Dearest e-votees,
Hello friends. Things continue to wind down with e-vos. There are 17 more posts (after this one) and then this devotional will retire (with 500 posts). As the last few weeks clearly show I have had trouble maintaining the weekly rhythm. Soon it will be time to bring this venture to a close.
For those of you who have faithfully read and occasionally responded to the thoughts and images shared here I am grateful. I don't know quite where my urge to write, speak, express itself will manifest itself next. We'll see where my heart and whimsy of the Holy Spirit will lead.
I pray that your time of Lent would be deep, meaningful and would bring you more fully into the celebration of the empty tomb that is coming.
Peace,
Karl
------------
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’
11 and
‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:1-13, NRSV
The overriding theme of this temptation is that the devil is calling into question the relationship between Jesus and God--"If you are the Son of God..." Skipping over the fact that the voice from heaven just rang out with "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (see Luke 3:22) at Jesus' baptism. The devil is trying to drive a wedge between Jesus and God the Father.
The devil tries to get Jesus to prove the relationship with God is intact by performing a miracle (turning stone into bread) to satisfy his hunger. The devil is tempting Jesus to give in to his fleshly desires (satisfying hunger) and perhaps stroking his ego that he can do such a "trick". Jesus refuses to engage this.
The devil tries to get Jesus to turn from dependence on God the Father and instead let the devil grant him the glory and authority of the kingdoms of the world. Jesus, again, refuses to engage this. The devil may have had such an authority (although lying is his native tongue) but Jesus keeps his eyes firmly fixed on God. Jesus resists temptation for worldly power and perhaps the ego strokes of worship and prestige from those of this world.
The devil again calls into question Jesus' relationship with God the Father. The devil quotes scripture (and perhaps sings a refrain or two of WOV 779 "You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord (On Eagle's Wings)") trying to get Jesus to put himself in peril to see how much God really loves him. Jesus again refuses to engage saying it is not right to test God.
This exchange shows us how the devil works and what works to resist the devil.
The devil comes at people (including us) insinuating that their relationship with God is questionable. God calls us God's own at baptism yet the devil will try to drive a wedge between us and God. The devil will chip away through our fleshly needs and wants, our desire for respect, influence and power, our desire to have God prove God's love to us (as if the cross wasn't sufficient). The devil seeks to stroke our egos all the while snatching us out from under God's tender care. Our best bet is to not engage the devil (as Jesus shows). If and when we do engage and misstep we can cling to God's grace which is bigger and more saving than any blunder of ours is damning. That is indeed the good news of the empty tomb. Thanks be to God.
God, teach us to lean hard into the relationship you have begun and will bring to completion with us. You love us and save us. That is sufficient and superior to anything the devil might wave under our noses. Amen.
Hello friends. Things continue to wind down with e-vos. There are 17 more posts (after this one) and then this devotional will retire (with 500 posts). As the last few weeks clearly show I have had trouble maintaining the weekly rhythm. Soon it will be time to bring this venture to a close.
For those of you who have faithfully read and occasionally responded to the thoughts and images shared here I am grateful. I don't know quite where my urge to write, speak, express itself will manifest itself next. We'll see where my heart and whimsy of the Holy Spirit will lead.
I pray that your time of Lent would be deep, meaningful and would bring you more fully into the celebration of the empty tomb that is coming.
Peace,
Karl
------------
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written,
9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’
12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
The overriding theme of this temptation is that the devil is calling into question the relationship between Jesus and God--"If you are the Son of God..." Skipping over the fact that the voice from heaven just rang out with "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (see Luke 3:22) at Jesus' baptism. The devil is trying to drive a wedge between Jesus and God the Father.
The devil tries to get Jesus to prove the relationship with God is intact by performing a miracle (turning stone into bread) to satisfy his hunger. The devil is tempting Jesus to give in to his fleshly desires (satisfying hunger) and perhaps stroking his ego that he can do such a "trick". Jesus refuses to engage this.
The devil tries to get Jesus to turn from dependence on God the Father and instead let the devil grant him the glory and authority of the kingdoms of the world. Jesus, again, refuses to engage this. The devil may have had such an authority (although lying is his native tongue) but Jesus keeps his eyes firmly fixed on God. Jesus resists temptation for worldly power and perhaps the ego strokes of worship and prestige from those of this world.
The devil again calls into question Jesus' relationship with God the Father. The devil quotes scripture (and perhaps sings a refrain or two of WOV 779 "You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord (On Eagle's Wings)") trying to get Jesus to put himself in peril to see how much God really loves him. Jesus again refuses to engage saying it is not right to test God.
This exchange shows us how the devil works and what works to resist the devil.
The devil comes at people (including us) insinuating that their relationship with God is questionable. God calls us God's own at baptism yet the devil will try to drive a wedge between us and God. The devil will chip away through our fleshly needs and wants, our desire for respect, influence and power, our desire to have God prove God's love to us (as if the cross wasn't sufficient). The devil seeks to stroke our egos all the while snatching us out from under God's tender care. Our best bet is to not engage the devil (as Jesus shows). If and when we do engage and misstep we can cling to God's grace which is bigger and more saving than any blunder of ours is damning. That is indeed the good news of the empty tomb. Thanks be to God.
God, teach us to lean hard into the relationship you have begun and will bring to completion with us. You love us and save us. That is sufficient and superior to anything the devil might wave under our noses. Amen.
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