THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
First Reading: Genesis 3.1-7
Second Reading: Romans 5.12-19
Gospel: Matthew 4.1-11
Just after Jesus’ baptism by the river Jordon, he was led into the wilderness. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights. Spending time by himself in prayer. At the end of the period, Jesus must have been exhausted physically without food, emotionally without talking to anyone, The wilderness that Jesus spent had no place for shelter. The sky was his roof, there is not a blade of grass in sight. Absolutely lifeless situation.
It is in this condition that Jesus was preparing himself for his future, to teach the good news of God’s kingdom, to heal people afflicted with diseases and ill health, to drive out the demons from the people and restoring them to life. Then later to be able to be falsely accused, arrested, to be put to death, to be able to withstand people shouting CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM. We rather have the bandit Barabas than Jesus. It is for all these Jesus was preparing himself in solitude.
It was when Jesus was so exhausted, hungry and lonely the devil appears before him. The first temptation he presents to Jesus, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’. The temptation was not about bread but making Jesus question his identity as a Son of God. If you are so close to God, you should have powers. Use your powers to make these stones into bread and eat, why starve like this. The tempter poses as if the tempter is so concerned about Jesus. His point was to confuse Jesus. To make Jesus question why should he be spending time fasting for forty days and nights. Jesus understands the trap and very wisely says, people need not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God.
The temper takes Jesus to a pinnacle of a temple again tempts him saying, , ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’ Again leading Jesus to question his identity as the Son of God. Jump from this high pinnacle an if you are the son of God, angels will come and bear you up and you will not sffer harm. Jesus defeats this temptation by quoting the scripture, it is written that one should not put God to the test.
The devil does not go away, he shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour and says, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus quickly dismisses the devil and says ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”’ The devil then left Jesus and Matthew writes ‘suddenly angels came and waited on him’.
In the temptation about the stones, about jumping from the pinnacle, and the temptation to be fascinated by worldly riches and possessions and power, the devil was attempting to break the relationship Jesus had with God the Father.
In the book of Genesis, we heard that Adam and eve were tempted and were not capable of resisting the devil but believed the devil and yielded to the temptation and that led to the great act of disobedience and the relationship with God was broken.
We all face temptations, sometimes the ones like Jesus had or sometimes different. Misusing position, losing identity as a child of God, coming to believe life is about pleasure and wealth. The temptation to believe God is not relevant.
Paul writes to the churches saying, ’No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
James the apostle tells us, ‘Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’ (James 1:12).