Temptations

Psalm 92: 1 – 2, 9 - 16

Luke 4: 1 – 13

March 9, 2025

We come today, to a series of events that are very early on in the ministry of Jesus. Remember, the Gospel of John has told us that Jesus began his work at roughly the age of 30. Jesus has been baptized, and immediately the Spirit has led Jesus out into the wilderness.

The Old Testament has several examples of important figures engaging in significant periods of fasting and prayer as an act of preparation for the beginning of ministry, as with Moses, or at a climactic conclusion with the prophet Elijah. Fasting and prayer were seen as – and actually still are – seen as spiritual disciplines that focuses oneself on God, on God’s purposes, on God’s directions for what lies ahead.

Jesus was led out into the wilderness, initially I believe, for this purpose. Several times over the next few years of Jesus’ life, Scripture tell us that Jesus withdraws – withdraws from the crowds, withdraws from the clamor, withdraws from controversy – to pray in solitude. So periods of solitude, periods of fasting and prayer are central to the spiritual life of Jesus.

As we move into the text, I believe we need to be very, very careful here. We need to let the text be clear on both the chronology and the purpose of the events that unfold. The Spirit has led Jesus into the wilderness. The Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness for a time of preparation. It is Satan who decides to take advantage of the situation and seeks to derail this ministry of Jesus before it really even starts through temptation.

Why is this a critical distinction? Why is understanding the source and the difference between testing and temptation so important? They are not synonymous terms, in fact, they have a significant difference.

God tests….. to build up. Satan tempts to destroy. God tests to strengthen, prepare, and fortify. Satan tempts to derail, demoralize, and destroy.

We all face trials, tests, and temptations. We often, in the midst of these struggles, shake our hands at the heavens and scream out at God. “Where are you, God? Why are you allowing this?” As our anger overflows – misdirected towards the God who we think is the source of our troubles…… Satan laughs. Mission accomplished.

God tests….. to build up. Satan tempts to destroy.

Difficult seasons come. They always do. But one of the first things we need to ask ourselves when testing or temptations arise is, “What’s going on here? Am I being tested – prepared for some new season of faithfulness? Or am I being tempted - distracted by shiny objects that take my attention away from God.? Who is being served in this struggle?” Understanding the difference shapes and informs our response.

God tests….. to build up. Satan tempts to destroy. Back to our story.

Jesus fasts, and Satan swoops in. But I think we need to recognize Satan for what he is – a one trick, or one set of tricks – pony. From the beginning of time, since the earliest stories of the Garden, Satan has used the same singular set of temptations to try and break the faithful down.

Physical pleasure, doubt, and power.

The story tells us that after completing the fast, Jesus is famished. Satan says, “ If you are the Son of God, ” we will come back to this “if;” “Turn these stones into bread.” What does Scripture tell us of the temptation of Adam and Eve? When they saw that the fruit was good for food and a delight for the eyes. It is the same appeal to one’s senses.

This sensuality is a primary methodology of temptation. Physical pleasure has derailed many a faithful life and ministry.

Testing develops a strength to withstand. Temptation gives you permission to go ahead – and fall.

In the second temptation of Jesus, Satan says, “If you are the Son of God.” In the Garden, Satan says to Adam and Eve, “Did God actually say.” Doubt. Satan introduces doubt as a way of challenging instructions and purposes of God. How many times today – c’mon, be honest now – how many times do we use doubt and rationalizations as permission to circumvent the clear instructions of God?

Doubt can allow us to go our own way. Doubt can allow us to pick our own path. Doubt allows us to avoid the high road of faithfulness and settle for the low road of comfort.

Testing generates knowledge and confidence. Temptation gives you permission to continue uninformed.

Finally, Jesus is brought to a mountaintop and offered great, worldly power. Adam and Eve are convinced that if they eat from the forbidden fruit their eyes will be open and they will be like God! Power is an enticing intoxicant. Who doesn’t like a little power – the ability to be in charge, in control? Jesus is offered all the power in the world. And he turns it down.

Testing generates spiritual muscle memory. Temptation generates only the illusion of power and control.

I think it is important to look at how Jesus passes the test – avoids the temptations. In each case, Jesus counters the temptation with a quote from Scripture. In each case, Jesus looks beyond the smooth and beguiling words to see who is really being served.

Friends, why do we push spiritual growth so hard? Why do we spend so much time generating Bible studies and opportunities for faith conversation? One of the reasons is because we get tempted every day! We get tempted by things that look, taste, and feel good. In an absence of knowledge, it is easy to doubt and ask, “Did God really say that?” In a world that often seems so chaotic and out of control – power, the ability to shaped one’s own future is awfully tempting.

The pursuit of Scripture grounds us in God’s design for life. The pursuit of Scripture, the knowledge of God’s purposes, clarifies for us our purposes and directions in life. In a culture that is willing – indeed, even cynically admires – the willingness to doubt everything, the conviction that God is faithful, true, and good grounds us amidst the storms of uncertainty. God’s purposes get realized, sometimes, in times of testing.

Jesus passes the test. Jesus avoids the temptation. Jesus commands Satan to leave, Satan does so, and then – at least in the Matthew version of this story - there is the beautiful depiction of angels coming to surround and take care of Jesus. Friends, it is hard to remain faithful. It is hard to resist the calls of culture, sometimes even the words of friends. It is difficult to avoid doubting and going our own way. It is hard. It can be painful. Faithfulness sometimes comes at a worldly cost. Getting tested and prevailing is exhausting.

But angels came to tend to Jesus after he was finished. And we have the privilege, and the ministry, of coming to tend to those who have been tested and now need comfort and relief. Sometimes we have the ministry of coming to those who have been tempted – and failed. And we come, not with judgment and condemnation, but with grace, pardon, and forgiveness.

But the story goes on. The story tells us that “Satan departed from Jesus until an opportune time.” An opportune time. Times of weakness. Times of struggle. Those long dark nights when we wonder if the morning will ever come. Opportune times.

Friends, we all will have our own times of temptation and testing. This story helps us at least begin to think about the difference between God’s tests and Satan’s temptations. Times of testing – while difficult – are opportunities for growth and thanksgiving. The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness provides for us a way to understand what exactly is going on, how to avoid the temptations, to avoid becoming less than what we were created to be, to avoid the heartache that comes from turning our back on God.

What does the truth of Scripture tell us? Who is being served? Two good questions to ask when we are faced by any test or temptation. The answers chart our course through them.

To paraphrase Dallas Willard, Satan didn’t beat Adam, and Eve, and Jesus with a stick, he tempted them with an idea – that they could be like God. The temptation provided the question, but God, and the example of Jesus, has already given to us the answer.

God tests….. to build up. Satan tempts to destroy, always. Amen.