Monday, March 24, 2014

EMMDEV 2014-03-22 [Lent2014] 25.Temptations examined...(3)

(Again, please forgive the delay - it's been a crazy weekend and hectic week start... :-) )
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Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Matthew4:8-10

Jesus has already been tempted to be self-sufficient and use His power for self-satisfaction. (Turn stones into bread.) He has been tempted to be impressive and to force God to fit in with His plans (Jump off the temple and be caught by the angels.)

Now the final temptation comes.
Satan shows Jesus the kingdoms of the world and their splendour and offers them to Jesus at the cost of worshipping him.

I've often wondered about this temptation...
Would Jesus, who spoke galaxies into being, honestly be tempted by wealth and splendour? Or was it the people?

Did Satan show Jesus the kingdoms of people and the splendour of humanity and offer them to Him? Remember how Paul describes our human condition in Eph 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient."

Satan was the prince of this world, and sin-broken humanity were in his clutches. Jesus' mission was to ransom and redeem us -to buy us out of sin-guilt but that would cost the cross.

I think Satan dangles the people, the world that "God so loved" (Jn3:16), in front of Jesus and says: "You don't have to go to the cross..." Just bow down and worship ME. Take a shortcut! Don't go the route of suffering - take an easier path, just bow down and I'll give them to you!

Jesus is crystal clear - this won't happen! He dismisses Satan: the toughest temptation has failed. Jesus is "hell-bent" (pun intended) on saving us - and He won't take shortcuts!

HALLELUJAH!

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/