Jesus was tempted in the Judean Wilderness; perhaps on one of those hills

Today’s reading is Luke 3:1-4:44.

Satan’s Shortcuts

The temptations of Jesus stand out to me in this reading. Specifically, the one Luke lists as Jesus’ second temptation. In Luke 4:5-8, Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world. His promise to Jesus was, “If you will just worship me, I’ll give you all these kingdoms to rule.” 

Often, we just see this as a play by Satan to tempt Jesus with power, fame, and rulership. That is not the case. God had also promised Jesus to rule all the kingdoms of the earth in Psalm 110. The issue was that God’s path to authority and kingship meant living on earth as a human. It meant being rejected by all around Him. It meant being persecuted. It meant being beaten. It meant being crucified. It meant be separated from the Father. 

Satan wasn’t offering Jesus rule of the world as a temptation. He was offering Him a shortcut. It was as if Satan was saying, “Look, I know God has said if you do all this stuff down here, you’ll beat me and the kingdoms of earth will be given to you. Why bother with all that? I’ll give up and concede the world to you if you will just worship me. There is no need to go through all that pain and anguish. I’ll give it to you right now. It can really be just that easy. How about it?”

Of course, we know what would have happened had Jesus submitted to Satan’s terms. Instead of gaining control of the world, Jesus would have lost His relationship with the Father. The torment and anguish Satan promised to relieve would have come in spades. Further, by this one act, Jesus would have forfeited any right to rule the world. Satan was offering, but Satan was lying.

Here is the point for us. This is exactly how Satan tempts us as well. God has promised us love, joy, peace, patience. He has offered us comfort, encouragement, maturity, satisfaction. However, the path to God’s promises is not easy. It is a strait and difficult path. Enter Satan. “Oh, it doesn’t have to be like that. There is no need to deny self or carry a cross. If you want peace, harmony, and satisfaction, I’ll show you the way. I promise you if you take vengeance on those who have hurt you, you’ll have peace. I promise you if you lust and have sex with as many people as possible, or at least with that person over there, you’ll have connection, relationship, and happiness. I promise you if you just had your neighbors house, car, job, wife, husband, computer, jewelry, clothes, you would be satisfied. I promise you if you really want security and protection you just need to tell this lie.” On and on Satan goes. He promises us the same thing God does, but the picture he paints is one of ease. 

Sadly, every one of us has chosen Satan’s shortcut. What have we found? Satan is a liar. He offers, but doesn’t give. All his shortcuts do is give us greater pain and heartache. Yet, for some reason, when he comes back around offering the same empty promises, we have the idea that this time it will be different. This time it really will work. This time we really will get satisfaction, contentment, love, happiness, harmony, joy, peace. And every time, for a brief moment we think we have attained it all. Then it all comes crashing down and the cycle begins again.

Break the cycle. No, it is not an easy path. But God’s difficult way actually provides what it promises, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly. But it always comes through. Satan’s shortcut always leads to disappointment. 

Satan is offering you shortcuts today. Don’t take them.

***Question: Okay, I know I’m getting a little personal with this one today. But I think it is good for us to think through these things. When you have taken Satan’s shortcuts, where has it led you?

A Little Something Extra Thrown In For Free

The third temptation in Luke was where Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and quoted Psalm 91:11-12 to Him saying, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.” The psalm said God would protect His servant. Jesus said He wouldn’t put the Lord God to the test. When God has promised something, you don’t go testing it to see if God really meant it. That doesn’t show faith in God, but distrust.

What caught my attention about this was Luke 4:29-30. The folks in Nazareth drove Jesus out of town and were going to throw Him down a cliff. The text just says, “But passing through their midst, he went away.” Wow! I can’t see that as being anything short of a miraculous deliverance. I’m pretty sure if a mob were driving Jesus to the cliff, it is not just a walk in the park to “pass through their midst.” 

He refused to jump from the Temple’s pinnacle and test God. However, when Jesus really was in danger, God did protect Him and kept Him from dashing His foot against a stone.

I had just never made the connection between these stories before and wanted to share.

As always, let us know what you got out of today’s reading.

Keep the faith and keep reading.

ELC