“In the Wilderness” (Luke 4:1-13) - 1st Sunday in Lent –

“This Is Peter’s Battle!”

Some of you may have watched the film or read the book, titled the Chronicles of Narnia written by author C.S. Lewis. In the story there is a scene or chapter, called “Peter’s first battle.” Aslan, who represents Jesus, and Peter, the little prince of Narnia, are having a peaceful conversation. But their conversation is interrupted by Susan’s emergency horn. Peter rushes toward the sound. And he finds that his two sisters are surrounded by two wolves, the agents of White Witch. Aslan and the creatures are also right there for them. Immediately, Aslan emasculates one of the wolves. But for some reason, Aslan allows Peter himself to fight against the other. And he commands the creatures to get back and says, “This is Peter’s battle!” A battle ensues, Peter is able to seize the opportunity to strike the wolf with his sword and finally wins the battle. When trials come, we may often feel that God has abandoned us. But the truth is that every circumstance of life, including trials and tribulations, takes place under God’s direction. God is in control of life. In his divine providence God allows us to go through difficult times. In today’s passage Luke makes clear that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and was “led by the Spirit” into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. It was the Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness and put him to the test. Today’s text reveals two important spiritual principles: how Satan tempts and how Jesus resists.

How Satan Tempts

Satan may not replicate the same temptations that Jesus had with us, since we are not the unique Son of God. His tactics may vary, but the purpose of his temptations is always same. It is to drive a wedge between God and us. It is to separate us from God and to make us independent, self-reliant, and self-sufficient. In the Garden of Eden, Satan said to Adam and Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” The enemy distorted God’s loving character and made them question, doubt, challenge, complain about God. Then, he tempted, “When you eat of it… you will be like God.” Self-reliance and self-sufficiency apart from God. Satan’s first temptation is this: “Surely you should feed yourself first with “basic things.” It sounds – makes sense! But the problem is that those “basic things” – what to eat, what to wear, where to live, etc. – often become a little bit more, larger, better things. There is no end to it. The enemy keeps us from focusing on the things above and blinds our minds, so that we cannot see God’s call and his will. The second temptation is this: “Surely God wants you to have authority, so just give me your allegiance.” Satan offers the shortcuts that are contrary to God’s will. He provides end-justifies-the-means thinking. If we are true disciples of Jesus, suffering and rejection for Jesus are necessary (ex. Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29; 2Tim 1:8). So there are times when we must endure hardship and suffer. But Satan tempts us to take the easy path of “growth” without suffering or facing rejection in our stand for Jesus. The third temptation is this: “Surely God will protect you, so why not try him out?” Satan tempts us to manipulate God instead of following his leading. “If you care for me God, then this situation will turn out this way.” And if that doesn’t happen, we get disappointed and angry with God. This is how Satan tempts: to keep focusing on earthly things, to pursue spiritual shortcuts, and to manipulate God. By doing this, Satan takes us off God’s path.

Trust God

Then, how does Jesus resist and have a triumph over Satan? First of all, Jesus resists the devil by reaffirming his trust in God alone. In the midst of temptation Jesus’ faithfulness and loyalty to God was never shaken: “Man is to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only,” “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Trust. Trust. Trust. There are three kinds of faith. The first one is “if-faith.” “If you do something for me God, I will trust you.” The second one is “because-faith.” “Because you have done this for me God, I trust you.” This is good faith, but we can grow even further. The third kind of faith is “though-faith.” In the Bible, we can meet numerous spiritual forebears who had this kind of though-faith. In Daniel 3, the three friends of Daniel – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – were accused by certain Chaldeans. King Nebuchadnezzar gave them the last chance to worship the image of gold he made. They said to the king, “O king, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it. But though he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you made.” This is though-faith. Though they had their own preference and desire, though it went against the way they wanted, they resolved to trust God. In his divine providence God allowed these three godly men to go through hard times and be thrown into the furnace indeed. But in the furnace God was with them, suffered with them, and in his time he delivered them from it. God may not deliver us in the way we want. Some of our forebears were stoned; some were sawed in two; some were put to death by the sword. But the Bible says, “These were all commended for their faith” (Heb 11:39). They were commended for their “though-faith” by the Lord of heaven. When trials come, reaffirm your trust in God and in God alone.

Trust God’s Word

Jesus did trust God. More specifically, Jesus did trust God’s word. When Jesus was tempted, he recited Scripture, the book of Deuteronomy, from memory and had a triumph over Satan. God said to Israel, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart” (Deut 6:5-6). How can we know God’s word by heart? Memorization! Pastor Chuck Swindoll wrote in this way: “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture… No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.”[1] I still remember what my grandfather said when I just started my M.Div. study in 2006. He said, “Theological education is like an empty bowl. You need to fill it with prayer and the Word.” Particularly, he always emphasized the importance of Scripture memorization. Last time when I visited Korea to attend my grandmother’s funeral in 2011, he gave this book in which he wrote down 511 Bible verses from memory – 218 from the Old Testament and 293 from the New. He continued to memorize more verses. We celebrated his 90^th birthday in November 2015. Today, he is very fragile and has a hard time to speak. But his words have power. I see that through memorization God’s words reside in his body, in his will and in the depths of his soul. After Moses, a great leader, died, Joshua must have been very anxious and restless. God gave him this command: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). We may not be able to change our difficult circumstances, but we can change one thing. We can change forever how we think through Scripture memorization. 

“Thank You Lord!”

The temptation of Jesus reminds us of another story: the temptation of Israel in the wilderness. In this week’s Old Testament lectionary lesson, Deuteronomy 26, God commands Israel to be a grateful people. He says, “When you have entered the Promised Land, the first thing you have to do is this: Express your gratitude to the Lord your God through your firstfruits and tithes.” God gives the Israelites this command before they enter the land. The Israelites still live in the wilderness, and their eyes are stuck in the wilderness. But God commands them to look up and be thankful for what he has done for them and what he will fulfill for them. Thanksgiving opens our eyes to see beyond wilderness. Thanksgiving breaks the power of the enemy. There is power in a grateful heart. Let me read a prayer of thanksgiving written by unknown confederate solider, also known as the Creed for the Disabled:  

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Are you in the wildness? Trust God and his word. Mediate on his word day and night until it changes how you think and act. And be thankful. May the Lord open our eyes to see what he is doing for us today. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isa 43:19). Amen!

---

[1] Chuck Swindoll, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], 61.