It’s only a Suggestion

What would your definition of temptation be?  I am sure there are many words or ideas that spring to mind when we speak of temptation.  There are many ways in which to describe it; rebellion against God, prideful living outside the realm of God’s will; and many other ideas just as worthy can be given.  But it was only today that I heard the most brilliantly simple definition of temptation; temptation is a suggestion.  A suggestion that either we make to ourselves or is put into our thinking by culture, media, friends, or even the church that leads us away from living according to the ways of God. 

The reason why I want to talk about temptation is because I am studying Luke’s Gospel as part of my post grad work at Bible College.  And in a discussion in class today something hit me about the Temptations Jesus faced.  I’d like to make a few comments about it and how it relates to the nature of Kingdom ministry for Jesus and for us. If you should read this and feel its way off track let me know, I also can’t say everything; this is a blog people like short posts not long ones.  Also bear in mind, this is Luke’s account, it has a particular emphasis that is distinct from the other synoptics. 

Luke’s account begins with Jesus being led into the desert by the Holy Spirit where Jesus was tempted for forty days.  At the end of this he is hungry and Luke records three further “suggestions”.  The first is if Jesus is the Son of God, then he can command stones around him to change into bread.  At this point, there ought to be a few questions in our minds.  Why this kind of temptation?  What exactly is the temptation?  What is Satan’s purpose here?  The clue to understanding these questions and others lie in Jesus’ response and the context of this passage.  Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”  The quote stops short, it carries on to say, “but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”  It is the word of God that will sustain Jesus in his ministry, because Jesus knew this truth that he was to trust in the provision of God’s Word to build his Kingdom. Now, where does Kingdom come into it?  Is Satan not merely offering him food to break his fast?  No, Jesus’ fast was over, if we look carefully at the suggestion Satan makes he says, “IF you are the Son of God then change this stone into bread”.  Satan is not doubting whether Jesus is the Son of God, but he is suggesting something a little more subtle.  I take it that he is in fact suggesting that Jesus should claim his Kingship not according to the plans of God but by doing it the way Satan suggests he should.  In this case by feeding the masses in order to win their allegiance and make him King of Israel.  If you look at the other temptations you see a similar theme, Satan is suggesting Christ become King another way, his own way and thus serve Satan and not God.  I know it seems a leap of logic here, consider the context as well. 

Jesus was baptized by John (Luke 3:21-22) where a voice from Heaven declares him a Son, one in whom God is well pleased.  This is an amalgamation of Psalm 2:7 (the King motif) and Isaiah 42:1 (the chosen servant).  Thus this testimony gives Jesus an identity, a King, but also a mission, according to the servant of Isaiah.  The genealogy has an important part to play.  It ends off with Adam as the last human figure in mind, making is think of the failure of our ancestor, as well as describing Adam as the Son of God.  Luke is building credibility about who Jesus is, Jesus is about to be tested in order that he and the reader understands exactly who Jesus is and the nature of his mission.   And so Satan suggests that Jesus should abandon trust in God and pursue this mission of becoming King not being led by God’s Spirit, but by Satan himself.  But Jesus does not flinch, he understands that it is by the Word that the Kingdom of God will established.  Although Adam had given over his dominion of this world to Satan, Jesus would not accept Satan’s offer knowing that he is the string man that will bind Satan plundering his household.  Nor will Jesus in a sense display his miraculous powers to gain support from the masses (as the third temptation suggests) by testing God.  These temptations continue to build credibility about who Jesus is as does the baptism and genealogy.   

I suppose this serves as a reminder that there are many ways in which we can tackle the mission of bringing healing to this world.  Jesus had many options to restore hope and happiness to people by meeting their felt needs.  Yet, he did not go about his mission according to the suggestions of others or even Satan, rather he understood the nature of Kingdom expansion came at the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.  This is an obvious point to make, but utterly essential in our discussion about reconstructing a “social gospel”.  A social gospel is a gospel message of rescue from God’s wrath through Christ that brings healing to the whole person.  I don’t think Jesus came to earth to die as a part of God’s plan so that we his church can forgo that foundational conviction.  We are not to feed the hungry, help the oppressed or challenge injustice in the name of brotherly concern, but in the name of Christ and his Gospel of faith.  Real change and restoration can only come in this one conviction, real response to the pains of this world can also only come in this one conviction. I guess this ranting is part of developing a philosophy of Gospel response to social needs.  Throughout the churches history, many were given such suggestions on how the Kingdom is advanced.  As a result they moved away from the centrality of the Word and the demands of the Gospel to meeting people’s felt needs only never tackling the real need of sin and guilt.  Others still, maintained how they knew all there was to know about the Gospel message and its implications, but never stepped into the gutters of society to explain that message while meeting felt needs.  It’s a strange thing to have happened, but Jesus’ focus was on God’s Word changing lives, so should ours. 

 

~ by Anthony on March 5, 2007.