We just heard the story of humanity:
The LORD God formed us out of the clay of the ground and blew into our nostrils the breath of life.
The Lord placed us/them, our first parents, into the garden.
The devil tempted them with food, power, and glory. The forbidden fruit looked good…for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable…desirable for gaining wisdom; wisdom, in fact, if you read scripture, like that of God.
They took some of the forbidden fruit and ate it, and they immediately realized that what they had done was not good, but evil.
Similarly, Jesus was led by the Spirit (of God), not into the garden, but into the desert. He fasted for 40 days & 40 nights, and afterwards He was hungry.
The devil approached him and promised him the same food, power, and glory: turn these rocks into bread and satisfy your hunger, throw yourself off the parapet and demonstrate your power over God – He’ll have to save you, scripture says He will; worship me and I will give you all the glory of this world.
Jesus answered differently than us, to all of these temptations…He answered with The word of God, not with the desires of man.
Then, different ending in this part of the story: the devil left Him and angels came and ministered to Him.
So, how many people – don’t raise your hands, but answer in your heads: how many people were somewhat aggravated when you realized it was Ash Wednesday and you couldn’t have that chocolate, or that cup of coffee, or whatever it is that you promised to give up. Or realized on Friday that you couldn’t have that cheeseburger for lunch.
Sacrifice is not easy! It never has been. Just like it wasn’t easy for Jesus…knowing what He had to look forward to at the end of his journey in this world.
I saw a quote that said, “It’s a bit humbling to reflect on how Jesus resisted the temptation of Satan after fasting for forty days in the desert, while I struggle to deny myself chocolate in a comfortable, temperature-controlled house with indoor plumbing.”
Each year we are presented with this invitation: Jesus calling us to the desert to face our temptations. He models how to face temptation head-on: call it by its name, and renounce it!
Jesus never asks us to do what he hasn’t already done; or to do anything without Him by our side throughout the journey, however difficult that journey may be.
Paul’s letter to the Hebrews (4:14), it says:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.”
So, our opportunity, over these 40 days, is to choose God. To choose God over mammon. To choose sacrifice over the things of this world. To choose the creator over the created.
We sacrifice for God, not because he forces us to. We have free will. We sacrifice because he offers us the opportunity, and…well, he saved our lives! God became human so we could become like God!
And just like his never asking to do anything He hasn’t done, or to do it alone/without him by our side: The Holy Spirit within us is, drawing us into the desert during this season of Lent. Drawing us closer to God. And as part of having the Holy Spirit within us, we recognize this internal need…to accompany Jesus on this journey…..as He prepares to die…..for us. We can obviously never repay this debt. But we can answer His call.
As I said, this is an invitation. And as part of this invitation, can you imagine walking for 40 days with someone through the desert and not becoming closer to them?
Please, don’t pass up this opportunity! If you haven’t started yet, guess what: He didn’t leave without you! He’s waiting for you…He’s waiting for me. Just like he always has been. Start today.