Greetings Coastal family!
We are working hard to help you stay anchored in Jesus, and connected with one another.
Our Corona Virus - imposed “exile” provides a great opportunity to try out some new healthy habits. If you do not already have a daily pattern of listening to God in his Word, I want to invite you to join me in following the New Testament track of Bible In One Year. (bibleinoneyear.org). Today’s reading features Jesus in combat with the devil (Luke 4:1-13). To zoom out and see how this passage fits in Luke’s story of Jesus, take five minutes for this video overview from the Bible Project. Here are some of my own reflections from my time with Jesus in this text today…
‘If--thens' are toxic to the soul. They create a system of conditional love that poisons all our relationships- in marriage, family, church, and in society as a whole. "IF I...(perform well, get approval from...), THEN I am... (worthy, significant, valuable)." Or, "IF God...(gets me out of this mess,...), THEN I will....(trust him, follow him, serve him...)."
Jesus blows up IF / THEN's in his confrontation with the devil in Luke 4:1-13.
Immediately after his baptism and the Father's affirmation (3:22 - "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well-pleased"), Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Jesus is living into the Israel story. Having been rescued from slavery in Egypt and 'baptised' through the sea, they were led into the wilderness of testing. But, unlike Israel, Jesus maintains his trust in his Father under pressure. And Jesus stands with us in our wilderness testings!
When Jesus is most vulnerable (having fasted 40 days), the diabolos shows up. 'Devil' in Greek is two words: dia ('throw') bolos ('wedge'). Devil literally means "wedge thrower." He is always working to drive wedges in our relationships, both with God and one another.
Test #1:
Diabolos: "IF you are the Son of God, THEN speak to this stone to become bread."
In other words, prove your identity.
Jesus: "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'" I don't need to prove anything to you. Besides, my nourishment comes from my Father.
Test #2:
Diabolos: "IF you worship me, THEN I will give you the kingdoms of the world and their glory."
Jesus: "It is written, 'Worship Yahweh your God and serve him only.'" All authority on earth and in heaven will be given to me in due time by my Father, not through fame and dominance but through suffering love. But you would never understand that.
Test #3:
Diabolos: "IF you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here (the highest point of the temple), THEN, God will save you." Prove your identity by making your Father save you. Then he will prove to you - and the world- he is God.
Jesus: "It is written, 'Do not put Yahweh your God to the test.'" My Father and I have nothing to prove to anyone. I will trust him whether or not he chooses deliver me in the way you or anyone else expects. He does not need to perform for me to trust him. So get out of my face, wedge-thrower!
This same Jesus stands with you in every one of the IF/THEN tests of your life. If you are in Christ, the Father says the same thing he said to his Son to you and to his church: "You are my child, whom I love; with whom I am well-pleased." You don't need to prove yourself to anyone!
Grace and peace to each of you,
Pastor Paul
PS: Would you like to join an online community that is working through the New Testament using Bible in One Year? If so, please join us next Friday, March 27 at 11:00AM in our Zoom meeting room here.
If you are not familiar with Zoom, be not afraid. Even an old guy like me can figure it out! Check here for a one minute tutorial on how to join a zoom meeting. Hope to see you Friday!