SCRIPTURE
LUKE 4:1-9
the temptation of Jesus
JESUS IS TEMPTED BY SATAN IN THE DESERT
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.
Then the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.
*Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you and: with their hands they will support you lest you dash your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
REFLECTIONS
Jesus prepares for his public ministry in prayer and fasting. What preparations do we make to be faithful followers of Jesus and spread the Gospel?
While in the desert preparing, the accuser, that is what the name Satan means, comes to tempt Jesus. So we should not be surprised even in our good works and prayer time if temptations come. Temptations are not sins. Jesus does not sin.
Jesus wards off the tempter by quoting Scripture. Do we have mantras from Scripture that can ward off temptation? “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.” “Not my will but thy will be done!
I find it interesting that this Scripture passage begins with Jesus being led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil. What is that about? Well besides being Divine, Jesus had human nature as well and it was in that human nature he would suffer his passion and death. So he needed some toughening up so to speak. God never tempts us to sin. He allows us to be tempted but never beyond our ability to resist.
The temptations Jesus faced are no different than our own, temptations of the flesh, Jesus was hungry after 40 days of fasting, famished, Temptations for worldly power. Some do sell their souls to the devil for power. Be careful dealing with the devil, you may join him for all eternity.
Finally the devil appeals to fame and fortune, the spectacular. Jesus should throw himself off the roof of the temple and everyone would see this Messiah flying down to greet them. It would have been an amazing spectacle. People would have immediately worshiped Him as their King. Jesus came to earth to serve not be served!
When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time. This last line of today’s passage at least suggests there may have been other temptations not recorded here. The devil does not give up easily as witnessed in latest Church scandals.
If Satan can discredit Jesus’ Church, people will discredit/dismiss Jesus our Savior. All the way back in the early 70s Pope Paul VI said that the “smoke of Satan has entered through a crack into the Church.” Pray for Priests! Pray for each other! Satan may be a stumbling rock in the road, but let Jesus take your hand and lead you on your way!
I will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. Zechariah 13:8–9
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 4:17-30
JESUS READS FROM THE SCROLL OF ISAIAH
The Rejection at Nazareth
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’ And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
REFLECTIONS
Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth. He has been away for quite some time. Perhaps you have gone back to your hometown after several years. Do the people who recognize want to know about you now or only talk about is their memories when you were much different?
Jesus is asked to read from Scripture in the Synagogue. Jesus did not select the reading but was handed it by whoever was presiding. Do you think it was an accident that the selection was from Isaiah describing the Messiah? Of course you don’t. The Father has given Jesus another opportunity to reveal His true identity, and in His own home town.
As strong as the words of the Father, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” Matthew 3:17 are Jesus words here. “Today this Scripture is fulfilled.”
At first the listeners were amazed at his gracious words then doubt set in, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” Jesus may be from a humble town, not revered by many, but has now confirmed He is long awaited Messiah, King of Israel.
As God, Jesus could see into their hearts, their doubts, their need for proof so He addresses them, you want me to do what I have done in Capernaum. No miracles will be worked here. Faith is lacking. To support this position Jesus quotes Scripture stories again of how Elijah attended to a widow outside Israel I Kings 17:8 and Elisha only cured a leper outside of Israel. Luke 4:27
Those in the synagogue got very angry. I guess they got the message they were as unfaithful as their ancestors.. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them… Jesus passed through their midst. It wasn’t His hour.
The Truth hurts sometimes but if we don’t tell the truth or seek the Truth, what then? Where will our lies, twisted consciences lead? Seek Jesus, the Life, the Truth, and the Way!