Three Temptations . . .Three Blessings!

Last Wednesday we delved deeply into the story of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; Mark 1:12-13). This immediately follows Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River. We remembered that the name Jesus means "the one who saves," and that the Christmas story had also referred to him as Emmanuel, "God-with-us." Coming out of the waters of baptism, God's voice names Jesus additionally as "My Son," "the Beloved," and "God's Pleasure."

Before Jesus can begin his ministry, the Holy Spirit leads him (in Mark's Gospel he is pushed) out into the wilderness. Jesus is there for forty days. It is a time of clarification. The names he has been given are wonderful. But what will they mean? What kind of person will Jesus really be? The wilderness retreat will help Jesus, and us, find out!

We talked about the characteristics of the wilderness, describing it as: dry; a "no man's land;" isolated; deserted; solitary; arid; full of sand and snakes. We wondered what the experience is like for Jesus: a barren place; he's "by himself;" he "gets a chance to think;" it can be a place of prayer; a place "not to be busy." Perhaps he draws in the sand, or sings hymns. He is hungry and thirsty. There is little or no water; no Mickey D's.

In the wilderness Jesus is emptied; he has very little of what he is used to relying on, other than God's loving power, manifested in the Spirit that leads him! After forty days without food Jesus is famished. The story is asking us to consider the different ways that we are nourished in our lives, and how we are sustained and nurtured for God's purpose.

In the story, a figure called "the devil" or "Satan" tempts Jesus to deny who he truly is.

From the start, he is challenged to prove himself. "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." Have you ever been challenged to"prove yourself" in some way? How did you respond?

Jesus refuses. When we know who we are--specifically, when we know who God has created, named, and loved us into being--we don't need to prove ourselves to other people. We seek to fulfill who God made us to be!

Class members believed that in the first temptation Jesus was being tempted to "do stuff for himself instead of others; to use his power to take care of himself first." Hearing Jesus' quotation, "One does not live by bread alone," we made a list of other ways we are nourished:

--love

--friendship

--self-respect

--caring

--learning

--thought

--actions (life experience)

--understanding

--values

--family

--choices! Our choices offer opportunity to be nourished, and led by the Spirit!

We might also add additional blessings: encouragement; community; purpose; direction; and most importantly, inspiration and the promises of God!

In the second temptation, the tempter offers to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and authority over them, if Jesus will only worship him. But the world doesn't belong to anyone but God. Such authority is not for the devil, or anyone else, to give. We talked about answering to authority in the world. We recognize that we will work for bosses at different jobs, and we will live in a nation and in communities that have authorities who will direct many things. There are many times when we will receive orders and directions, or be given laws to follow. And we will follow them. But it is important to realize that a key part of our Christian faith, and being disciples of Jesus, is that we will not follow orders or comply with laws that go against the love of God and the teaching of Jesus. We will have no other authority higher than our Lord! This sometimes makes for difficult and important decisions. Can you think of any examples?

When we worship God, we live humbly, empowered by the Spirit to love others as Jesus has loved us. Other people are our brothers ans sisters, never objects to dominate so we can get what we want for ourselves. And God entrusts us all with the world's resources, abundant enough to meet everyone's need . . . but not everyone's greed! We learn ways of dedicating and sharing blessings so that all can have what is truly needed.

In the third temptation, Jesus is challenged to demonstrate his invulnerability, to show that God will keep him perfectly safe from any harm. But Jesus shows that we are created for relationship. To live in relationship. with God and with each other, requires vulnerability. It is in our blessed but fragile humanity that we love the best and look out for the common good!

When Jesus quotes the Hebrew Scriptures again, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test," he is saying that God is vulnerable and intimate in relationship. Jesus demonstrates this throughout his life. How do you share vulnerability and trust with God, and with other people?

In what ways do you seek to love as Jesus loves? Give some concrete examples.

Earlier in the year, we read and discussed the story of Jesus' baptism, and related it to our own baptisms. We realized that like Jesus we have received names from God in addition to the names our parents have given us. God has called us Child, Beloved, God's Pleasure.In the face of the three temptations, God blesses us with three expressions of our true identity!

It is in our lives, in the choices that we make, and in the ways we dedicate ourselves, that we will give those names real meaning. The Spirit will inspire us and lead us. We will never be alone, even when we feel lonely! And if St. Andrew's is a Spirit-led community, we will give body and shape to God's love for the world, together.

Jesus helps us to recognize ourselves as all being God's children; that we are deeply and eternally loved by God (don't let anyone try and tell you different!); and that communion with us is God's delight.

Retreats, and even difficult "wilderness experiences," are important. Times of prayer, and deep thought. When we are emptied of some of life's illusions, we get to celebrate the best of what is God-given.