His sandals were still damp from the Jordan River. Or at least that’s how St. Matthew wants us to see Jesus’ first few Spirit-guided steps into the wilderness. One moment he heard his Father’s voice assure him, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.” The next moment he heard another voice question him, “If you are the Son of God …”
A fast that lasted forty days and forty nights. And then came the Tempter: Look, Jesus, I know you’re really God’s Son, but you’re hungry. This ridiculous fast has to stop. What are you trying to prove? You can do what you want, right? Then eat!
That’s the gist of the first temptation, the temptation to make our own way. To meet our own needs.
The Son looked down. The oblong stones, come to think of it, did look like loaves. The smell of the Passover meal faintly glazed his dulled senses. A vision passed through his mind of his mother’s smile placing bread on the table after he returned from the workshop with his father. He remembered the stories they told of Israel. The exodus. Disobedience and the wilderness wandering. The discipline of the Lord, a discipline of a Son. Echoes of Deuteronomy 8 reverberated off the dinner table.
The lingering fragrance of bread dissipated: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
St. Matthew takes our gaze upward from the dusty wilderness to the busy streets below from the pinnacle of the Temple. Look, Jesus, you’re the promised Son of Israel – you’re the guy the angels protect in Psalm 91! Reveal yourself in the most amazing way possible. Show the people who you really are! This temple is so earthy and boring. Take a big leap and descend with all of the heavenly host in sight. Your entrance needs a little … angelic, divine flair.
The Son looked down again. The worshippers below busied themselves as they had been for centuries: listening to the Torah, offering sacrifices, hoping they were forgiven, repeat. So earthy. So tedious. But it wouldn’t be just a jump. In the moment that both of Jesus’ feet left the ledge and suspended for a split second in the air, heaven would arrive. Angels would escort his descent below. And the Son of God’s feet would triumphantly land in the holy city there in the temple initiating the eschaton for all to see. A sacrificial death averted. Glorious revelation and power secured. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” people would exclaim!
That’s the gist of the second temptation: avert pain and suffering; take the easy road.
The lingering vision of the end times dissipated: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
These were legitimate tests, make no mistakes. They weren’t tricks. We’re not fully explained how, but Jesus would literally get what Satan promised. And so, Satan had one last valuable offer for Jesus: he offered the world.
The Son looked down one last time. This time from a mountain. He would visit this high mountain later with the friendly company of Moses and Elijah, and yet one last time with eleven followers. Worship me, Jesus, it’s that simple. You see, all authority on earth has been given to me. Fall down and worship my name. I’ll give you all this precious land. All these kingdoms and nations. You’re supposed to be a king and savior and ruler. It’ll all be yours – isn’t that what you want most? A thousand yard stare glazed over the hungry, poor carpenter’s eyes. Kingship could happen in just an instance.
And that’s the gist of the final temptation: get what you deserve.
But the lingering voice from heaven at his baptism grew louder in his ears. Past his hunger pains. Past the alluring beauty of the lands and people below. And in a moment another voice flooded his heart and drowned out the Tempter’s. Jesus was loved. Secure. A cherished Son.
He had enough: “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”
We don’t know how Satan left the mountain, but he did. And like that, the temptations were over. I like to believe it was a slow descent to hell from there for him.
But, look! Are those angels descending upon the mountain to minister to Jesus?
St. Matthew leans in close to us and whispers, “it’s Psalm 91 coming true.”
Christian friend, are you tempted? Call on him, and God will rescue you, protect you. He will be with you in trouble and deliver you.
Angels can gather for you.
