The Temptation of Christ

Have you ever wished you could go back and change something that happened in the past? I do on a fairly regular basis.

Do you ever wonder whether – or how much - Adam and Eve regretted their decision to listen to the serpent and eat the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden? They listened to the doubt he put in their minds: Did God REALLY say ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’

They fell for his trap, and through their decision sin entered the world. If I were them I’d have longed to go back and change what happened. Although this isn’t possible, in our Gospel reading today, we see a re-run of the cosmic exchange, but this time with Jesus confronted by Satan. As Adam and Eve, representatives of all humanity were tempted in the garden, which changed history, Jesus, representing humanity in the desert, withstood temptation and overrode the mistakes of the past. God gives us a second chance.

In many ways Adam and Eve had it much easier than Jesus did when He was tempted: they had an abundance of all kinds of food, they were in fellowship with God, they had each other’s company, but still they doubted God. Jesus was alone in the desert for 40 days, hungry, tired and physically weak, so let’s not think it was easier for Him!

But He did have some reserves to draw on. Jesus had just had an amazing public affirmation of who He is, through His baptism, when God spoke to Him from heaven, the Holy Spirit came upon Him, and He was commissioned for His future ministry. But immediately after this He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Let’s just reflect on this. You may have noticed it in your own spiritual life – times of joy and affirmation, feeling full of the Spirit and close to God, then feeling really low, full of doubt, regret or even hollow inside. The spiritual battle is real. This is part of the Christian life. And today’s story gives us pointers about how to deal with it.

What are the resources we have? Firstly, like Jesus we can see everything in the context of eternity. The first temptation was to use His power to meet His own personal needs. The temptation for Jesus to find the quick and easy solution would’ve been huge. As the Son of God, He could’ve easily turned stone into bread, and as He hadn’t eaten for 40 days He would’ve been famished. Surely that would be justified!

My husband started a job last year, at a hotel and retreat centre. He gets a free lunch every day – with about 3 side salads, and choice of meat, fish or. vegetarian food, AND a choice of dessert – or he can have some of everything! He texted me one day soon after he started to say he was worried about putting on a lot of weight now he’s getting such a good lunch. I texted back, suggesting that he hold back, and take a smaller portion. I got a one word reply: ‘Can’t.’

Jesus’ need for food was genuine, but He was being tempted to get food using His power for His own personal needs. The devil likes to find our vulnerabilities and plays on them. And he tries to convince us that the end justifies the means.

The future of humanity’s at stake here. If Jesus failed, He could not’ve gone to the cross for us. Jesus is in the desert, weak with hunger, alone, and being tempted on every front for 40 days: encouraged to take a quick fix for some momentary relief. How often do we settle for that? I know I do. But Jesus doesn’t look for the quick fix; He knows the end doesn’t justify the means. He isn’t interested in the physical, some bread to sustain Him; He’s interested in the eternal. So this is the first thing we can learn – to see things from the perspective of eternity. What matters in the long run?

Secondly, Jesus’ identity was also being challenged: IF you are the Son of God. The devil sneers at Jesus, trying to sow seeds of doubt in His mind about who He is. This is another of his tactics: constantly trying to undermine our identity as God’s children, making us feel unloved, unforgiven, and unworthy. But all this is lies. A clergyman once said there are 2 lies relating to sin the devil likes to use: before we sin he’ll say: ‘it’s ok, it doesn’t matter, it’s not a big deal, do it - no one will ever know.’ Afterwards he taunts us, saying: ‘you think you’re going to be forgiven, after doing something like that? Don’t fool yourself, your case is hopeless.’ We need to turn our attention away from him and towards God, listening instead to the promises of God in Scripture, a most precious resource. Hebrews 10.16 reminds us of one of God’s promises: ‘This is the covenant that I will make with the (people of Israel) after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds’, 17 he also adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ God says, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ The devil likes to remind us of our failings; God promises to forget them!

In the second temptation Jesus is offered the power and glory of the inhabited world, for a moment of worship. ‘All this will be yours if you will worship me.’ Here the truth is being twisted. Satan’s power is only temporary. He pushes God out of the picture, and again, is offering Jesus a short cut, to sidestep the suffering of the cross, going straight to power and glory. This may well have seemed more appealing to Jesus than God’s way: suffering, and THEN glory. Again we see Jesus resisting temptation using Scripture. He doesn’t engage or try to argue with the devil, and doesn’t listen to his false promises, like Adam and Eve did.

In the third temptation Jesus is challenged: ‘IF you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ (Psalm 91). Scripture is being used against Jesus, being twisted to try and persuade

Him.

Jesus doesn’t get into a conversation, He doesn’t negotiate, He quickly rejects each temptation, each time quoting Scripture, the Word of God. Where Adam and Eve failed, Jesus succeeded. And so the story of God giving us a second chance, His plan for salvation, could continue. Jesus shows us the way to resist temptation. Firstly, He was prepared; He knew it was coming. Secondly, He knew Scripture, the Word of God well, and how to read it; Thirdly, He was confident in His identity as God’s Son;

Fourthly, He had His eyes fixed on God and His plan, not looking for short-term fixes, but the eternal perspective. It’s not a sin to be tempted – even Jesus was tempted. We all have temptation, we all fail sometimes, but how will you choose to deal with it? When we come through temptation and testing times our faith grows stronger. 19th Century preacher Charles Spurgeon said: "No faith is so precious as

that which lives and triumphs through adversity. Tested faith brings experience. You would never have believed your own weakness had you not needed to pass through trials. And you would never have known God’s strength had His strength not been needed to carry you through.” You may be in a good place with your faith at the moment; you may feel close to God, confident in who you are, a forgiven child of God. Or you may be struggling, full of regrets, doubts, hurt and anger; or somewhere in between.

Let us remember that Jesus is the Truth, He gives us a new identity as beloved children of God; through His sinless and perfect life, death and resurrection He offers us the assurance of eternal life. In our lives, in our world, there are many competing opinions and voices. Which one will you listen to? We can drown out temptation, regrets and that sense of failure by

• Tuning in to God’s voice, turning up the volume, by reading our Bible daily,

• Reminding ourselves of our identity as God’s beloved children,

• Resting on His promises, which will prepare us for all the challenges of life.

  
  

And let us fix our eyes on the certain hope of heaven – where any temporary troubles or temptations will pale into insignificance, compared to the joy that awaits us there.

Amen.