The Temptation of Jesus

Beloved of God,
     I want to make sure you are planning to spend time with us a week from Sunday as we have our monthly “Standing Lunch Date Potluck”. There are rumors that we will be thinking green for lunch that day, but stay tuned for more detail. It will be wonderful to fellowship with you.
I’m excited  for all of the opportunities for study and discipleship that are available through Lent as we approach Easter. Please feel free to reach out to me if you are looking for a way to grow or recenter over the next 6 weeks. 
Our Scripture reading this week comes from Luke 4:1-13. As the Accuser tempts Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus finds his strength in exactly the place we should: the Word of God in Scripture. He will not perform a miracle to meet his own needs because:
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Jesus will not offer his worship in exchange for authority, because:
“It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
 But of course the most tense moment is the final temptation, where Jesus is taken to the pinnacle of the temple, and the argument is this: If God loves you, then you will not suffer harm. And the Accuser doubles down on this argument by pointing to Scripture:
    …it is written: 
     “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you 
        to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands,
        so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
We notice that even Satan quotes Scripture, and we notice also that this is especially nefarious. This is fighting dirty; using something incomparably good for wicked ends. I’m struck by Jesus’ response to this, because one fascinating change in his response pattern:
 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
It is said. Not, “It is written” but, “it is said”. It is not simply that the Scriptures float alone on a stream of meaning that can be turned in any direction. The Scriptures are most at home not on the written page, but in our lives. Scripture is most powerful not when it is recited, but faithfully lived. “It is said ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” In that moment of temptation, Jesus was strengthened not only by the written Word of God, by the lives of those faithful enough to believe it, live it, and say it. 
 Please join me this week in praying for:

• Justice and Peace in central Europe, especially for those fleeing invasion.
• An end to this pandemic. 
• Doctors, nurses, PA’s, paramedics and others working to keep us all well.
• God’s grace as we seek to love others.
• God’s strength as others try to love us. 
• Wisdom for those facing big decisions for themselves and those they love.
• A sense of call and creativity as we bear witness to friends, neighbors, and coworkers about our faith.
• In thanksgiving for the graces and gifts we imagine we have earned. 
• Each other ( please email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our prayer list).

 You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,
 Marshall