. It makes me think of the song,"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / look full in his wonderful face / and the things of earth will grow strangely dim /in the light of his glory and grace."
Sorry I submitted prematurely above. Magi in the Middle
KGB: Thanks for your posting. I think I would summarise the story by saying that Jesus' temptation was to let the ends justify the means.
Over the course of history there have been many sins, crimes, even atrocities carried out by Christians based on the argument that the ends will justify the means.
Are there any shortcuts that we are tempted to take today?
RevJan: thanks for the quote 'I don't need any devil...' It's all to easy to say 'the devil made me do it' and I can picture Adam guiltily pointing to Eve, who was pointing to the serpent, who had quietly slunk off. There is obviously here a critique of a certain type of Christianity which is quick to pin our transgressions on Satan rather than looking to ourselves and our own moral responsibility.
Shalom,
Paul Weary (Croydon, UK)
I am holding a hand-made pink paper Valentine's Day card from a grade schooler from Cincinatti. It came in some "any soldier" mail for soldiers deployed on Operation Enduring Freedom. Lana writes,
Dear Soldier, Happy Valentine's Day. I hope you are safe. Thank you for what you are doing. Have a good new year. I hope you see your family soon. Have fun during the war. Love, Lana
What a contrast to the message of this Gospel. The war against temptation, against the spiritual forces is nothing short of agony. Do we, as sinners, view temptation as a fun war? Are we ignoring the serious nature of the battle we engage in? If so, the fall is great. Army Ch E
Dear Folks:
And older sermon, but one stab at the Matthew reading:
SAT+ of NS
Sermon for Lent 1, 1999. S.A.T: Gen. 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Ps. 32; Rom 5:12-9; Matt. 4:1-11
“THEN JESUS WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.” (Matthew. 4:1) +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ +++
In Christ our battles may become victories, our struggles times of blessing.
It’s amazing to me what people tell you, what they go through, what’s going on out there, and in their lives. You don’t see it most of the time, partly because it’s not your business– but mostly because the battles of the human heart, the spiritual struggles, the sorrows of a home or a relationship, despair or courage, or pain courageously carried, miracles or visions experienced, the prayers quietly said, all these are by their nature hidden, yet important things. And it is one of my privileges to listen, to interpret, to care for these things in people’s lives, to handle them as if they were diamonds, or fragile treasures, things and people of God’s care and blessing. But you can’t see them, and most people look pretty ordinary, on the outside.
What could you have seen long ago? You would have seen an ordinary-looking sort of fellow join the crowd of people thronging to be baptised by John the Prophet; you might have felt or heard something strange happen as he was baptised– but then he just wandered quietly off, up towards the desert hills across the river. A man in the desert. Praying, fasting, wrestling with something. You would have turned back to John, his sermons and his fire, the approaching conflict with the authorities– now here was where the action was! Yet in the desert, the action is pretty unbelievable– for here indeed is God’s Son, his eternal glory hidden in human flesh and human nature; here is the new Moses, the greatest prophet ever– God’s own Word dwelling with his people– here he sits, fasting and praying forty days and nights, seeking the Father’s will, discerning his way through the traps and pitfalls of holy power and earthly ministry, praying to know and do his Father’s will, waiting upon the Lord’s answer to his prayers. His mission? To preach and teach, to suffer and die, to commit all that he is and shall say and do, his very body and blood into the Father’s hands, to save those whom the Father has given him– but how? We may look with amazement on the accomplishments of a person’s life, or their courage or character, or the heroic deeds of a war-hero, but we forget that person has to live life day by day, decision by decision, and doing good or being good isn’t easy, certain, and it often doesn’t feel very good. So Christ is the Son– but how shall the Son live in the midst of zealots, religious fanatics, self-righteous religious authorities, likely to hound and persecute him for his good works and words; what about the ordinary people, so needy and yet so apt to misunderstand, all the conflicting images and expectation of the promised Messiah, the Roman armies and regulations, surrounding pagan religions, treacherous Kings like Herod, son of old Herod, who even now was plotting to have John Baptist shut up in prison? How to walk aright in the midst of so many traps and false paths? So Jesus must pray, and wrestle, and count the cost, and discern the way, and lean upon the Spirit of the Father; he must, if need be, be tested in body and soul as old Job was, by the wicked Accuser, Satan, fallen angel and enemy of God and his Kingdom, to see who the Christ is and what he is made of. So apart from any comforts, confusion, or company, Jesus bears the hunger, the heat of day and chill of the desert winds at night, and waits.
