Tempted.

The Test

4 1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”

4 Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”

5-6 For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.”

7 Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.”

8-9 For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.”

10 Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”

11 The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs.

The test.  The temptation.  We all have them and sometimes they are really hard to resist.  Matthew goes into quite a bit of detail when it comes to this story.  Some of you may have heard Mark's much shorter version last week in worship.  Jesus is confronted with the worst of temptations as Satan tries to win him over.  The third test offered Jesus the power of the world.  Jesus lets him know that his loyalty is to God alone.  

Love of power continues to corrupt the world, halting the growth of societies, oppressing people, and preventing people's most basic needs from being met.  Often it stunts any sort of progress or movement forward as people's access to education or money is limited.  

Power is tempting.  Like Christ we must keep our hearts focused on God to prevent the love of power and control that can easily creep into our own lives.  While on a much different level, our desire to control and have power over situations (and people) really limits our availability to God.  If we are so busy trying to control everything or worrying about what might occur, we fail to recognize that God is the true source of life and life abundant!  

By what are you most tempted?  Do you struggle with a need to have control over things, lest something not work out the way you desire?  What would it take for you really trust God, even with the smallest details of your life? 

I think these are some of the hardest parts of living a life of faith.  Yet I know that when we desire to control less and really dig into our lives of discipleship our need for control really lessens.  May we, like Christ, trust in God before all others.  May we, like Christ, believe in the power of God over all other powers.  And, may we, like Christ offer ourselves fully to God's work through and around us.  

amen.