Temptation
Genesis 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11
The lectionary decided that we needed to focus on temptation the first Sunday of Lent, offering a way to completely fall into it, and a way to completely resist it. One deals with Adam and Eve, and one deals with Jesus. Guess who fell and who didn't?
I think most of us immediately leap to a rather obvious conclusion that we need to resist temptation by choosing a better mindset--i.e., a focus on God--as opposed to gratification--i.e., focus on satisfying a desire. But there is more to the lectionary's thinking, I assume, than simply dealing with the basics of temptation and resisting it. If we look more closely at these two contrasting stories, we find something that resonates deeply with everything going on around us right now.
The Washington Post ran an op-ed about why Americans have lost faith in our basic institutions ("Americans Have Lost in Their Institutions, and It Has Nothing to Do with Trump or Fake News," 3/3/17). In a lengthy study of who and what we are, the writers conclude that the rise of individualism over the last fifty years has focused us so steadily and adamantly on self that we no longer believe in anything that seems to threaten or critique self-interest, self-service, or self-gratification. Thus, the church, the government, educational institutions, and even workplaces are all doubted, feared, and seen as enemies to who we want to be.
That sounds a lot like what motivated Eve, then Adam, to eat the forbidden fruit. The serpent simply plays into their hunger to be who they want to be. Why should they allow God to keep them from self-fulfillment? The serpent implies and bends God's prohibition as only God wanting to preserve God's own power, position, and personal gratification. We should not be surprised that it took no time at all for our forebears to decide the serpent was right. There is not a lick of reflection, consideration, or weighing of options. Self-aggrandizement trumps and tramples all else.
Jesus, though, resists the same temptation. The tempter makes the same play as that made to Eve--you're hungry--why? Make rocks into bread! You're afraid? Why? Throw yourself from the Temple and see how quickly God intervenes! You feel small? Why? Come to me and you can rule the world! In short, it's a pitch to self, self, and more self.
I cannot escape the interpretation that our national politics took the turn they did because of this turn toward self. The election went to those who promised to fulfill our self-focus and self-interest. World too big? We'll close the borders and renege on international agreements. Wonder why you're not richer than Croesus? Too many aliens and outsiders, so we'll ban refugees and build a wall to keep the aliens out. Wonder why nothing seems to go your way? Too many elites in control, so we'll stop listening to them and let you rule the roost!And on it goes--each self-interested pull is answered with an affirmation that self-interest is good, right, and proper. Do we not hear each echo of Adam and Eve in these answers?
Jesus offers something radically different.
Rather than gratifying the self, empty the self.
Jesus refuses each offer of power. Jesus refuses each promise of self-fulfillment. Jesus refuses all forms of self-aggrandizement. Instead, Jesus chooses obedience. He radically aligns himself with God, allowing God complete and total control over his life. He will not turn rocks into bread, he will eat what God provides. He will not make God dance as he throws himself from the Temple, he will simply wait for God to do what God will. He will not seek to rule over all the earth by following the voice leading there, he will instead serve completely and fully and without question.
And he rose to Lord of All.
He does so because he seeks that which binds us all together. He does so because he meets each circumstance with compassion. He does so because he empties himself to allow the love that is God to fill him.
He saves all of us from ourselves.
By bringing the two stories together, the lectionary creates an amazing image in the imagination...
There is a road unfolding before us. Here come Adam and Eve, banished from paradise, torn by their guilt, suffering, and failure. Meeting them the other way, comes Jesus. His holiness, love, and grace shine so brightly that Adam and Eve cover their eyes and try to hide themselves. He is heading straight for paradise. He passes them cowering beside the road.
But he stops.
He turns toward them.
He speaks softly, "Follow me."
Will they?
The lectionary decided that we needed to focus on temptation the first Sunday of Lent, offering a way to completely fall into it, and a way to completely resist it. One deals with Adam and Eve, and one deals with Jesus. Guess who fell and who didn't?
I think most of us immediately leap to a rather obvious conclusion that we need to resist temptation by choosing a better mindset--i.e., a focus on God--as opposed to gratification--i.e., focus on satisfying a desire. But there is more to the lectionary's thinking, I assume, than simply dealing with the basics of temptation and resisting it. If we look more closely at these two contrasting stories, we find something that resonates deeply with everything going on around us right now.
The Washington Post ran an op-ed about why Americans have lost faith in our basic institutions ("Americans Have Lost in Their Institutions, and It Has Nothing to Do with Trump or Fake News," 3/3/17). In a lengthy study of who and what we are, the writers conclude that the rise of individualism over the last fifty years has focused us so steadily and adamantly on self that we no longer believe in anything that seems to threaten or critique self-interest, self-service, or self-gratification. Thus, the church, the government, educational institutions, and even workplaces are all doubted, feared, and seen as enemies to who we want to be.
That sounds a lot like what motivated Eve, then Adam, to eat the forbidden fruit. The serpent simply plays into their hunger to be who they want to be. Why should they allow God to keep them from self-fulfillment? The serpent implies and bends God's prohibition as only God wanting to preserve God's own power, position, and personal gratification. We should not be surprised that it took no time at all for our forebears to decide the serpent was right. There is not a lick of reflection, consideration, or weighing of options. Self-aggrandizement trumps and tramples all else.
Jesus, though, resists the same temptation. The tempter makes the same play as that made to Eve--you're hungry--why? Make rocks into bread! You're afraid? Why? Throw yourself from the Temple and see how quickly God intervenes! You feel small? Why? Come to me and you can rule the world! In short, it's a pitch to self, self, and more self.
I cannot escape the interpretation that our national politics took the turn they did because of this turn toward self. The election went to those who promised to fulfill our self-focus and self-interest. World too big? We'll close the borders and renege on international agreements. Wonder why you're not richer than Croesus? Too many aliens and outsiders, so we'll ban refugees and build a wall to keep the aliens out. Wonder why nothing seems to go your way? Too many elites in control, so we'll stop listening to them and let you rule the roost!And on it goes--each self-interested pull is answered with an affirmation that self-interest is good, right, and proper. Do we not hear each echo of Adam and Eve in these answers?
Jesus offers something radically different.
Rather than gratifying the self, empty the self.
Jesus refuses each offer of power. Jesus refuses each promise of self-fulfillment. Jesus refuses all forms of self-aggrandizement. Instead, Jesus chooses obedience. He radically aligns himself with God, allowing God complete and total control over his life. He will not turn rocks into bread, he will eat what God provides. He will not make God dance as he throws himself from the Temple, he will simply wait for God to do what God will. He will not seek to rule over all the earth by following the voice leading there, he will instead serve completely and fully and without question.
And he rose to Lord of All.
He does so because he seeks that which binds us all together. He does so because he meets each circumstance with compassion. He does so because he empties himself to allow the love that is God to fill him.
He saves all of us from ourselves.
By bringing the two stories together, the lectionary creates an amazing image in the imagination...
There is a road unfolding before us. Here come Adam and Eve, banished from paradise, torn by their guilt, suffering, and failure. Meeting them the other way, comes Jesus. His holiness, love, and grace shine so brightly that Adam and Eve cover their eyes and try to hide themselves. He is heading straight for paradise. He passes them cowering beside the road.
But he stops.
He turns toward them.
He speaks softly, "Follow me."
Will they?
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