First Sunday in Lent
February 21, 2010
Romans 10:8-13
Luke 4:1-13
Text (NIV)
Rom. 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 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.
Luke 4:3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Luke 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’’”
Luke 4:5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Luke 4:8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’’”
Luke 4:9 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. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’’”
Luke 4:12 Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’’”
Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Jesus has been in the desert for 40 days and by now is dirty, tired, and hungry. And he is tempted. Tempted to satisfy his discomfort, and his uncertainties. But these temptations might be far more attractive than they appear if we entertain the concept that they are not merely for Jesus’ personal benefit, but for humanity. What about “stone bread” not just for one, but for all – no world hunger? How easy is it to turn that down?
Sunday’s Sermon: “The Devil Asked Me To Do It”, Rev. Scott Wipperman
