Luke 4: 1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘One shall not live on bread alone.’”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve God only.’”
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘God will command angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
As I prepared for Lent, I came upon a tripartite approach to the season that I haven’t heard though I’m sure it’s well known by others. During this time, one should strive to focus upon justice towards God, justice towards neighbor, and justice towards self. Generally speaking, justice towards God is understood as prayer, justice towards neighbor is traditionally understood as almsgiving, and justice towards self often manifests in a form of self-denial, for which Lent is most well known. I found this to be a generative approach to the Lenten season, but did not see it mentioned with any particular Scriptural referent. However, when I considered the Lukan passage above in light of this Lenten perspective, it was all too clear how perfectly it fit. My contemporaneous reading of Yoder’s “Politics of Jesus” influenced my connection as he interprets this entire passage as Jesus eschewing and espousing various political approaches to his ministry; consequently, a three-pronged approach towards Lenten justice seems fitting.
“Tell this stone to become bread.” Arrogate power unto yourself by providing an abundance of food. The populace will rush to you and raise you on high, granting you immense power through popularity and undeniable control over bodily necessities. In fact, symbolize this power by providing yourself whatever you need. Display your power by revealing your independence from all earthly concerns. Illustrate your might through your self-sufficiency, that paradigmatically masculine trait wherein reliance on another is weakness.
“It is written, ‘One shall not live on bread alone.” Such power is an illusion, which Jesus rejects despite extended fasting. No one is an island and to bear a message of hope and justice cannot be predicated upon self-sufficiency. What hope is there in unilateral action? What justice is there in expecting each to suffice for themselves? What is self-sufficiency but a charade of inherently met needs? Jesus enacts justice towards himself by recognizing his inability to live alone, without relationships.
“I will give you all their authority and splendor.” A global coronation ceremony to commemorate your unfettered and meteoric rise! You are, quite literally, the king of the world. All of your wishes and dreams, in particular all of your convictions, can be made law and followed by all who serve you. The ease with which you can enact your will shall be matched only by the ease with which you perform this one act: worship another. Recognize another and all authority and splendor shall be yours.
“It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve God only.’” Absolute rule by fiat is rejected as the means towards Jesus’ ends. The newly baptized, newly inaugurated, newly named Son of God is offered a carte blanche for advancing his message and plans. But this would place him above the one whom he seeks to serve. It would substitute the ends for the means. Jesus rejects despite hyperbolic expectations. Jesus enacts justice towards others by valuing their involvement in God’s work as much as his own.
“…they will lift you up in their hands….” Wielding divine power over such mortal concerns as injury and death ipso facto grants immeasurable power. What better way to display religious legitimacy and divine power than to be saved by angels? And just above the Temple, just to be sure the “power over” part is clear. Place demands on God with absolute surety that they will be fulfilled. What can peasants, religious scribes, and Roman procurators possibly do in the face of one to whom even God bends? This one display will clear the way to freedom from oppression for all and assured rule for you. For all the good you wish to do, show them in whose corner God fights. For all the benevolence you wish to bestow, make it clear on whose side God labors. For all the righteousness your new kingdom will effuse, dispel any doubt as to behind whom God stands. If you cast yourself down from on high, you will have absolutely nothing to fear.
“It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Claiming or expecting that one’s exercises of power are backed by the full faith and credit of God is self-deification. This would be a direct injustice to God and Jesus rejects such a suggestion. The son of a carpenter’s wife does not presume to test God. Rather, Jesus strives to live out God’s purposes and live into God’s vision for community and, as evidenced throughout his life, there are a remarkable number of times when Jesus is unsure of the path before him. To conduct himself with absolute certitude that God ordains his actions would be to place himself above God. Jesus rejects Satan’s final temptation despite having just been declared the Son of God, in whom God is well pleased. Jesus enacts justice towards God via his constant turning to prayer throughout his life and passion.
Seek Higher Ground 