"The Wilderness of Temptation"

A sermon preached on The First Sunday of Lent, February 25, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Matthew 4:1-11.

In our Gospel Lesson this morning we see that it is sort of Jesus’ first day on the job, if you will, and immediately he is confronted with three major temptations. This is, without a doubt, a passage that a lot of Christians find both challenging and difficult to understand. First of all, we are told that it was "the Spirit" which drove Jesus into the wilderness. Prior to this, we have Jesus’ baptism and confirmation, where we are told that the Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove along with God’s affirmation; "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." But then, we are told that the Spirit leds Jesus into the wilderness - that barren, desolate and lonely place, where our Lord was tempted - the Spirit led him there!
Now some claim that perhaps the gospel writers were speaking of another spirit, and not referring to the Spirit of God. But we must remember that the Greek word for "tempted" here is peirazo, which literally means; " to try" or "to make proof of." Now, in Scripture, when we come across the word "tempted" in most cases it is used in a negative sense and means "to entice" or "to solicit" or even "to provoke to sin." Thus, Satan is referred to as "the Tempter." But the Spirit, we are told in the gospels, leads Jesus into the wilderness to peirazo - to try and prove his faith, if you will. Further, affirm that he is the sinless, perfect and unblemished sacrifice for the sins of the world. Now, undoubtedly, it was the agent of Satan - the Tempter whose goal it was to seduce Jesus. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to confirm his calling as the Messiah - the Christ.
One commentator has written; "Too often we see our high moments - those good and joyous moments as being God-given or God-filled; but then we consider the wilderness experiences - those times when we are alone and surrounded by temptation as bad moments, which are not God-given or God-filled." And how true that is! This is the way we often view the ups and downs of life. But perhaps we shouldn’t see things that way! We should see all circumstances and situations as opportunities to grow spiritually! Without those wilderness experiences - those trials and temptations we cannot possibly grow in our faith and in our relationship with Christ.
With that being said, the fact remains, none of us can avoid the wilderness - we will all walk through the wilderness from time to time. In fact, wilderness experiences are a part of life’s journey, just as they are a part of our spiritual journey.
You know what is so comforting and strengthening about our faith? It is the fact that God does not only teach us, but God also has given us an example - God, himself has walked in our very shoes; God has confronted the temptation and sin, trials and obstacles, pain and uncertainties of life. God can sympathize and relate to us, because he himself has journeyed in the wilderness. In fact, the writer of Hebrews reminds us; "For we do not have a High Priest," referring to Jesus, "who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
And so, I think it is well that as we begin our Lenten journey we focus on this story of Jesus’ temptation. As we consider the sin in our lives and our need to repent - to turn from that sin, that we look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith - the one who leads, not solely by word, but also by example!
Conflict is generally at the heart of most stories. In fact, most stories contain an antagonist. Some times that antagonistic force can be the character who is in conflict with him or herself. Or, the antagonist may be a supernatural force, as we see in the movies such as Star Wars and Superman. Or, perhaps the antagonist could be nature, as we see in Hemingway’s; The Old Man and the Sea. Or even, the antagonist could be another individual or society. Most stories, however, contain some type of conflict. And the story of Jesus, whether told by Matthew, Mark, Luke or John is no exception. In fact, conflict was at the very center of Jesus’ life. In all four of the gospels we see that Jesus was constantly engaged in conflict. He battled with unclean spirits and Satan; he overcame threatening forces of nature; he confronted the Jewish and Roman authorities; he struggled with the disciples; and he agonized within himself about his own passion and death.

All four gospels tells the story of Jesus’ temptation, however, Mark’s is the shortest account - consisting of only 2 verses. Matthew and Luke begin with the same temptation, turning stones into bread, but they have a different order for the last two temptations. One writer suggests that Luke’s order has a more natural and geographical sequence, while Matthew’s order is more of a logical sequence, moving from the lowest level of temptation to the highest level of temptation. But nonetheless, we find that Jesus was tempted with wealth, and fame and power, trying to deviate him from his true mission and responsibility as the Christ - the Messiah, God’s Son who would bring reconciliation to the world. You know, the fact is, as we see here, Satan uses temptation and sin to try to blind us! He uses these tools as ways to turn our attention from Christ. But we should use these as opportunities to grow stronger in our faith and closer in our walk with Christ.
I love the story of the businessman who was driving home from work one day, when he saw a little league baseball game in progress. He decided to stop and watch. He sat down on the bleachers and asked a kid what the score was. "We’re behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile. "Really," he responded. "I have to say you don’t look very discouraged." "Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet." It’s so easy to give up! It’s so easy to give in to temptation. Oscar Wilde once said; "The best way to get rid of temptation is to give in to it!" Certainly, this isn't the best approach!
There is an interesting comparison between the First Adam’s temptation that we read about in Genesis chapter 3, verse 6; and Christ - the Second Adam’s temptation. You see, what Adam could not do, Jesus did. In the 2nd chapter, verse 16 of John’s first epistle he points out the three temptations that both Adam and Jesus faced: the first, was the temptation of the flesh, Adam gave in to the fact that the tree was good for food, whereas Christ remained strong in Satan’s temptation to turn the stones into bread; the second, was the temptation of the eyes, Adam failed receive the pleasing and enticing fruit, whereas Jesus overcame Satan’s lure to gain the kingdoms of the world without the cross; and the third, was the temptation of pride, where Adam fell to the temptation that the tree would make him wise and like God, Jesus stood strong in the face of Satan’s temptation to throw himself down from the high pinnacle and allow the angels to rescue him.
Temptation has a way of knocking and, especially, all the more when we find ourselves fixed on Christ - our goal. I heard a story not too long ago of little Johnny who desperately wanted a new bike. His plan was to save his nickels, dimes and quarters until he finally had enough money to buy a new bike. Each night he asked God to help him save his money. Kneeling beside his bed, he prayed; "Dear God, please help me save my money for a new bike; and please, Lord, don’t let the ice-cream man come down the street again tomorrow." But, my friends, we have the power and the strength to persevere in the face of temptation - it is Christ’s Spirit in us. Our Lord reminded us; "for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
In Death Valley there is a place known as "Dante’s View." There, you can look down to the lowest spot in the United States, a depression in the earth 200 feet below sea level called "Bad Water." But from that same spot, you can also look up to the highest peak in the United States, "Mount Whitney," rising to a height of 14,500 feet. How ironic! One way leads to the lowest valley and the other way to the highest mountain. From that point, called Dante’s View, any movement must be in one or the other direction. And, you know, there are many times in life when we stand where the ways part and where choices must be made. Our Lord faced the same choices. He chose first to go downhill, descending into the city of Jerusalem where he would inevitably face betrayal, persecution and death. And he decided to walk uphill which led to a cross where he would die for the sins of the world. And, my friends, thankfully the one who died upon that cross lives and walks with us through all of life - especially in the wilderness of temptation.
I want to close with the words of Claudia Hernaman’s hymn; "Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days," she writes;

"Lord, who throughout these forty days for us did fast and pray,

Teach us with you to mourn our sins and close by you to stay.

As you with Satan did contend, and did the victory win,

O give us strength in you to fight, in you to conquer sin.

And thro’ these days of penitence, and thro’ your passiontide,

Forevermore, in life and death, O Christ with us abide.

Abide with us, that through this life of doubts and hopes and pain,

An Easter of unending joy we may at last attain."