First Sunday of Lent (C)

Sunday, March 1, 1998

Dealing with Temptation

Luke 4:1-13

Submission isn't a very popular word in our culture. We read Paul's exhortation that says, "Wives submit to your husbands," and we bristle. Feminists get up in arms and say, "How outdated!" Macho types say, "I'll make sure she submits to me." William Willimon agrees that we really don't like Ephesians 5:22 but he maintains, "The reason we think we dislike it is not the real reason we dislike it." We think we dislike the exhortation because it promotes a hierarchical model for relationships in which the men are above the women. We really dislike it because when we read the passage in its proper context, (a dangerous thing to do), we realize that Paul is teaching mutual submission one to another.

Submission is neither popular nor easy. There's a part of us that wants to be in charge and tell others how things ought to be done. It's not always easy to subordinate our wills to someone else's. That's what Jesus was struggling with in his temptations in the wilderness. He is tempted to use illegitimate means toward some ends that are not wrong in and of themselves.

I. He Is Tempted to Do Legitimate Things for the Wrong Reason.

Jesus had just heard the voice of God the Father and had seen the dove descend on Him. Now He is led into the wilderness where He will be tempted by Satan. He is seeking God's blessing and guidance upon his life with such seriousness of purpose that He is going without food. Subject to human limitations, He is hungry. The rocks in the wilderness may even look like a loaf of pita bread. Satan tempts Jesus with something that would be perfectly legitimate -- you need to eat something. If you're the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.

The need to eat is one of our most basic physical needs. If we go without eating, we could starve or get malnutrition. Eventually, Jesus would have to eat but for this time, Jesus' priority was fasting. He didn't have to give into Satan's temptation to place the physical above the spiritual -- Satan's basic temptation. "Is it really that big a deal for you to fast? Everyone's got to eat!"

Jesus uses Scripture to put it in right perspective when He says, "One does not live on bread alone."

II. He Is Tempted Toward the Right Goal with the Wrong Methods.

Satan takes Jesus up to a high place and is able to show Him all of the kingdoms of the world. Jesus doesn't dispute Satan's claim that all the kingdoms of the world are his to give. Satan says, "Bow down and worship me and I'll let you have them without going to the cross."

The minute Jesus gave in to that temptation, He would have forfeited His moral authority to tell us how to live and He would have ceased to be the sinless Lamb of God who could take away the sin of the world.

The goal Satan offered was good -- for all of the nations of the world to belong to Jesus. The means toward that goal was diabolical -- worship one other than the One to whom all worship is due. Satan offered Jesus a chance to rule without going to the cross.