Jesus is tested in the wilderness' - Matthew 4.1-11
Question – what links the story of Adam and Eve, the
Hebrews coming out of Egypt and the story we heard today about Jesus going into
the desert following his baptism?
They were all pushed out Eastward and into the desert or
wilderness.
Adam and Eve having failed the test, Israel and Jesus now facing the test.
And when reading Matthew, it
is important to note how he identifies Jesus as a new Moses leading people
enslaved to sin out into a new Exodus. This
frames both the Israelites encounter in the desert wilderness, being tested for
40 years after passing through the Red Sea, and for Jesus, 40 days in the
wilderness being tested, after he passed through the waters of baptism.
Matthew is the Gospel for
this year in the Revised Common Lectionary, and I can highly recommend the two
short videos, from the Bible Project, giving an overview of Mattthew, much in
the same way as with John’s Gospel that Alan encouraged to have a look at last
week.
Gospel of Matthew Summary
| Watch an Overview Video (Part 1)
Gospel of Matthew Summary
| Watch an Overview Video (Part 2)
A longer podcast is also
available looking at this story in greater depth.
Testing
Jesus in the Wilderness
These three stories, Adam and
Eve’s expulsion from the Garden, the Hebrews being driven out of Egypt and
Jesus after his Baptism being led out into the desert all carry a theme of power,
prestige and provision.’
As an undertow to our
reflection, I want to invite you to keep in mind the story of Jesus before
Pilate, a story we will encounter during Passion Week. The story we find in
John’s Gospel.
Pilate asks if he, Jesus, is the King of the Jews. Jesus answers by saying that his kingdom is not from this world. If it were, then his followers would be leading an armed and violent rebellion. ‘But’ ’Jesus says, ‘as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’
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Jesus proclaims and embodies a
message of a kingdom for this world but not from this world. In
short, the good news is that things can be done differently. If you remember
nothing else today, hold onto that truth.
However, as you hold and sit
deep into that truth, don’t begin to entertain the idea that this means Jesus’s
kingdom is spiritual, other worldly, nothing to do with flesh and blood,
nothing to do with the kingdoms, the power and the principalities of this
world.
This world here exemplified
by Rome’s bullying brutality demonstrating their power as they crucify Jesus as
they had crucified thousands of others.
And Rome, is just the latest
in a long line of such kingdoms who consider themselves to know how best to organise and run the world.
Such as the kingdom of Egypt
which out of fear had enslaved and brutally mistreated the Hebrews and who had
been invited to settle in the land in the days of Joseph the Dreamer, until
there arose in Egypt a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph and his descendants. (Exodus
1.8)
Eventually they are driven
out East and into the desert to become a people peculiar to God and who will bear
God’s name. And here, in their desert wanderings, it is provision that is front
and centre. And God supplies them with water, bread and meat, all that they
need, God provides for them.
In the Exodus story you will also
read of power plays, trying to usurp Moses’ authority. And you will also read a
story of devolved power as Moses’ father-in-law Jethro seeks to offer some
guidance and wisdom. You can read that story in Exodus 18.
Power, prestige and provision.
Adam and Eve had provision,
every fruit from the trees in the Garden was theirs to eat – with the exception
of one tree in the centre of the Garden.
But this wonderful poetic
story tells of their grasp for power.
‘So, when the woman saw that
the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and the tree
was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also
gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.’
She saw, she desired and she
took...
Eve, we are told, saw that
the tree was to be desired to make one wise.
And wisdom is indeed
something to be desired. Lady Wisdom features regularly in the Scriptures and
acts in a way that we might recognise as the work of the Holy Spirit.
However, the wisdom we are to
seek is for this world, but not from this world but from God as
the author, creator and sustainer of all life.
And it is a strange, shadowy
creature, often referenced in appearance as snake, that beguiled Eve and led
her into disobedience.
