Readings: Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Psalm 91; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13
Grace and peace be multiplied to you. Traditionally, our Gospel is the story of the Temptation of Jesus, a popular story with very practical and powerful lessons.
In past years, I have looked at each of the temptations of Jesus and what they mean to us today.
Today, I would like to look at the whole episode generally and draw three lessons. We shall reflect briefly on who Jesus is (Christology) as presented in the text, and I will end by focusing on the response of Jesus to the temptations.
General messages
I. The importance of Spiritual preparation:
After Jesus’ baptism, before He began His public ministry, He spent time alone in fasting and prayers.
This is a great lesson for us to always prepare spiritually before embarking on our plans and missions. We need to seek God’s face, guidance, strength and direction.
II. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness:
Before beginning His public ministry, Jesus passed through the wilderness, a place of testing and preparation.
In the First Reading, Moses instructed the people on how they were to bring their first offering when God blessed them and settled them in the land flowing with milk and honey. However, first, they had to pass through the wilderness.
Often, before we receive the fulfillment of a promise, before we give testimony, before God trusts us with an assignment, before sending us out, before we bloom spiritually, before the world can call us blessed, God incubates, forms, prepares and shapes us in the wilderness. All the great people in the Bible passed through it.
Many of us are having a wilderness experience right now. We are going through a hard, challenging and tough time. Maybe you are asking, “Where is God in all of this?” Remember, it was the Holy Spirit that led Jesus through the wilderness.
We are in the wilderness not because we have been abandoned. In fact, it is the exact opposite. Wilderness is part of the journey to greatness, to God’s blessing and the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Take note, it is a place we pass through; it is just for a time.
III. The power of the Scriptures:
In refuting the tempter, Jesus appealed to the authority and reliability of the Scriptures. He used the Word of God to counter the temptations of the devil. This testifies to the power of the Word of God. We are challenged, especially this Lenten season, to study it, understand it, believe and apply it. St. Paul describes it as the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). We need the sword to defend ourselves and drive away our adversary. We need the Word to refute the lies of the enemy and to know the truth that will set us free.
Christology and the theology of the wilderness.
The temptation account gives us a great insight into the person, identity and mission of Jesus. I will try to just simplify it here:
Jesus as the New Adam
The temptations of Jesus bring to mind the temptation of Adam and Eve. Jesus is the New Adam who overcame the tempter where the first Adam failed (Romans 5:12-19)
Jesus as the New Moses
Jesus is the New Moses who spent 40 days on Mount Sinai and came down with the law (Exodus 24:18). Jesus also spent 40 days, and He brings us grace and truth (John 1:17).
Jesus as the New Israel
Jesus in the wilderness for forty days reminds us of the Israelites’ journey for forty years. Jesus is the New Israel, the chosen of God. He succeeded where the old Israel failed in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33-34).
Jesus’ Responses to temptation in the context of Jesus as the New Israel.
I. Man doesn’t live on bread alone.
This is the response of Jesus to the first temptation to turn stones into bread. Jesus’ response was based on Deuteronomy 8:3. Moses was telling the Israelites that their survival and sustenance in the wilderness was not dependent on bread alone (Manna) but on obedience to God’s Word.
This temptation establishes a contrast between Jesus and Adam and Eve, who sinned by eating what God forbade, and the Israelites, who grumbled and complained against God because of food.
In the response of Jesus, we can learn these messages:
•The need to prioritise the spiritual over the temporal, spiritual nourishment over physical needs. This is why we fast at Lent – we deny our body for the good of our souls.
•We are reminded to pray not only for physical gifts but spiritual gifts too (Gifts of love, forgiveness, knowledge, fortitude, grace for our wilderness, humility, freedom from sinful/ dangerous habits etc.).
•He is teaching us not to misuse our powers for personal gain.
•He is teaching us not to be lured or provoked to prove ourselves according to the worlds standard.
•Trust God and not satisfy our desires by all means.
•Obedience to God is the secret to a meaningful and fulfilled life.
II. “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.”
The devil tempts Jesus to worship him, i.e. revere and submit to him, and he would grant Him power and riches. Again, Jesus responds with Deuteronomy 6:13, part of the Shema, a central declaration of faith in Judaism. In this chapter, Moses instructed the people on how to live fruitfully in the promised Land. They must worship God exclusively and reject any form of idolatry.
This temptation echoes the Israelites’ struggles with idolatry in the wilderness – we recall how they made the golden calf in Exodus 32.
This is a message for all of us, too – to worship and serve God alone. Only God is worthy of our total devotion and loyalty.
We must not worship other gods or idols. We must not allow anything to take His place in our lives.
We must not seek anything apart from God’s will or obtain anything by disobeying God.
We must reject any offer that compromises our faith.
We are called to trust God alone and not be desperate or impatient to obtain anything.
III. “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
The devil misquoted Psalm 91:11-12 and tempted Jesus to throw Himself down with the assurance that God would protect Him.
We learnt how to be careful to avoid misinterpretation and misapplication of the Scriptures, which is very common today.
Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. The context was Moses telling the Israelites not to test God as they did in Massah in the desert. Because they were thirsty, they doubted God’s provision and presence and questioned His care for them (Exodus 17:1-7).
Dear friends, we are to trust God and not test Him.
Ways we test God
I. When we refuse to accept God’s Word but rather demand Him to prove Himself or His word before we can believe Him, asking Him to do something extraordinary before we will believe that He is trustworthy and that He loves and cares for us. This testing is rooted in doubt.
II. When we intentionally do what is wrong presuming on His mercy (Sirach 5:5-6) or daring Him to punish us.
III. When we put ourselves in unnecessary danger hoping God will rescue us.
IV. The sin of blasphemy is putting God to the test.
Conclusion
As we reflect on the temptations of Jesus, let us ask God for the grace to overcome our own daily temptations. Let us pray for the grace to trust God completely, to obey Him wholeheartedly and to reject whatever is contrary to His holy will.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on March 9, 2025