You have a choice.
You can either read the reflection below or listen to me talk in the video here:
Day 2
Today we are focusing on Matthew 4:1-11, the temptation of Jesus:
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
First thing: Again remember our focus, who is Jesus? What does this story reveal about him?
Jesus battles if’s and maybe’s, with a trust in God’s faithfulness. The biggest thing we see Satan do is introduce doubt and uncertainty to our lives. And we see him trying to do this with Jesus here. Every statement he makes includes an “if”. Every challenge he brings about seeks only to bring God’s faithfulness into question. If you are the son of God turn these stones to bread, if you are the son of God throw yourself down, if you worship me all this I will give you. Each of these temptations are rendered useless in light of Jesus’ trust in the Father. He understood who the Father is and what he is like and because of this he could not settle for anything less. No temptation could overwhelm his security in his identity because his identity rested on who his Father is. The challenge for us is to have this same trust. To lean wholly on God and trust in him.
You are invited to pray or to be prayed for. As we learn more about who Jesus is let us then enter into prayer and be shaped by him.