The same strange, shadowy
figure who approaches Jesus as he is led into the desert by the Spirit,
although this time we are not given any indication as to how the satan, or the
devil was manifested.
But the tactic remains the
same, the same lie, the same temptation, the same subterfuge.
Prestige, power and provision
– Satan knows how to get these and knows how to beguile others to desire them
and how to get them.
So,
come on Jesus, if you are the Son of God, and you know you are hungry, your
stomach has been rumbling for days now, well, simple, just say the word and
these stones here will turn into nice, delicious bread.
But Jesus knows the
Scriptures and leans back into them for an answer quoting Deuteronomy 8.3. ‘Man
shall not live on bread alone.’
Okay,
so you know your Scriptures, well guess what, so do I, and here is a way you could
demonstrate your power. Go up to the
highest place you can think of, let’s say the Temple in Jerusalem, after all,
what better place to begin your so-called ministry. And you know the Psalms Jesus,
and you know what is to be read in one of those Psalms, ‘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.’ (Psalm 91.11-12) That would
certainly bring you prestige, a name, fame and honour.
But you don’t mess with Jesus
when it comes to the Scriptures and back comes the answer from Jesus, ‘it is
also written do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Here quoting Deuteronomy 6.16.
Okay
Jesus, let’s cut to the chase. I can give you all the power, the prestige and
the provision of all the kingdoms of the earth – if you would only bow down and
worship me.
And hasn’t this one
temptation tripped people up time and time and time again.
If only you follow this way
or that you can have everything you have ever desired.
Or even more simply, you want
something or someone, and you know that it is not yours to take or to have, and
so you push that voice down, you allow the desire to overrule, and you see it,
you desire it and you take it. Because I deserve it, because I am my own
master, because no one dictates to me what I can or cannot do.
And Jesus, was Jesus tempted
in this way – well certainly the writer to the Hebrews thinks so when he
writes, ‘Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When
Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same
ways we are tempted, but he never sinned.’
And back in the desert and
facing this test Jesus once again leans back into the Scriptures and replies, ‘Worship
the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ This time quoting Deuteronomy 6.13.
Questions, questions,
questions.
How well do we know our Scriptures?
How good at we at leaning
into them and rebuffing all temptations to walk the way of this world and not
the way of God’s kingdom?
Jesus says in Matthew 13.51,
“Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things that are
new and fresh and things that are old and familiar.”
Do you know what treasures
you have at your disposal as an apprentice to Jesus?
Brothers and sisters, make no
mistake there is a battle going on, every day we are being tested and tempted
to enter the wide gate and to walk down the broad path.
Whether that’s at work, or by
what we watch or engage with using IT. It’s easy to get caught up in the flow,
which is very strong and we can easily find ourselves swept away, passing on
that bit of gossip.
Sharing that story on social
media that denigrates someone. Knocking of work early on Friday, especially if
you work from home. Nobody is going to know, and everybody’s doing it anyway,
what harm can it do.
How can we stand against this
flow, to seek the narrow way, to offer alternatives that are solidly for
this world, but are not from this world.
Well, here is one way that I
want to suggest.
Every day during Lent as part
of a spiritual discipline I would invite you to say out loud at least once a
day, ‘Away from me Satan, for it is written; Worship the Lord your God and
serve him only.’
Maybe then, as we come to
celebrate on Resurrection Sunday, we will be able to echo the words of St
Augustine who said, ‘love God and do as you please.’
Because we have come to know that the best and most authentic life we can live in this world and for this world is when we ‘worship the Lord our God and serve him only.’
Let us pray…
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
This is my desire – and I hope it is also your heart’s desire…
To be in God’s presence, and
to sit at His feet, learning, living and loving, to be and become just like
Jesus.
https://youtu.be/9bQY2komrnA?si=qH0rW-JEZ07NU0QX
If you would like to see the sermon in context then follow this link to watch the Service. https://www.youtube.com/live/wN2g47iuEqc?si=0_U6gUxb8XcModQc
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