Sermon: March 09, 2025
Reading: Luke 4:1-13
The first temptation we hear about in the Gospel reading describes how people can be persuaded to act self-centered, only caring about themselves or those close to them. They might want to hoard plentiful resources, using them only to benefit themselves and ignore those on the fringes crying out in desperate need, denying the humanity of our fellow human beings and Christ within them.
Then there’s the second temptation, where the devil wanted Jesus to idolize and worship him, throwing God to the side. People can be enticed to idolize material things, physical comfort, and all that comes with it, which can include power, money, influence, and privilege, and then use it as a weapon to harm or oppress others who don’t fit within their defined group.
Jesus demonstrated loyalty and obedience to God’s all-inclusive love. He was not selective with whom he shared God’s love. His ministry was diverse. It included the sick and outcast, Jew and gentile, Romans and foreigners, pagan and devoutly religious. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not a new way of thinking and treating others. It was and is a foundational aspect of how Jesus ministered to the world with God at the center and the focus of all he did.
The third temptation often comes in different disguises. One disguise is when someone tries to take scripture and use God as their servant to further their own opinion or agenda. Quite often, it’s used against the gay, lesbian, and transgender communities by those who claim that their lifestyle doesn’t agree with them and infringes on their religious beliefs.
The other disguise is when political leaders and nations use scripture and the word of God to entice people to mindlessly follow them and their nationalistic agendas, wrapping it in the image of patriotism and God. All the while, it actually abandons and denies God’s love, grace, and mercy for all creation.
Jesus’ response to these temptations informs us about the type of Messiah and Savior he was to be. He is a Messiah who is willing to sacrifice everything for his love and loyalty to God and all of God’s creation. Our response to these temptations will inform us of our identity as disciples and who we desire to be like. Our fight with temptation is not about beating ourselves up when we give into temptation but recognizing when we falter and then return to Jesus Christ, the one who glorified God in all that he did.
As we continue our journey through Lent, may we be evermore transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, the one who resisted temptation and followed in the way of love and loyalty to God. May we follow in His path, which leads to true glory for all humanity.
