The season of Lent has begun – commemorating the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and praying in the wilderness. Traditionally considered a time to foster spiritual renewal, self-discipline, and closeness to God. Throughout the scriptures, the wilderness represents a place of preparation, a place of waiting for God's next move, a place of learning to trust in God's mercy.
Within scripture 40 is a significant number – appearing numerous times.
- Forty: the days and nights that Noah and his family endured the deluge on board the ark, after which God made a covenant never again to destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 7:4,12; 8:6; 9:8-17).
- Forty: the days and nights Moses fasted on Mount Sinai as he inscribed the words of God's covenant for the Israelites (Exodus 24:18; 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 9:9).
- Forty: the days and nights Elijah fasted in the desert before receiving a new commission from God (1 Kings 19:8).
- Forty: the years the Israelites wandered the wilderness in preparation for their arrival in the Promised Land (Exodus 16:35; Deuteronomy 2:7).
- Forty: the days of the season of Lent as Christians participate in Jesus' ministry and follow his way toward the cross.
Temptation of Christ
The first Sunday of Lent – Matthew describes how Jesus is led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. It is no accident that Jesus winds up in the wilderness after his baptism. He is not lost, and he is not being punished for something he has done wrong. Rather – He has been led by the Holy Spirit for a purpose – to be tempted or tested by the devil. His interaction with the Tempter acts as an assessment of his readiness for the mission entrusted to him.
What if we saw the wilderness as a classroom and the temptations as our teacher? What if temptations are necessary for us to remember in whose image we are created and to whom we belong?
When we consider the temptation of Christ – most of would agree that he was tempted 3 times. Once to turn stones into bread. Once to test God by jumping off a building and once to accept all the worldly things the Tempter offers. But is it possible there is a 4th temptation – one that is the foundation of the other 3?
Episcopal Priest Mike Marsh writes;
"What if the fourth temptation is a universal temptation that runs through and underlies the other three? And what if it's the temptation that you and I are always struggling with? What if all the other temptations are just variations on this fourth one?"
He goes on to suggest that temptations aren't really between ourselves and someone or something else. Our temptations are almost always a struggle between us and ourselves. The fourth temptation is the temptation to betray ourselves. In some ways it's the first temptation. I betray myself before I betray you or give in to any other temptation. This is what Jesus is facing in the wilderness.
Our responses to the temptations of life – tell us something about ourselves. They offer information about who we believe ourselves to be. They reveal where we place our trust – how we see the world – and our way of being towards others. As we face of our temptations – we learn where we are empty and what it is we truly hunger for. We acknowledge the wounds we carry and see the ways in which we act out of our woundedness – rather than from love. We discover our blind spots – and feel our soul's longing. With each temptation we learn a little more about ourselves.
Jesus knew in whose image he was created – to whom he belonged – and to what he was called to do. With each temptation he remembered this truth – never betraying himself nor God. As you move through Lent – what spiritual practices might you engage in that help you remember – help you to not betray yourself or God? What are your temptations teaching you about yourself? And what will you do with that information? Let this season be one of remembering that you "are the light of the world."
Blessings, Pastor Lynda
Lent began this year on Wednesday, February 18th.
