One of the earliest
casualties in “reality television” was a program known as
“Temptation Island”. Although it’s been off the air for some years
now, the premise is a difficult one to forget—a handful of couples
placed on a lovely tropical island replete with everything a person
could ever want including other men and women whose job it was to
lure the contestants into doing something they’d regret for the rest
of their lives. The couple that managed to resist temptation would
win the big prize. But alas, contrary to the expectations of the
producers and promoters, temptation just didn’t sell. The show bit
the dust after only a couple of seasons. Such a shame!
Temptation can be a hard
sell sometimes, I guess. In a round about way, the same could be
said of Jesus’ experience in the wilderness. After forty long days,
he wasn’t sold either. Bread from stones, political influence and
religious power—Jesus tells the devil it’s a no go. You can cancel
it all. In the midst of all the temptation, there is definitely
something to be reckoned with, not just for Jesus, but for you and
for me.
“If you are the Son of Man
command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” For a guy sweating
it out and starving in the wilderness it’s a downright reasonable
proposition. You’re hungry, worn out. What’s the problem in
rendering something worthless and insignificant into something
worthwhile and useful, something that everybody needs and that some
people in this world need desperately! If stones can become bread,
why in the world not? What’s the big deal? Something from nothing
is a dream come true—like turning our one dollar rocks on Wednesday
and Saturday nights into lottery super millions! This week might
when our ship finally comes in!
But before we can even bat
an eye, we join Jesus and the devil on top of the mountain, high
enough to see the whole world. No longer the theologian the devil
assumes the role of cosmic real estate agent. “Then the devil led
him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world…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. If you, then,
will worship me, it will all be yours.” A little power in exchange
for a little allegiance, a seemingly innocent nod of the head for
untold influence and power, it’s the kind of transaction that goes
on in Washington DC or down at the State Capital every day—because
at the end of the day the end really does justify the means, such
power could well make “peace on earth, goodwill to men” a reality
rather than a nice sounding thought on a Christmas card. At long
last, imagine, Israelis and Palestinians laying down their arms, the
troops coming home, global warming stopped dead in its tracks! Of
course, when you get right down to it, we’re all probably at least a
little bit guilty of selling out to get what we want—a career, the
things that make us happy, the relationships that we so desire?
If not earthly power and
influence how about a pain free religion that affords us one
mountain top experience after another. “Then the devil took Jesus
to Jerusalem, and placed Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple and
said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for
it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to
protect you’, and ‘on their hands they will bear you up, so that you
will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Gain without pain—it’s a
holy tenant of the great American dream. Of course we’re willing to
follow, so long as we’re comfortable and aren’t asked too much, so
long we have our fully loaded spiritual vehicle complete with front
and side impact air bags.
The allure of a quick fix,
bread from stones, of worldly power and influence in exchange for
ultimate allegiance, of a spiritual life devoid of pain and
suffering, Jesus says no. To such temptation, Jesus says “no”!
Bread is a good thing, but if it only satisfies our own hungry
bellies then it does no good because our neighbor is still hungry.
Power is a tricky thing. It is neither good nor bad. When
exercised for the benefit of many, especially the poor and
marginalized, power is good, but when it becomes entangled in mere
expedience, in the bargains, the deals and compromises we make out
of greed, out of shortsightedness, out of our desperate need to fit
in and make a name for ourselves, we’ve crossed the line. Finally,
nobody in their right mind intentionally looks to experience pain
and suffering, but that is exactly what’s entailed in taking up the
cross and following Jesus. So, Jesus says, “no”.
Contrary to popular
assumptions, temptation, real temptation is far more complicated
than the simplistic black and white distinctions depicted on reality
television. Money, power, success, and easy journey with lots of
bread are some of the most valued things in our culture and they
aren’t inherently bad which is what makes them so inherently
seductive and alluring, because they tend to lead us to rely on
ourselves and not God. And the truth of the matter is that none of
us is immune, not a single one of us. No matter how hard we try, no
matter how principle driven and strong willed we may be, in the end,
like the disciple Peter we all sell out. The only one who doesn’t is
Jesus.
So, does that leave us
wallowing in a mire of shame and despair, with nowhere to go? No,
of all people Jesus knows our temptations, even better than we do
ourselves! He knows and for our sake, he resists. To the
temptation of easy bread, he says “no” so that he may be for us the
Bread of Life. On the cross Jesus refuses to render bitter vinegar
into soothing wine so that he may be new wine for us. Finally we’re
saved not by one who comes floating down from the pinnacle of the
temple on a soft bed of angels, but who dies a cruel death on the
cross. But if Jesus says “no”, there is surely an even greater
“yes” to be heard. “Yes, our sin is forgiven.” “Yes, along with
all creation we are being made new in God’s own image.” “Yes, we
are set free through our baptism, to live in the light of God’s
abundant grace as people called, forgiven and sent to bear God’s
creative and redeeming Word into all the world.” “Yes, we belong to
Christ and nothing in heaven or on earth, neither sin nor death will
ever separate us from God’s great love.” God’s claim is irrevocable
now and forevermore.
Through the cross we
begin to see the big picture. From the deepest deep to the highest
heights, Christ is with us—behold a picture framed in love, God’s
love for us, for the world, love that bears every burden, love that
gives until the end. Amen.
Pastor Brian Peterson
