Matthew 4:1-11, Hebrews 4:14-16
If being baptized was Jesus dipping his toe into the experience of being human, his time spent in the wilderness is a headlong dive in. We’re reading about Jesus being tempted today. We’ll actually read it again and say more about it on Sunday, but for now, note the nature of the temptations: sustenance, health, and power.
Jesus’ time spent on earth was a fully human experience. He comes to know hunger, thirst, pain, grief, sorrow, loneliness, and more. His life was full of ours such that our lives can be full of his.
As you read today, receive this story as a word toward his solidarity with you and your life. He knows your experience…and he cares.
Matthew 4:1-11
Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness so that the devil might tempt him. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was starving. The tempter came to him and said, “Since you are God’s Son, command these stones to become bread.”
Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.”
After that the devil brought him into the holy city and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, I will command my angels concerning you, and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.”
Jesus replied, “Again it’s written, Don’t test the Lord your God.”
Then the devil brought him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said, “I’ll give you all these if you bow down and worship me.”
Jesus responded, “Go away, Satan, because it’s written,You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” The devil left him, and angels came and took care of him.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin.
Finally, let’s draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help.
Prayer:
God, just how it is that you, yourself - in all of your divine power and wisdom - can come to earth and live as a human in Jesus…we will never completely understand.
But we are grateful for it.
Thank you for taking upon yourself our experience. Thank you for willingly entering into the things of human foil and folly. Thank you for making way for rescue not simply by power and might, but by solidarity with us.
As I go about this day, help me to live by this example in Christ. As you forsook your power and left the comforts of heaven, help me, too, to see with the perspective of those around me, particularly those who might be of lesser means than I.
And help me to lift them up as you have done in Christ. I receive not only the help of his example today, but also who you have given us in his Spirit of wisdom and love.
Amen.