Matthew 4:1-11
Paul Simon’s song – “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” was released in 1975 on his “Still Crazy After All These Years” album.
- Simon wrote the song following his divorce from Peggy Harper.
- It became Simon’s only number one hit as a solo artist.
- Liston to the lyrics:
- You just slip out the back, Jack
- Make a new plan, Stan
- You don’t need to be coy, Roy
- Just get yourself free
- Oh, you hop on the bus, Gus
- You don’t need to discuss much
- Just drop off the key, Lee
- And get yourself free.
Paul Simon was not around at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry…but Satan was…and he was ready to use any means necessary to thwart Jesus’ work and ministry.
- The striking similarity between Simon’s song and Satan’s attack is the ease with which both treat what they are suggesting as being of little significance.
- Simon’s repeated use of the word “just” hints at how seemingly unimportant his suggestions are:
- “Just slip out the back…and so on.
- It’s no big deal…right?
Satan’s take on this was to use the word “if.”
- “If you are the Son of God…command these stones … If you are the Son of God…throw yourself down … All these I will give you…if you will fall down and worship me.”
- It’s no big deal…right?
- Well…Big deal? Jesus certainly thought it was.
OK then…The relationship between testing and tempting lies at the heart of our reading for today.
- It’s embedded in the word itself.
- The Greek word…periazo…can be translated…tempting or testing.
- No sooner had Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan and committed himself to fulfilling God’s plan for his life.
- He was tested and tempted to do just the opposite.
Both meanings apply here.
- God tests. The devil tempts.
- It is God’s Spirit that drives Jesus into the wilderness.
- God’s purpose is to test his newly appointed and empowered Son.
The temptation story falls on the heels of Jesus’ baptism.
- It was at this point…the baptism of Jesus…that he was first recognized as the Christ.
- It was here…standing in the waters of the Jordan…that Jesus was confirmed by God as the Promised Messiah…the Savior of the world.
- When Jesus came up out of the river…he went off into the wilderness by himself…and there he fasted and prayed for forty days and forty nights.
- And it was there in the wilderness that the seriousness of his calling was tested.
So…what can you expect when your faith is tested?
- You can expect to be tempted.
- In a word…Jesus was tempted to use his divine power to serve himself rather than to serve others…
- As God would have him to do.
OK then…here is how it is: as long as you are willing to maintain a low profile and go along with the crowd…
- Nobody is likely to bother you.
- But just speak up…question the status quo…champion a cause…and you will soon be challenged.
- You will be criticized and called to task.
- Not only by your adversaries…but by your friends too.
- Do you desire to meet the devil?
- Well then…just take a stand for God.
- Just take a stand for what is good and right and just and merciful.
Once you commit yourself to a task or a discipline or a new way of life…temptation is not far behind.
- Oh boy…like my New Year’s resolution to go on a low-carb diet.
- My best friend showed up with a loaf of bread and an apple pie…fresh-baked from the oven.
- How can you say no to that?
Resolve and commit yourself to doing something you think is important for the forty-days of Lent?
- I guarantee you will be tempted to cave in before the first week is up.
- What is at stake here was the temptation Jesus faced to abandon God’s claim on his life.
- And follow the ways of the world instead.
- The story of Jesus’ testing and temptation shows how the Son of God will exercise his calling.
- He will use his power only in obedience to God’s own purposes and plans.”
When faith is tested…you can expect to be tempted.
- You can also expect to be strengthened.
- In this sense…testing is a good thing.
- It gives you a chance to flex your muscles and show your stuff.
- If it’s a test in school…it gives you a chance to confirm what you have learned.
- If it’s out on the football field or on the basketball court…it gives you a chance to prove your athletic prowess.
Even when it brings out one’s shortcomings and inadequacies…testing can be a good thing.
- It lets you know where you need to improve.
- If your blood pressure is too high…you can do something about it.
- If you cannot pass the eye exam…it’s time to get glasses.
Testing builds self-confidence.
- It is the secret to lasting faith and strong character.
- Only as our convictions and values and beliefs are tested can we truly know ourselves to be people of integrity and principle.
- Only as we are tested can we truly know ourselves to be children of God.
- When faith is tested…you can expect to be strengthened.
- You can expect God to be with you.
We feel the peace of God’s presence and the power of God’s Spirit more so in a moment of crisis than at any other time.
- This is why there are no atheists in foxholes.
- When you are under fire…you naturally cry out to God and…without fail…God is there:
- He says: “I will not fail you nor forsake you.”
- Every time we say the Lord’s Prayer we pray not to be tested:
- “Bring us not into temptation” we say…or…as the New Revised Version puts it:
- “Do not bring us to the time of trial.”
And yet…we know that there will be times when we will be put to the test and have to stand strong in our faith.
- When that time comes…remember this:
- When faith is tested…you can expect to be tempted.
- You can expect to be strengthened.
- You can expect God to be with you.
- As God told Paul in the moment of his trial…so he says to us:
- “My grace is sufficient for you…for my power is made perfect in weakness.”