Luke 4:1-30

Greetings,

 

I would like to pass on to you some commentary I received from Dr. Timothy Ysteboe, Director of our LB Seminary Extention.  I am not really sure about blog etiquette and citing sources but I was blessed by his comments and I don’t think I could say things any better.  The following is commentary received from a weekly email sent to all LB Pastors. 

 

“The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are. Is that true? This lesson could be used to show Jesus as our example, but it seems that the themes of Lent are bigger than good example. In order to be our Savior, Jesus was tempted like we are tempted, showing himself to be human.

 

The first temptation is one of trust—“If you are the Son of God” sort of questions whether or not Jesus really is the Son of God, but the major issue is “command the stones.” Take things into your own hands rather than to trust God’s care. To be tested like us, Jesus used the same resources that we have available to us…the word of God. Jesus was content to let God run his life—ready to let the Spirit lead him into the desert to be tested and content to let God feed him. Whatever God has in store for us, are we ready to accept it? When we are in the middle of it, can we still trust God’s care?

 

The second temptation is one of shortcuts, the lie—this is the easy way to your goals. Why go through the difficulty of studying for a test when you can probably pass by some other means—cheating. Why go to the cross when you can have all this by a simple act of worship? It will only cost you your soul. Cheating won’t achieve your goal—it is an illusion of shortcut. Your goal may be to avoid the pain of study, but the long term goal is to become a competent, responsible adult—and cheating won’t get that for you. Immediate gratification is such an American temptation.

 

The third temptation is the temptation to presume on God’s grace and promise. If God promises to provide for all your needs, just sit home in the recliner and watch the fish and bread multiply. If God promises to protect you from all danger, drive without your seat belt (okay, this trivializes it). This almost seems like the opposite of the first temptation. Instead of taking everything into our hands, sit in idle, irresponsible presumption.

 

I think it is Brian Stoffregan (crossmarks.com) who said that in all of this, Jesus shows that he is a man of the Word and that his life is directed by the Word and that he is reliant on that Word.”

 

Grace and Peace,

 

Pastor Adam