|
In fact, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was brought, in the Spirit, in the wilderness place, forty days, being tested under the defaming one. And he ate nothing in those same days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. (Luke’s AD 60 research report re Jesus: Chapter 4: 1-15) |
When Jesus was at “the Jordan” he was “full of the Holy Spirit”. Whilst there, when he was praying to the Father for all the people round about him, “a voice came to be from heaven, “You yourself are my son, the beloved one; in you I delight.” From there he returned to Galilee and, “in the wilderness place” is “tested under the defaming one”. Circa AD 29.
Testing is proving. Testing either proves that the tested one is strong – or shows that the tested one fails and will fail again. What strengths would we like to find in others? In ourselves?
In fact, the defaming one said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone so that it may come to be bread.” And Jesus responded to him, “It has been written that ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
“He was hungry.” In that case, why not command “this stone so that it may come to be bread”? Self-interest demands it. In addition, he could show “the defaming one” who he really is – “the Son of God”. No ifs or buts. Why not go ahead? Isn’t this a win-win?
And what’s this about not living on “bread alone”? Is there something higher than getting for myself, alone and only? Higher, even, than life?
|
|
And the defaming one, leading him up, showed to him all the realms of the world in an instant of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this power and their glory, since it has been given over to me, and I give it to whom I desire. If you yourself, accordingly, may worship in my presence, everything will be yours.” And Jesus, responding, said to him, “It has been written, ‘You will worship the Lord your God, and him only you will serve.’”
|
.
|
“The defaming one, leading him up…” … to totally fulfilled ambitions. That’s the promise. In this case, “in the wilderness”, the promise to Jesus is supreme global “power” and all the “glory” which goes with having dominion over all earthly things and people.
The price isn’t high. The deceitful one doesn’t ask to be worshipped. He only wants this man “to worship in [his] presence”. This man can continue to worship all that has been offered to him. “The deceitful one” will be present (of course) and satisfied when the person does that.
But in this particular case, Jesus knows what has been written in the Bible – God’s revelation of Himself to all people. He knows the Father loves him.
|
|
In fact, he brought him to Jerusalem and he stood upon the pinnacle of the temple and he said to him, “If you are Son of God, throw yourself down from this place, because it has been written that, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you carefully,’ and that ‘Upon hands they will lift you, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus, responding, said to him that, “It has been said, ‘You will not test out the Lord your God.’”
|
.
|
This third “test” of this man Jesus by “the defaming one” is, perhaps, also an ultimate test for all human beings. We all know that there is a “God”, a primary cause behind Big-bang and all the mind-bogglingly-vast creation. (We now all know, also, that Jesus lived on earth, died and rose again with the option of peace towards all human beings.) The issue for Jesus was whether he would, being placed in a precarious position (similar to that in which we all find ourselves) merely let himself slip into eternity – on the grounds that ‘God will save me’ or ‘God is love’ or similar.
Is it a good idea to “test out the Lord your God” like that?
And, the defaming one, having completely ended every test, left him alone until a later time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report about him came out through all of the neighboring region. And he himself was teaching in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
|
|
|
