The Rev. Virginia W. Nagel
Episcopal Diocese of Central NY (Retired)
One of the things that makes studying the Bible so interesting is that
everything in the Bible builds on what has come before. Most people seem to
think that the Bible is a collection of many different stories, and it is true
that there are a lot of fascinating stories in the Bible. But they are all part
of one long story. It is true that you can read one short story at a time, like
the one of Daniel and the lions, or the one about Noah and the ark. But all
these shorter stories are like chapters in a long book, and each depends on the
ones that went before it, and provides part of the background for the ones that
follow it. You and I are part of the long Bible story, too. Our part isn't
written into the Bible, because we are still living it, but the stories that we
learned in Sunday School and the parts that we read in church are all given us
to provide us the lessons and knowledge that we need to live and flourish in our
own time and place. It's a long, interesting book, for sure!
Today's Gospel reading tells us that after Jesus was baptized by John the
Baptist, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, where he fasted and prayed
for 40 days. That, of course, is where the idea for Lent came from...40 days of
fasting, doing without something important to us, and praying, to see how God
wants us to use our life and how we can grow closer to God. We do not
necessarily fast from food for 40 days, as Jesus did, although many people still
keep the traditional church fast of a small snack meal and one full meal a day
during Lent. Others fast from movies, chocolate, computer games or unnecessary
shopping during the days of Lent. What are you fasting from, this Lent? All of
us, I suppose, try to spend some time in prayer and study, to learn how better
to live the life God gave us, and what kind of work God wants us to do for him.
Jesus, of course, needed to plan and pray about his ministry, and prepare for
the fact that it would lead him to the cross...and to Easter. The one thing that
is necessary, of course, is to follow the leading of the Spirit, knowing that
God's Spirit always leads us the right ways for us and our needs, even if it
seems all wrong....following the Spirit into the wilderness without food must
have seemed insane, but this experience was one that helped shape Jesus' plans
for his ministry. We, too, can do no wrong by following God's Spirit, and
letting him guide us.
Then, when Jesus was at his weakest from the long fast, the Devil came and
tempted him.
One of the things that the Church noticed early on, after the time of Jesus'
life on earth, was that it seemed that Moses was kind of preparing people to
understand the life and work of Jesus, even though Jesus came many hundred of
years after Moses. It is very noticeable that the three temptations the Devil
presented to Jesus in the Jordan desert are parallels to the things that the
Israelites and Moses encountered on their long walk through the desert to Mt.
Sinai. It certainly gives us much to think about in Lent.
The first temptation must have been really tempting, after forty days with no
food: Take this stone and command it to turn into bread. And
Jesus' reply was straight from the Old Testament: Man does not live by
bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. We
think of the peoples' complaint to Moses, long ago: Why did you bring us
out of Egypt, where we had plenty of fresh food? We have nothing to eat here in
this desert. Give us food! Did you bring us here to starve? And when
Moses took their complaint to God, he provided manna in the wilderness, and
pigeons every evening for meat for the people. God's provision for us is what we
need desperately. Our own attempts to attain our wants, on the other hand,
usually fail. Jesus knew this, and did not even think of changing stone to
bread, although he could have. The story of Abraham in Genesis also shows us
that God's promises must work out in God's time, not ours.
The second temptation was to worship the Devil in exchange for power, wealth
and fame. We all know the story of the golden calf in Exodus. When Moses went up
Mt. Sinai to receive God's Law, the people were so scared to have him away that
they used their jewelry to make a golden calf and worship it. Anything, to feel
"in charge" of their own lives, and to feel safe...even if they knew it was a
lie. Aaron, Moses' brother, even told the people, This calf is your god,
that has brought you out of Egypt. These were the people who had escaped
when God held back the waters of the Red Sea, who had been given water from the
rock by God, who had been fed by God and led by God's pillar of cloud and
fire...and they were so eager to exchange their dependency on God for a feeling
of being in control that they made a golden calf and listened to Aaron proclaim
it their god! They fell down and worshipped. Jesus, of course, knew better, and
replied, as Aaron and the Israelites should have, It is written, You shall
worship only the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.
The third temptation involved the Devil taking Jesus up to the highest tower
of the Temple in Jerusalem and challenging him to throw himself down, in order
to test God's love and providence. The angels, said the Devil, would rush to
bear Jesus up so that he would not be hurt. One thinks of the first time that
Moses and the Israelites approached the borders of Canaan, the land that God had
promised to give them, which is called Israel nowadays. They sent Joshua and
Caleb, and several other men, to spy out the country, see what it was like, so
that they would know what to expect. It was a good land, fertile, and the spies
brought back much fresh food. But there were people already living in Canaan,
and most of the spies were afraid that they would have to fight their way in,
fight for places to settle. God had promised that they would be able to harvest
crops that they had not planted, and that they would find places to live; but
the majority of the spies were afraid, and so they came back and reported that
the land was full of giants and the Israelites would not be able to find a place
to live there unless they fought a bloody war. Joshua and Caleb told the truth,
saying that it was a fertile land, full of milk and honey, and friendly people;
but they were outnumbered, and the people refused to go into Canaan. Of course
that is why God struck dead all of the spies who had lied, and only Joshua and
Caleb were able to live eventually to enter Canaan. And that's why God led them
back into the desert, for forty more years of wandering, before allowing them
finally to enter Canaan and make their home there. Perhaps this was what Jesus
had in mind when he answered the Devil with, It is written, You shall not
put the Lord your God to the test! You don't challenge God's bounty.
It's just not a good idea, as the spies who accompanied Joshua and Caleb could
have told us...if they had lived long enough to speak!
And then the Devil disappeared, to come back and try again another day to
tempt Jesus away from God. You almost feel sorry for the Devil. He didn't know
that it just couldn't happen. Jesus is, you see, God the Son.
And then, the angels came and ministered to him.
All of this leaves us with plenty to ponder this Lent:
Am I letting God's Spirit guide me, or am I doing my own thing?
Am I greedy for what I want, not for what God gives me? Do I trust God
to provide what I truly need, even if I don't know myself the difference
between what I need and what I want?
Who or what do I truly worship? Who or what is the most important thing
in my life?
In what ways do I test God's love, care and promises?
The first reading today gives the Israelites directions for what they must do
when they first set foot in the promised land of Canaan: they are to come to
worship, bearing a thank-offering to God, and thank God for seeing them through,
for providing for their needs, and for caring for them on the journey.
Lent for us is a journey towards Easter. When we arrive at Easter Day, after
thinking over the lessons of today's readings, and pondering them prayerfully,
and trying to follow the guidance of God's Spirit, will we remember to come with
our thanksgivings and thank-offerings for God? Will we remember to praise his
love and care, his guidance and provision for us? Will we join with our Lord
Jesus Christ to give thanks?
Amen.
