comes the power of hell to vanquish
as the darkness clears away
Before Jesus begins his ministry he heads out; to the wilderness. Alone with only the elements and animals, he prepares himself for the trials and tribulations he will face in his ministry. He doesn’t eat during those days. After the 40th day, the devil shows up and tries to derail the whole thing…
Lent, if you don’t count Sundays, is approximately 40 days. Over the ages The Church has found it wise to do like Jesus, to set apart a tenth of each year’s days for some holy use.
And like Jesus, the devil seems to be especially on the prowl during these 40 days…
“What’s another cookie?” whispers the devil. “No one will know. You’ve been good all week. You deserve that cookie.” Or, you miss the nail and strike your thumb instead. This time the devil doesn’t whisper. He comes in a fiery rage. “Say it! Ooooohhhh that looks like it hurt. Just say it, say that word you gave up.”
Sometimes we prevail against the devil’s test. And other times…
Well, let’s be honest, other times that little indulgence you gave up, just hit the spot…
Jesus, though; well, it goes without saying…
Jesus, he stands firm. He’s full of the Holy Spirit. One by one he resists the devil’s entreaties. Finally, after the third attempt, the devil sees Jesus won’t be swayed. So he leaves; until an opportune time…
If only we were full of the Holy Spirit like that, we think.
If we had the Holy Spirit the way Jesus did, well then we’d be able to resist the devil, too. If we were full of the Holy Spirit like Jesus, we’d be able to deftly rebuff the devil. If only…
But, and perhaps you didn’t notice; but it’s that very Holy Spirit Jesus is full of, that leads him into the wilderness.
In fact, while Luke does explicitly says it’s the Holy Spirit that leads Jesus into the wilderness, he doesn’t necessarily say it’s the Holy Spirit that empowers Jesus to resist the devil.
That’s holy scripture.
When the the devil comes with an offer, Jesus puts that offer against the witness of scripture. It’s the Bible, not the Holy Spirit, that gives Jesus the wherewithal to resist the devil’s offers…
In fact, in Luke the Holy Spirit is much more likely to stir up trouble, than it is to route it…
It’s the old saying all over again; “be careful what you wish for.”
If all you’re interested in is a comfortable life, you may not want to be so quick in wishing you were full of the Holy Spirit like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is much more likely to thrust us into those places where we’ll face a trial or two, than it is to rebuff the devil’s wiles…
And that, sisters and brothers is what’s at the heart of the devil’s temptations…
No self-respecting devil is going to show up, in a red suit with a pitchfork no less, offering you the winning lotto numbers if only you’ll worship him. The devil is more clever, and more serious.
Truly, ee could resist the temptation to win the lotto in exchange for worshipping the devil. That’s easy, really.
No, the real test is in the very first word the devil puts to Jesus. “If” If…
“If you are the Son of God,” begins the devil.
Jesus’ test isn’t whether he’ll take the food, the glory or the protection. It’s whether the lack of those things will make him doubt his God-given identity. The devil puts these things in front of Jesus, insisting they’re proof God cares for him, that they’re assurance he’s the Son of God. The devil tries to persuade Jesus to trust these things, instead of the voice from heaven.
That’s real testing
“If you are the Son of God,” says the devil. “Feed yourself.”
After all, what self-respecting God would let the Son of God, go hungry? Just take a bite. Satisfy your hunger. You’re the Son of God, for heaven’s sake!
See what’s really at stake with this test?
It’s that subtle, uncertainty the devil introduces. That’s what’s really at the heart of Jesus’ test. To doubt that he’s a child of God, that God cares for him.
And that’s how it is for us, too. Isn’t it?
That’s why it’s hard for us to believe the Holy Spirit would do something like throw us into the wilderness or put us in front of the devil with all his guile.
We think if God’s going to save us, it has to come before or interrupt our suffering. What Jesus knows, and lives out for the matter, is that salvation might come in the very midst of it.
Remember, the cross isn’t where God’s plan fails, it’s where it triumphs…
The question that ends up being at stake; and the answer that can overcome our trials, is the very one the devil puts to Jesus.
“If you are the Son of God.”
A pastor tells a story of finally getting the call he always hoped for. In the city, at a historic, anchor congregation.
The only trouble with this dream church was, nothing was working out. Attendance was on a steady decline. The members had tried a variety of different outreach events. All to no avail.
One night the pastor went into the sanctuary to pray. “Cut us a break, God,” he lamented. “Why is this so hard going,” he asked.
Then he says, it was exactly like God spoke directly to him.
And do you know what God said?
“Who told you this would be easy,” thundered the voice. The pastor says that’s all he heard, just that question.
Who told you this would be easy?
Ministry is an adventure. It may not be easy; but perhaps it will be worth it. In fact, if Jesus’ ministry is any guide, it won’t be easy. But we must admit, it is worth it.
The Holy Spirit often leads us to the wilderness. Followers of Jesus tend to find themselves in those places where trials crop up.
Martin Luther liked to say wherever true church happens, the devil is sure to be around. That’s because the devil can’t stand it when people hear the opposite of the question he put to Jesus.
Not uncertainty about whether we belong to God, but the proclamation that God has claimed you. The promise that nothing can change God’s decision to be for you; hunger can’t do it, the loss of civil power can’t and neither can going to our Jerusalem—our cross.
…The truth is, it’s never the trials themselves that tempt us.
It’s the very same uncertainty the devil put before Jesus. That maybe those struggles are proof God doesn’t love us. The temptation is to think if God really cared for us, we wouldn’t face this struggle…
The truth, though, is those struggles are more than likely proof God has sent the Holy Spirit in our midst. That God’s at work here!
Perhaps this Lent you will find yourself in the wilderness. Maybe the Devil will parade the things we lack, as evidence that we’re not a part of God’s great chosen.
That’s how the devil works.
But maybe, rather than evidence we’ve been abandoned, it’s evidence the Holy Spirit is leading. Perhaps the reason the devil gives you trouble isn’t because you’re not full of the Holy Spirit; but because you are.
It’s Lent.
Know this, though; your wilderness isn’t evidence of God’s abandonment, it’s where the Holy Spirit leads. Your hunger isn’t proof God has cast you aside, it’s the Holy Spirit filling you.
The cross isn’t the end, it’s only the beginning— for people like you.
It’s Lent. The Holy Spirit is at work. Be ready.
Stand firm, therefore; you children of God.
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