~ 2 ~
And waiting until Jesus is nearly done in, the Devil strikes. ‘If’, says the pleasant and reasonable voice, ‘you really are the Son of Heaven, then supply your hunger with bread from those nice round stones.’ Bread– earthly needs, so many hungry and poor, so much to make right in this world, and miracles would do the trick; shall this be his way? So Israel was tempted long ago in the desert, after escaping Egypt– grumbling stomachs made them grumble against God and Moses, and after all bread and worldly comforts could not save. That is not the way-- ‘It is written, man shall not live on bread along, but on every word of God.’ Without missing a beat, the Enemy begins his own Bible study, and in a vision takes the Son up to the top of the lofty Temple– ‘Hmm. It is written, as you say, that the angels will keep you safe if you fall. If you really ARE God’s Son, then....’ The tribes long ago had tested God, demanding signs and wonders, doubting if God really cared or was there– so easy just to show the world, a spectacular miracle, it will avoid suffering, help them to believe... but no, Israel saw many signs and wonders– and still they doubted and tested God. ‘It is also written: You shall not test God.’ ‘Fine, I never much liked bible-study anyway’, says the accuser with a snarl, ‘Behold all the kingdoms, the power and grandeur of my world, all yours for your soul. One itty-bitty act of worship. The Messiah is supposed to rule all the nations, after all. Here’s the ticket. Well?...’ To rule over all, to be a king with mighty power, to serve... an idol? Israel had grown tired of waiting for Moses and God, and made their own golden calf, and worshipped and so lost the blessings they really had for idolatry, turning from God and the promised land and Kingdom which lay ahead. False god, false kingdom, ungodly King ruling by Satan’s power? Such had been the temptation and fall of the nation of Israel down the years. ‘Begone, Accuser, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and only serve him.’ For in the end, earthly bread, worldly fame and easy tricks, and well-meaning but ultimately sinful rule has never and will never make heaven on earth, nor save souls, nor defeat the devil, nor truly transform our hearts and souls, our relationships and our lives. For if bread– lots of stuff, government programs, whatever– was the true answer, then why is our wealthy consumerist society so hollow and why does ever more stuff make us less and less happy? If miracles and wonders really would make everybody believe, why, despite the mighty miracles of Christ do so many disbelieve, and why do so many Christian leaders water down the faith, and why do we still find our own faith so cold and shallow? And if political might and efficiency were the answer, why did Hitler and Stalin not win in the end? For both, it could be argued, ruled by Satan’s rules in their respective ways. In the wilderness Christ chose another way– for he was the bread from heaven, broken for you, which alone truly satisfies our deepest hunger; for the Son indeed leapt into death– but only by resolutely marching to the Cross by love, to die for us, and win for us eternal life; and Christ is the eternal King, but only by receiving the eternal crown of glory that fades not away, as the obedient Son of God, who rules over earth and heaven, over death and hell, over the hearts of his faithful people, who has indeed already won the resurrection victory, and calls us then to march, and pray, and suffer, and conquer, and resist the devil, and heed his Holy Word, and receive his sacraments. All you would have seen was a ragged and hungry thirty year-old man stagger out of the desert forty days after he walked in– and then you would have begun to see so much more. For he walked by faith and love, and persevered in his time of testing and temptation, and calls us in Lent and in our lives to be made more and more like him, by his grace, that we may share in his infilling life, his saving power, his eternal throne, now and forevermore, AMEN.
If you will indulge another heretical thought from the fringe:
There is another parallel reading one can point to concerning teptation and Satan's little games: The Book of Job. Satan comes up to God and says, "Let's play a game. It is called 'Torture Job'". God agree's to the game. A family is destroyed. A livelihood is ruined. A marriage falls apart. Suffering and misery abound.
Then Satan comes to Jesus and says, "Let's play a game. It's called 'Three Temptations'." Jesus does not play and the story continues on. People are healed. People are taught. Lives are restored.
Interesting contrast. Just thinking out loud... Draw your own conclusions.
TB in MN
P.S. On a far more important note (especially to pulpitt in ND and Vicar in Chicago), prayers to all in difficult and hard places this Lent. May you find the ministry of angels to guide you through this wilderness. The comfort I offer to you is that you are not alone. We walk together.
I am considering the way in which I can make the concept of temptation relevant for my congregation. There are so many examples of people yielding to temptation in our world. The Enrron debacle is one example, the controversy over figure skating, the rhetoric of war, etc. Each of these are examples of people doing things for the wrong reason. Putting the Christian spin on it could help people see how the every day presents each of us with our own set of temptations. Cheating on the income tax, tacitly approving misguided political decisions, blatant dishonesty in dealing with others ... These are not earthshakers like turning rock into bread, or jumping of a high cliff, but are the challenges that face all Christian people every day. Thoughts? RevRip - Ontario, Canada.
A hint to any preachers out there who are REALLY DESPERATE at this point (Saturday, 8:44pm EST):
Read the scripture from which Jesus quotes to answer Satan's first temptation, Deuteronomy 8:1-3. It set off a few bottle rockets for me, I pray it will for you, also. Shalom, Pastor Andy, Ionia NY
A hint to any preachers out there who are REALLY DESPERATE at this point (Saturday, 8:44pm EST):
Read the scripture from which Jesus quotes to answer Satan's first temptation, Deuteronomy 8:1-3. It set off a few bottle rockets for me, I pray it will for you, also. Shalom, Pastor Andy, Ionia NY
Jesus is asked by Satan to do the right things, just at the wrong times. When he feeds the 5000 it is to keep hungry people from wondering in a strange dark place begging; when he institutes the Lord's Supper he sets a pattern for feeding the world. When he faces the garden and the cross it is purposeful, and the angels do attend him. When he mounts the pinnacle of the cross he gives all to be the true ruler of the world, enthroned next to God's right hand.
GB in OH
Anybody wonder where verse 11 got to?
This is a very poignant passage. The nature of temptation is two-fold. First temptation is not sin.. it is testing. Sin is the acting out...the giving into of the temptation. and 2: temptation is tailored to the person. Jesus' temptations are not mine. I do not have the power to turn stones to bread... he did. My temptations are not yours. What is in the realm of my possibility is not in yours. Perhaps that is why we are admonished not to judge. Finally rmeember that satan left Jesus for a more opportune time... more opportune? Perhaps when there were more distractions and more on the line. The 'testing' strengthened Jesus for that next opportune time. Pax, Revpam
Michelle, thought you'd like to know that I did use your thoughts nearly verbatim ... I reordered your paragraphs, but otherwise left them just as you wrote them.
The URL for the sermon is ... http://www.stfrancis-ks.org/subpages/asermons/lent-1-a-rcl-2002.htm
Blessings, Eric in KS
Thank you Jesus for showing me the way. Thank you so much for carrying for me and loving me. Help me to love others as you love us. We ALL love because God loved us first!!!