February 24 – The Second Wednesday of Lent

Luke 4:1-13 NIV

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.'”

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'”

The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “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.'”

Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

We’ve talked a lot about getting rid of the sin in our lives and about saying no to our self-will but sometimes it’s just plain hard.  Sometimes it seems like we’re bombarded from every side with temptations so powerful that we can’t even breath.  During these times it is essential for us to remember that Jesus face temptations just as we did.  In fact the writer of Hebrews, speaking of Jesus, says:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

– Hebrew 4:15 NRSV

“But that’s Jesus, he doesn’t count!” or “But he’s God he can’t really be tempted!” are two of the more common statements I hear when we talk about this.  While it’s true that Jesus is truly God it is also true that these temptations were completely real.

(This is where we get pretty deep here, but keep pressing on, it’s totally worth it!)

When Jesus (the 2nd person of the Trinity) became human he became everything that we are.  Everything that is truly human Jesus became in order that we might have a deep and true relationship with him.  He took on everything so that we could be free from sin and enjoy a relationship with him forever.

This means that Jesus, being fully human, really faced those temptations.  “But how come he didn’t give in?” You may be asking.  Did he just use the “God-card” to get out of it?  Nope.

The key to Jesus’ ability to resist temptation is found in the first verse of this passage.  Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and just before he went into the desert he had heard the voice of the Father from heaven saying “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 4:22).

Jesus was focused on God and was mindful of the relationship he had with him.  We too are given the Holy Spirit as Christians and thus are empowered by God to resist temptation.  Sadly, all too often we allow the cares, distractions, and pressures of this world distract us from hearing God’s voice and being attentive to the Spirit dwelling within us.  Lent is a time that helps us to push away these distractions.  It helps us to say “no” to the things that seek to drown out God’s voice.

During Lent we learn discipline and this discipline helps us to hear God’s voice and to be attentive to the Spirit as he guides us on the path towards God.

This past Sunday you hear Pastor Gene mention how Martin Luther (a key figure in the Protestant Reformation) when tempted would yell out “I am baptized!!”  In the identity of our baptism and in the knowledge that we have the Holy Spirit we face temptation just as Jesus did.

May God be our strength both now and always as we face the many temptations of the evil one.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, you faced temptation with confidence in God, suffering with serenity, loneliness with the assurance that your Father would not forsake you, and the cross with an inner spirit of peace.  You endured all things that we might be saved…prepare us for whatever life brings of joy or sorrow so that, being sure of your love, we may be confident of your eternal presence.  Amen.

– Anonymous