“The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread””
Attempt 2 at commenting on this verse:
Jesus has just been in the desert for 40 days, a long time. Imagine spending 4 days fasting (ouch right), well now pretend you’ve done that and you’re only 10% of the way. Jesus would be hungry! In John 2 Jesus turns water into wine and in John 6 he replicates 5 small loaves and 2 fishes enough to feed 5,000 men (plus women and children). The point is that Jesus was able to turn a rock into bread. He could even argue it to be biblical, after all Moses struck arock and out poured water for the Israelites when they were hungry and lost out in the desert, so why would Jesus turning a rock into bread be sin?
Jesus has just been in the desert for 40 days, a long time. Imagine spending 4 days fasting (ouch right), well now pretend you’ve done that and you’re only 10% of the way. Jesus would be hungry! In John 2 Jesus turns water into wine and in John 6 he replicates 5 small loaves and 2 fishes enough to feed 5,000 men (plus women and children). The point is that Jesus was able to turn a rock into bread. He could even argue it to be biblical, after all Moses struck arock and out poured water for the Israelites when they were hungry and lost out in the desert, so why would Jesus turning a rock into bread be sin?
A recent talk I heard said that this was a temptation toward's Jesus' obedience. The Holy Spirit has just taken Jesus from his baptism to the desert, and he's still full of it. The Holy Spirit likewise is our guide (and thus I'm taking up guidance this lent), and Jesus knew the Spirit's voice. The Spirit had not said eat yet, so Jesus did not eat. Satan was pulling a fast one in saying 'ignore the nudges, and eat, you need the food'.
I want to suggest a few other ways this temptation looks, and ways that we are also tempted (as we are in disobedience). Firstly, it was a sneaky under-the-radar natural looking physical carnal temptation. In other words, a foodie. A few friends are giving up chocolate this lent - surely it's OK to just have this one? It feels so natural to eat, that Satan can twist the words and use our natural bodily urges to lead us away from God. It's at these moments that it is when we discipline our body, and press on following nudges instead of urges.
Secondly it was a temptation in identity. "If you are the Son of God"; 'well, if you really are who you say you are do this'. Satan was asking Jesus to do him a magic trick, and baiting Him into it with a lure on His identity. The question could quite as easily have been, 'are you sure you are God Jesus? Perhaps you were mistaken, maybe that voice from heaven wasn't God, maybe it isn't the Spirit leading you to be here. Let's do a test Jesus, why don't you turn that stone into bread - after all you're famished'. The key to overcoming this temptation, and not selling out to prove something was being sure of His identity. Back in John 6:31-2 the same temptation is out there against Jesus - 'show us a miracle Jesus, feed us again', but Jesus is secure in His authority and power to do miracles. His identity is not in His actions, but as the Son of God. Likewise, when we are tempted, remember who you are.
Finally it was a temptation of pride. Jesus could have done the miracle and felt all proud of Himself. Instead He did not, because He did not do miracles just to get a name for Himself amongst Satan and the fallen angles. Rather (and if we stick to John) all of the miracles have a distinct purpose. Jesus wasn't a miracle worker to show off, he was a miracle worker for the kingdom. Pride is the silent killer. We can feel like all is going well in our walk ('Yeah, I've kept my lent perfectly!') when all of a sudden our self-worth has become more important than God, and we end up boasting about what we have done instead of who we are.
Finally it was a temptation of pride. Jesus could have done the miracle and felt all proud of Himself. Instead He did not, because He did not do miracles just to get a name for Himself amongst Satan and the fallen angles. Rather (and if we stick to John) all of the miracles have a distinct purpose. Jesus wasn't a miracle worker to show off, he was a miracle worker for the kingdom. Pride is the silent killer. We can feel like all is going well in our walk ('Yeah, I've kept my lent perfectly!') when all of a sudden our self-worth has become more important than God, and we end up boasting about what we have done instead of who we are.
Update:
Since starting this blog I became a Counsellor. You can read more on blog on subjects like Therapy at:
www.simonslistening.co.uk
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