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The First Sunday of Lent March 1, 2020Scripture Reading Genesis 2:15 - 17 and Matthew 4:1 - 11Rev. Scott Paul-Bonham First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor“Saying NO to Satan’s ‘Shortcuts’”Before the reading of this scripture:Context is critical in understanding the scriptures.You must look as where a story is placed next to other stories to glean their meaning.For example, in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic Gospels),the Temptations of Jesus always follow immediately AFTER Jesus’ baptism,and immediately BEFORE Jesus’ ministry of calling disciples, teaching, and healing.These temptations take place in the wilderness, in waste places.And Jesus did not just wander into the desert wilderness by accident.“Jesus was led up BY THE SPIRIT (of God) into the wildernessTO BE TEMPTED by the devil.”Why would God want his Son, his beloved Son, to be tempted?Good question.Most scholars that I know believe that temptations all have to do with Jesus identity as God’s Son.How will Jesus use his divine powers?Let us listen to the Word of God from Matthew 4:1 – 11 and find out!In 2003 a comedy came out in the theaters called Bruce Almighty.It started Jim Carrey as a down-on-his-luck TV news reporter, Bruce Nolan,Jennifer Anison as his loving and devoted girlfriend, Grace Connelly,and Morgan Freeman as God.The premise is quite simple, God gives Bruce some of his powers,because Bruce is sure he can do a better job than God.Bruce uses that God-given power for a bunch of personal purposesCreating a perfect romantic momentGetting vengeance on some bulliesGiving himself a new carDestroying the career of another news reporter competitor.Of course, all these actions also create negative side effects for Bruce and everyone else.Ultimately, Bruce loses the love of his life, until he utterly surrenders to God’s will.Again, this is a comedy, but it makes one think, what would I do if I had godly powers.That question is a very real one for Jesus!At his baptism, Jesus heard these words from Heaven,“This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:17)What an amazing moment!Then, God’s spirit compels Jesus into the wilderness, where the devil is waiting.The devil might have been confident,Because the same temptations he will use on JesusHe used successful against young Israel in their 40 year desert wanderings.Hunger (vv. 1-4 = Exodus 16)Putting God to the test (vv. 5-7 = Exodus 17)False worship (vv. 8-10 = Exodus 19-32)God’s holy people, his royal priesthood, failed all these tests, and miserably soThey surrendered their special identity as God’s people quickly and completely.Jesus faces these temptations, and is obedient. He stays true to his identity.But we should never think it was easy for Jesus.After 40 days of fasting, Jesus is hungry. Famished.(I used to think it would be impossible to fast from food for 40 days, until I met people who have done it.)Then the devil, that figure who represents the power of evil in the world,and all that opposes the will of God.Begins with that most devastating little word, “IF”!“IF you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”You are hungry, Jesus. You have power, Jesus, don’t you? Fulfill your personal needs! (HOLD UP COMMUNION LOAF OF BREAD)Turn these stones into bread. Instant gratification is called for.Be a one trick pony. The people will love you.Proof who you are to yourself and to others.Jesus responds with scripture, from the Torah, from Deuteronomy 8:3 to be exact.“One does not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that comes from the mouth of God.”God is concerned about bread for God’s people,BUT God is concerned about so much more, about the entire person, about all of life.Jesus will be God’s Son of all and for all.Now please note, the devil and his minions can quote the Bible too.And even quote it accurately.Psalm 91:11-12“‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”So, Jesus, IF you are the Son of God, you have got the ultimate safety net,Don’t you want to try out that safety net!Just take a leap off the highest point of the Temple.Think of ALL the people who will see you. How they will marvel at you!But what does Jesus know?Not everyone who can quote scripture is on God’s team!Testing God does not come from trust, but from a lack of trust.“See if they really work” is not of sign of faith but of doubt.On several occasions in my career as a penitentiary chaplain,I witnessed an inmate become “Super Religious.” – maybe Christian, maybe Muslim,He would immerse himself in the scripture and practices.He would be in the Chapel whenever our doors were open.Often becoming extremely judgmental of others who were doing thingsHe had been doing just weeks before.He would follow the letter of the law for weeks or even for months,but eventually he would just quit, and never enter the Chapel again. I asked one such man about this in the chow hall.He said something like:“I have a life sentence, so I thought I would try “religion” to see if it would get me out.It didn’t work. I knew it won’t.”You see, many people in prison, just like many people out of prison,are not really interested in faith. They want magic.The devil pushes magical thinking. Jesus is all about faith, about trust, in God.Jesus says:“Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Deuteronomy 6:16)Jesus will take the ultimate leap into the abyss, but only when he knows it is God’s will.Finally, the trump card is played.Jesus, how would you like to be Lord of all the world’s kingdoms?I have the short cuts. All you have to do is worship ME?I can give you all success without the sacrifice.I can give you all victory without the struggle.Jesus has had enough: “BEGONE SATAN!For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” (Deuteronomy 6:13)Jesus will become Lord of All, by being nailed onto a cross.When Christianity become about the power of positive thinking instead of sacrificial love and costly grace, we are succumbing to this temptation.When Christianity becomes about nation or race, family or class, education or income,and not about God, we are filling our hearts with this temptation.We face these temptations too, don’t we? Every month, every week, every day!The temptation to BE someone other than who God calls us to be,to deny that we are God’s children, the sisters and brothers of Jesus.Let us, during this Lenten season, take a deep and honest look at our lives.Let us remember who we are, whose we are.and live in that love that will not let us go!Thanks be to God!Amen and amen. The Call to Discipleship: ................
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