Lent 1
February 21 2021
Mark 1:9-15
The Temptation of Jesus
The message of the cross leads to the Testing of
Faith
As we begin the discipline of Lent we will consider
the following theme during the next six weeks “The Way of the Cross.” This morning we will find that the way of
the cross leads to the testing of faith.
The whole account of Jesus’ temptation is given in two
short verses. They tell us the basics about temptation. These few verses
explain what you should know concerning temptation–
It is God
allowed - “The Spirit immediately drove Him”
Jesus had just been baptized and received the Spirit
who came down upon Him like a dove. The Spirit immediately drives Him into the
wilderness where He is tempted. The Spirit is always given when a call has been
issued to do a task. At His baptism Jesus was ordained to be the Savior of the
world.
The Spirit in a sense of urgency – “immediately drove” – takes Jesus into a
wilderness where He will have solitude to think through the method He will use
to accomplish the task. He is tempted to take the devil’s way.
The Father allows
temptation to come. But always with limits. Jesus was tempted for 40 days. Job
was tested. But with limits. Job lost his children, his wealth, his property
but not his health. He kept his wife.
And when he was then afflicted with sickness God spared his life.
Jesus reminds Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I
have prayed for you, Simon that your faith will not fail. And when you have
turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 Sometimes we endure
temptation so in the future we may help others when they face temptation.
It is Satan conducted – “Tempted by
Satan”
Mark would remind us that Jesus is tested πειραζόμενος. For forty days Jesus was tested by Satan
before He began His ministry. When we are tempted our faith is tested. Mark
explains that Jesus was “tempted by Satan.”
Some think God
tempts us because we pray in the Lord’s Prayer; “lead us not into temptation.” This is impossible. For God desires
us to do only what is right and good.
God indeed tempts no
one. Yet we pray that God would guard and keep us. So that the devil, the world
and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief,
despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked y these things,
we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
Some think
temptation is a sin. Not so. Yielding to temptation is sin. Yet, every
Christian is tempted. As was Jesus. The
Savior warns us, “For it is necessary
(ἀνάγκη) that temptations come.” - (Matthew 18:7)
St. Paul strongly
warns of the coming temptation and its serious consequences. “Now
the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith
by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” “But even if we or an angel from heaven
should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under
a divine curse! (ἀνάθεμα) As we have
said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel
contrary to the one you embraced, let him be cursed! (ἀνάθεμα)
It is danger
saturated – “He was with wild beasts”
Many hold the opinion that the better Christian you
are the less temptation you have. The opposite is the case: The better you are,
the more you are tempted. Temptation is a trying time. Requiring a spiritual
struggle. It is a wilderness experience. In which one fights with wild beasts.
So what are the
beasts with which you must do battle? Says St. Paul, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: impurity, and debauchery; idolatry
and sorcery ;( 1st Table of the Law) sexual immorality, hatred, discord,
jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy.” (2nd
Table of the Law) - (Galatians 5:19-20)
They are called beasts for a reason. They are fierce
monsters. With which you must contend. Satan wants to destroy you. But the
victory is yours in Christ Jesus.
It is angel
ministering – “Angels ministered to Him”
Where are the angels according to Mark?
They are with Jesus throughout His tempting.
Mark uses the word “
ministered.” (And
for those of you who are grammar geeks, Mark writs in the imperfect tense to
remind us that a
prolonged or
continued action took place.)
Although the Spirit
drives us to a place of testing. And although God does not tempt us. God does
not leave us alone. To resist the devil by ourselves! His angels, His
messengers, continually
support and comfort us in our trials. “Are
they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who
are to inherit salvation?” – (Hebrews 1:14)
Paul assures us that
God will not permit us to be tempted above what we are able to resist. “No temptation πειρασμὸς has overtaken you except
what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tested
beyond what you can bear. But when you are tested He will also provide a way
out so that you can endure it”. - (1 Corinthians 10:13)
In fact He’s
promised to walk with you through the darkest night and the most trying of
tests. “For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord”. – (Romans 8:38-39)
The Way of the Cross leads to the Testing of Faith.
Only Christ alone can sustain that faith. Will you go it alone? Or will you
walk with Him during this Lenten pilgrimage? How you answer this question will
determine how you will fare.
Words – 1040
Passive Sentences –
9%
Readability –77%
Reading Level – 5.3
Images for The
Temptation of Christ - Copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things; Ary Scheffer circa
1854; Google Images copyright ©; Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS
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