When they (Christians) hear the teaching of Christ, forthwith they turn from fighting to farming, and instead of arming themselves with swords, extend their hands in prayer. In a word, instead of fighting each other, they take up arms against the devil and the demons, and overcome them by their self-command and integrity of soul. (Athanasius)
Scripture: Mark 1:12, Matthew 4:1-11.
These two gospel passages talk about the First Lenten season! The protagonist is Jesus. He was alone; he was away from home. The site is the bleak Judean desert. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit has driven Jesus out into the desert. Out into the very presence of Satan and his stratagems.
As far as one see, there are no human inhabitants, nothing except the occasional howl of wild beasts. Poised behind the wild beasts is the smooth and savvy figure of Satan. When no one is watching and all alone, Jesus fights his first spiritual battle in the desert. As we are all aware, desert can be a dangerous place. It can also be a place that shapes one's moral and spiritual core. John the Baptist "cut his teeth" in the dusty desert habitat of the wild Judean deserts. Desert spirituality equipped him to be a lonely voice in the wilderness; to speak truth to the powers of his day.
Jesus, his cousin, may have different ideas about clothing and eating styles! But the same desert experience prepares Jesus for a major movement. Let us eavesdrop at the edges of the desert battle to see how the Son of Man handles his warfare.
Do you hear? Do you see? Do you feel the temptations being flung at Jesus? Temptations designed and customized to test the nature and content of Jesus' kingdom on earth. Temptations geared to tease the mettle out of Jesus, the Son of God. Again, bear in mind, Jesus is not on a spiritual retreat on a religious prescription. He has been led by the Spirit to the desert when the devil encountered him.
BREAD BASKET APPROACH:
Temptation one. Jesus, can you command these stones to become bread? To a hungry Jesus, Galilean desert stones could look like home-baked bread. But the temptation is more than that. It is a siren call to live life merely at the basic level of eating and drinking. It is a call to curtail Jesus' ministry from offering fullness of life, abundant life (John 10:10). It is an enticement to gratify his personal need and desire. It is a call to counterfeit and live superficially. It is an appeal to satisfy human urges and physical needs.
Couched beneath this alluring tempter's voice is its message to Jesus: "Make all foreign aid dependent on the bread basket of your earthly kingdom alone." When Jesus is weak, vulnerable, and at the low point of his life, he is asked to lower his spiritual bar and make a moral compromise.
GIMMICKS & STUNTMANSHIP APPROACH:
Temptation two. Jesus, can you see that cathedral steeple? It is a historic church. It is the landmark of the city. It is the tallest one, at that. Fall down from it. Let the church media and secular media capture you performing a superhuman act. Stun and awe the people. Then they will surrender into worship. Give certitude to your awesome power. You will continue to be a leader only if you perform spectacular deeds.
This is also a siren's call to divert Jesus from walking the walk of faith and struggle, sweat and blood, crucifixion and resurrection. Since human nature is addicted to wonder and the love of the marvelous, he was tempted to bring about a different kingdom by winning the hawkers, onlookers, and wonder-mongers. That is not the style of the "kin-dom" of peace and justice.
ALLIANCE WITH EMPIRE-MAKING FORCES:
Temptation three. "Jesus," said the tempter, "Look at all these kingdoms of the world spread far and wide. They are at your feet now. I will help consolidate them for you." View them through this global-positioning device. They are yours. Compromise. Worship me. Take people's eyes away from focusing on life-affirming instincts. Instill in them empire-building instincts. Establish an empire."
Jesus is tempted to misuse his power, encouraged to take a shortcut. It is a temptation to gain a worldly kingdom. To this temptation, Jesus answers, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Get off my back, Satan.
THOUGHTS FOR REFLECTION: DESERT MESSAGES FROM JESUS THE CHRIST:
Christian mission statistics report that the center of Christian mission today has shifted to the two-third world. Christians in the two third world, proclaim the message of Jesus Christ through the vulnerability of suffering and pain, sometimes against heavy odds and human rights violations. Their bold witness makes us humble. During the Lent, may we ask ourselves how, as Christians from the only Super Power country, witness the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do we witness for a Christlike Christianity? Or do we witness for a Triumphalist Christianity?
Oscar Bolioli, a United Methodist minister who worked with the National Council of Churches in the U.S, and the current Bishop of Uruguay, asked recently, "What is it to do Christian mission from absolute power?" (Oscar Bolioli). Our honest question to Rev. Bolioli's question will help us understand mission in our context. If I could ask you more directly, "What is it to be credible witnesses for the gospel of Christ today? People in other countries perceive us, Christians in the U.S., as a community of people who practice a Triumphalist Christianity. How do we respond to them during this time of war and destruction? In other words, what does it take to say "no" to the temptation or/and practice of Triumphalist Christianity and say "yes" to Christ-like Christianity?"
Jesus Christ continues to send protest statements from his desert experience not to abuse or misuse our powers. God in Christ is a God who reigns from the Cross. God's power is displayed rather through his death and resurrection.
QUESTIONS:
(1) What sort of temptations do you have in this Lenten Season, in the midst of war?
(2) Is Christianity a personal thing to you? A privatized spiritual affair?
(2) Can Christians build alliance with political and economic empire-building forces? What is Jesus' answer to Satan?
(3) As the Body of Christ, do we have any moral and ethical responsibilities to the Christians living in Iraq? Muslims and other religious faiths living in that region of the world?
(4) For personal healing, read the recent booklet on Prayers for Peace: Project Constant Hope produced by the American Bible Society, 1565 Broadway, NY 10023. Call at 1-800-32-BIBLE. Website: www.americanbible.org
(5) For additional worship resources for churches in a time of war, contact the General Board of Discipleship web site at www.gbod.org Click on "What is New?" Click on "Resources in a Time of War. "
PRAYER:
Christ of the desert temptations, thank you for showing us the way to struggle and battle against temptations to establish your kingdom through miracle and magic, power and might. Release us from ourselves in order to experience freedom as whole persons in you. Enable us to seek wisdom in these days from you, seek your face, your divine guidance as we live our Christian discipleship in our times. Amen.