Pass The Test

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” 

Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”

Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “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, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” 

When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time. (Luke 4:1-13)

Temptations of all sorts confront us daily.  We can succumb when we are weak in spirit or body.  Jesus sets the example.  He couldn’t have been good shape after 40 days in the desert. None of us would make 21 days on the TV show “Naked and Afraid” with some of those episodes being in a desert.  So, 40 days by ourselves on hot desert sands!?  No survivors I would guess.  But, Jesus prevailed neither naked nor afraid, even after being confronted by evil in the form of the devil.  

The imagery in this Lukan adventure for Jesus is clear and a present danger for all of us.  Most of us would like to turn stones into bread; have more power and influence; and believe God will rescue us when we do stupid things.  Let’s remember that’s the devil talking to us from within.  Put to the test we must turn to God to stave off evil and do good.

We must always consider that the devil and evil thoughts might be driven off, but they only depart from us for a time.  Unlike rat, we must pass all of the Buddhist test.  In that way, that departure will be for a much longer time.

Deacon David Pierce