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Tempation
SERMON – 10.15am, Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Sunday 21st February 2010
Revd. Canon David Pickering
Luke 4.1
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led into the wilderness, where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil.
'Temptation' is bit of a misunderstood word, mainly because of its misuse in the Lord's Prayer.
We pray lead us not into temptation, but really there is nothing wrong on our part in being tempted. What is wrong is when we give into the temptations that we should most certainly avoid.
Jesus was tempted. If Jesus was tempted then I can also expect to be tempted. What's good enough for Jesus is good enough for me.
If we look closely at the temptation of Jesus then perhaps we can have a better idea of what temptation is all about; and how they can help us in this season of Lent.
The story of Jesus' temptation occurs in all of the first three gospels, but in quite different forms.
Mark gives a very brief account, which seems to be battle of wits between Jesus and the devil. This sets the scene for a constant theme throughout his gospel. The healing miracles in Mark often have an exorcism element to them. The battle between good and evil continues through Mark right through to the Cross and Resurrection.
In Matthew's account of the temptations we have the three traditional temptations, where the theme is the testing of Jesus' Sonship.
If you are the Son of God then you can do this or that.
Luke's version also continues with this idea testing, but like Mark Luke says it happens over 40 days. He also changes the order from Matthew.
Matthew's order is; the stones and bread, the jumping off the temple pinnacle, and the kingdoms of the world from the high mountain. Luke changes this around for the climax to be with the jump from the temple pinnacle.
In the temptation to make bread out of stones, Jesus is being asked to assert his divine authority and to make use of this to show what he can do. That he can make things happen; even the most extraordinary.
Jesus' response is, 'One does live by bread alone.' There is more to life than bread, but bread or basic food is essential. We should use things for what they are and in the way they are meant to be used.
Lent is a time of looking at the ordinary things of our lives, and seeing how well we are using them or abusing them.
In the second temptation Jesus is called to worship the devil; to follow the way of the world, with it selfishness, factions, greed, malice, hatred, abuse, violence and every other evil we can think of.
Again Lent is the time for looking at where these negative things are impinging on our lives, or even taking root.
At his baptism by John, which occurs just before the temptations, Jesus is given his divine commission with the descent of the Holy Spirit and the confirming or approving words. "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased"
As the Beloved Son of God Jesus is called to a mission of obedience, humility and service.
When the devil tempts Jesus to jump from the temple pinnacle, he is being asked to test God by making the most of his position, to force the hand of God to save him in a completely unnecessary situation.
Does that say something to us? Do we like to see how far we can push God in the way we live our lives. Lent is a time for checking how we are living. After the example of Jesus are we seeking to live a live according to God's will of humility and service.
Mark and Matthew tell us that during or after the temptations angels minister to Jesus. Luke simple says, "When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until and opportune time"
That time will be Gethsemane.
Temptations will never cease, they will never go away completely.
The devil in one form or another will always seek an opportunity, but God's angels will always be with us, in whatever form we believe they exist.
Have a good Lent
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