Temptation
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series VI, Cycle A
Object:
Temptation. Every year, the gospel lesson for the first Sunday in Lent is about temptation, and the temptations of Christ in the desert in particular. What's wrong with turning stones into bread (if one can do it) to feed the hungry? Later, Jesus will turn five loaves of bread and a couple fish into a feast for 5,000. What's wrong with believing scriptures so strongly that he trusts the angels to protect him? Later, Jesus will walk on water, perhaps only slightly less difficult than floating on air. What's wrong with the King of kings and Lord of lords assuming control over the kingdoms of the world? Isn't that what we are expecting at the end of time anyway?
It is hard to imagine that so many years have gone by since Martin Scorcese's film, The Last Temptation of Christ, was released (the early '90s). The furor was incredible. People were horrified that the camera would suggest that Jesus had sexual thoughts or could harbor notions of abandoning his mission or have fantasies about marrying Mary Magdelene and settling down (shades of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code). There were marches and demonstrations. Remember?
One Sunday, as the congregation was filing out after the service, a well-dressed young man came to the church door, obviously looking to speak with me. In his hand he held a petition and a plan of action for me to use to help prevent the distribution or showing of The Last Temptation of Christ. I said, "Thanks, but no thanks." I had not seen the film and would not condemn it on the basis of hearsay evidence. I would make my own decision after seeing it.
He asked, "Do you want to see it?"
I said, "Of course."
I finally did see it (after it came out on video). For the most part the movie struck me as silly, but, in its own silly way, it did reaffirm the truth of scripture where we read, "He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
What tempts you? I doubt that turning stones to bread or jumping off a cliff have ever been issues. Certainly they have not been for me. Generally, I find myself tempted by good things, not evil. It is no struggle for me not to do the things that we would all agree are wrong. No, my struggle is between the good and the best. I find it so tempting to be satisfied with the status quo, which for me is pretty good. But then I am reminded of the famous line attributed to Edmund Burke two centuries ago: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Yes, there is evil in the world, and yes, we are always in danger of being caught in its snare, even if our only temptation is to do nothing. But we know one thing more, and this one thing is the most important of all: We are not alone in our struggle. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that, "nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable -- absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 in Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, The Message [Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1995]). And that is good news, indeed.
It is hard to imagine that so many years have gone by since Martin Scorcese's film, The Last Temptation of Christ, was released (the early '90s). The furor was incredible. People were horrified that the camera would suggest that Jesus had sexual thoughts or could harbor notions of abandoning his mission or have fantasies about marrying Mary Magdelene and settling down (shades of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code). There were marches and demonstrations. Remember?
One Sunday, as the congregation was filing out after the service, a well-dressed young man came to the church door, obviously looking to speak with me. In his hand he held a petition and a plan of action for me to use to help prevent the distribution or showing of The Last Temptation of Christ. I said, "Thanks, but no thanks." I had not seen the film and would not condemn it on the basis of hearsay evidence. I would make my own decision after seeing it.
He asked, "Do you want to see it?"
I said, "Of course."
I finally did see it (after it came out on video). For the most part the movie struck me as silly, but, in its own silly way, it did reaffirm the truth of scripture where we read, "He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
What tempts you? I doubt that turning stones to bread or jumping off a cliff have ever been issues. Certainly they have not been for me. Generally, I find myself tempted by good things, not evil. It is no struggle for me not to do the things that we would all agree are wrong. No, my struggle is between the good and the best. I find it so tempting to be satisfied with the status quo, which for me is pretty good. But then I am reminded of the famous line attributed to Edmund Burke two centuries ago: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Yes, there is evil in the world, and yes, we are always in danger of being caught in its snare, even if our only temptation is to do nothing. But we know one thing more, and this one thing is the most important of all: We are not alone in our struggle. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that, "nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable -- absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 in Eugene Peterson's paraphrase, The Message [Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1995]). And that is good news, indeed.
