A sermon preached by Rev. Henley on February 10, 2008
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There Satan tempted him.
In order to understand more completely what happened in Matthew’s story of Jesus’ temptations, we need to know what happened before the Spirit led him into the desert. Matthew 3:13-17, tells us that Jesus came to John at the Jordan River and asked John to baptize him, and John did. Matthew tells us when Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Adapted from NRSV)
One might think that this is a ritual of the early church retro-inserted, but that is not what scholars believe. Baptism, washings, and ritual baths were a part of the rites of many religions in antiquity. During the first century there were several Jewish sects who practiced Baptism. John the Baptist really was John the Baptizer.
Theologians believe Jesus’ baptism was – for the author of Matthew – a way of signifying that Jesus was the “Son of God” and the “suffering servant.” Everyone agrees it was the moment when Jesus began his public ministry and his journey as Messiah of his people.
But what was the significance for Jesus?
Many of us are probably familiar with Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey. Campbell said, the hero has a quest, and s/he must let go of everything familiar and comfortable, go down, deep into the unknown, wrestle with the dark forces, and then rise up from those depths a changed person.
Baptism is symbolic of the hero’s journey. And although Jesus would not have used those words, he knew the concept, and he knew that was what he would have to do. He knew transformation was ahead.
Campbell also tells Bill Moyer in the same book a story that Nietzsche uses to illustrate the spiritual transformation of a person.
It is the story of the camel, which bends down, takes on a heavy burden and then runs out into the desert. The greater the burden, the stronger the camel is when it gets out to the desert. There the camel is transformed into a lion and the lion has to kill the dragon. The dragon’s name is “Thou shalt.” He says the dragon has a 1,000 scales and on each one is a “thou shalt.” The scales of “thou shalt” are as old as 4,000 years or as recent as “this morning’s headlines.”
When the lion kills the dragon of “Thou Shalt,” the lion then transforms into the woman or man striving for her or his highest potential.
Jesus was baptized. His baptism symbolized his commitment to live out the journey that lay ahead. It symbolized his willingness to bear the burden, fight the conventions of his “thou shalt” culture and reach for his highest potential.
Jesus knew what the baptism meant. He knew what lay ahead as the Spirit led him into the desert. And there, he fasted for forty days.
Have you ever fasted? I did once — for 10 days. I drank only water and took vitamins. I can tell you, after the fifth day, it does become spiritual. My peripheral vision became muted and everything in front of me was dominant.
I imagine after forty days, not only would a person be quite hungry, but a person would be in a transcendent state. The stories of mystics and monks tell us that fasting gives one a sense of being close to God.
There was Jesus in the desert fasting, praying, struggling... We can just imagine what he must have been going through. Not that we could fully know, but we can all relate to struggling with our choices. And that is what his temptations were all about.
You see, Satan came to him at the end of the forty days, not during. Jesus was hungry, to be sure, but he was filled with the awareness of having gone out into the desert, fought the dragon, and began his transformation.
Satan said, you’re hungry, why not turn these stones to bread. Hey! If you’re who they say you are then you could do that. Jesus said, not bread alone are we fed, but by God’s word are we fed. Satan doesn’t argue; Jesus’ commitment is clear.
He takes Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem, to the highest point of the temple, it was pretty high, and said, if you throw yourself down, God will surely have the angels catch you, and you will not suffer any harm. Jesus, once again said, it is written, do not test God. Once again, Satan doesn’t argue.
He then takes Jesus to the top of the world and says, if you would worship me I will give you all of this. Jesus said I will only worship the true God. Satan doesn’t argue.
Why doesn’t Satan argue? What could he say? Jesus has just spent forty days in the desert communing with God. I believe the real temptations for Jesus were during the forty days, struggling with God, struggling with God’s call for him. He had to make some decisions about the path before him. God, I am sure gave him choices.
Matthew provided these temptations in the story, not to share Jesus’ struggle that was between Jesus and God, but to show that Jesus had already faced temptations and made his choices and Jesus’ path ahead was very clear to Jesus.
Jesus needed temptations, just as you and I need temptations.
Temptations help us define who we are, help us discover our passions, and help us live our beliefs.
Temptations help us define who we are.
Consider this:
I meet someone very interesting on a business trip far, far away from home; am I a spouse, or am I a faithful spouse?
Do I cost justify a mistake—that no one will ever see—in my revenue predictions, turn the report in early and “exceed expectations,” or do I correct the mistake in revenue predictions, turn the report in on time and “meet expectations?”
