Chapter 4

It is here that Jesus actually really begins his ministry.

There’s something about the wilderness that grabs peoples’ imaginations.

Not all people, I have to admit. I’m one of the people it’s NOT so great on. As far as I am concerned, the wilderness is a place with a leaky roof and faulty air conditioning, which alternately tries to burn you, blow you away, dissolve you and hurt you in any other way it can. It’s a hostile environment.

But then, perhaps that’s why it is connected with religious ideas. Somehow there’s a purity of man vs elements.

Anyway . . .

The devil tempts Jesus. This is a passage I’ve been familiar with for many years, and I really have to concentrate to avoid simply writing down all the stuff I’ve picked up in sermons over the years (I could do that – but I really want to think this passage through).

Instead, I intend to chronicle my thoughts as I read this.

. . . So what’s so wrong with wanting the stones to turn into bread? Yes, Jesus answers from scripture “Man does not live by bread alone.” But I don’t get it – why does that mean that eating would be somehow wrong?

A few thoughts.

Maybe Jesus has promised that he’d fast for a certain number of days. If that’s the case them it could be a straight violation of a promise that he’s concerned with.

Or maybe it’s the abuse of miracles. Maybe Jesus has some protocols set out, some times when miracles are appropriate and when they are not.

Some with whom I have discussed this or read have other ideas. Some say that the problem would be an unhealthy focus on physical needs. But for crying out loud, the guy had been without food for 40 days – a little hunger is warranted!

Actually, that’s something – perhaps it’s a living parable. The natural reaction here is to want to focus on food; but Jesus is wanting so much more than that. He wants the focus to be on His Father’s Word.

In any case, Jesus models the best answer to temptation – scripture. It is written. It is written. It is written.
Then Jesus finishes his time in the desert and his ministry begins in earnest. He preaches in the Synagogue, and casually remarks that he is the fulfillment of a prophet. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he gets thrown out of the Synagoge!

Then we see Jesus healing diseases. Every kind of disease, every kind of demon possession is no match for Him.

So what do we make of all of this?

I think that scriptural answer to temptation is important. So is having your mind on what God really wants.

Most of all, though – there’s Christ’s authority. We’ll see more of that as time goes by, but for now it is enough to just say that there’s no doubt as to who is on charge!