Matthew 4:1-11 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 4:1-11 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 4Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Verse 2He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. Verse 3The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Verse 4But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Verse 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, Verse 6saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, '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.'" Verse 7Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Verse 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; Verse 9and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." Verse 10Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Verse 11Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Devotion
For centuries, theologians have tried to describe how Jesus can simultaneously be fully God and fully human. As we begin our Lenten journey, this story about the temptation of Jesus reminds me of what someone once said: "I am a Christian because I believe that as a human being, Jesus knows firsthand what I'm experiencing. So when I pray to him, I know he knows what I'm talking about." Temptation is a daily part of our human lives. We can look at ourselves honestly during this holy season and trust that the forgiveness and comfort offered to us by Jesus takes seriously all of human experience. Even though we may not know exactly how to talk about it, we trust that Immanuel, God-with-us, is indeed the one who suffered, died and was raised for us-and who knows our human experience intimately.
Prayer
Jesus, as you guide us, we commend our Lenten journey to you. Amen.