Temptations help us define who we are. They also help us discover our passion.
I see a beautiful painting that would look nice in my living room. Do I buy it now, because I can afford it today, or do I save enough, possibly for months, to buy the painting that will look spectacular in my living room?
Am I a workaholic who provides a good living for my family, or am I present for the awards ceremony at my son’s elementary school?
Do I meet my colleagues after work at the “watering hole” or do I rush to the high school field to pass out Gatorade to my daughter’s soccer team.
Temptations help us discover our passions and they also help us live our beliefs.
Do I go play golf this afternoon with friends, or do I go to my neighbor’s house for a meeting for volunteers for the local “Special Olympics.”
Do I watch the morning news before I go to work or do I take the time to meditate or pray?
Do I listen while others talk about their churches, seemingly indifferent about going to church; or do I share what is beautiful about my church and why I like to go there?
Temptations help us live our beliefs.
Satan did not argue with Jesus after each temptation, because Satan knew Jesus had already been tempted and made his choices. If my father Clarence were preaching this sermon, now, he wouldn't, but if he were, he would use a more common vernacular, he would might say, "There was no way in Hades Jesus was changing his mind." He would see Jesus for who he was a real person, like you and I, committed to his path.
Early Christians practiced fasting as one way of preparing themselves for the rites of becoming a Christian. And eventually, fasting before Easter became Lent. Since it was Catholic tradition, many Protestant churches during the Reformation left Lent behind when they left the Church behind. However, it has become part of many Protestant churches today. While it is not part of the Free Church tradition, our tradition, it is meaningful to several of our members.
Now, before I came to Universalist National Memorial Church, Lent never crossed my mind; I grew up Baptist, became a Unitarian and well it wasn’t part of my personal experience. Coming here, being in ministry with those who celebrated Lent has been spiritually affirming for me. This year for Lent I’ve given up something—okay if you must know, one of the things I’ve given up is chocolate. But I’ve also committed to more time each morning for my devotionals. I’ve promised God that I will write something each devotional time about what keeps me separated from God.
I chose this spiritual discipline, because at the Ash Wednesday service we had the slips of paper cut out like tears. And on the paper we wrote down those things that keep us separated from God.
Lent is about giving up something, but it is more about our relationship with God.
And Matthew’s story of Jesus’ temptations is about Jesus’ relationship with God and how difficult it is sometimes to be in relationship with God. –––––Oh, did I say, difficult for us…because it is not difficult for God. God is always there, within, without, among, between, Absolute and Sure…
This is a good time of the year to look at the temptations in our lives and what they do for us. My prayer this morning is that what we find will bring us closer to God. Amen and blessed be.
Readings
Reading I
“Merciful and Gracious by Diane Bergant, theologian, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL, and leading authority in Old Testament theology.
We enter Lent this year sobered by world events. The horrors and inhumanity of terrorism and war have embittered our spirits; the devastation of natural catastrophes has seared our hearts. We have been forced to face our human failings and the vulnerability of humankind generally. Despite all of this, the graciousness of God is offered to us. The unselfishness of which we are all capable is seen in the willingness of so many to step forward and help those who suffer terror, loss and confusion. This unselfishness is really the face of our gracious God, encouraging all of us to put differences aside, to repent of our offensive attitudes and to work for a caring and harmonious world.
Reading II Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus Is Tempted
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There the devil tempted him. After 40 days and 40 nights of going without eating, Jesus was hungry. The tempter came to him. He said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written, 'Man doesn't live only on bread. He also lives on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "—(Deuteronomy 8:3) Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city. He had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. It is written, " 'The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you. They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't trip over a stone.' " —(Psalm 91:11,12) Jesus answered him, "It is also written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "—(Deuteronomy 6:16) Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. "If you bow down and worship me," he said, "I will give you all of this." Jesus said to him, "Get away from me, Satan! It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.' "—(Deuteronomy 6:13) Then the devil left Jesus. Angels came and took care of him.
Opening Words
Psalm 32 Commentary by Matthew Henry
Those that would speed in prayer, must seek the Lord, when, by his providence, he calls them to seek him, and, by his Spirit, stirs them up to seek him. In a time of finding, when the heart is softened with grief, and burdened with guilt; when all human refuge fails; when no rest can be found to the troubled mind, then it is that God applies the healing balm by his Spirit.