Monday, March 9, 2015
Matthew 4: Jesus Is Tempted and Begins his Ministry
With this reading I reflected and tried to put myself in Christ's shoes for each of the temptations. He is standing right on the brink of his ministry. I think he must have had, at this point, a great knowledge of his own identity, and powers, and his mission as Savior that others were still blind to. "If thou be the son of God. . ." Satan says, enticing Christ to reveal His identity in a way everyone could see and know instantly. But Christ knew people needed to come to know him through His service and teachings, and not through some grand display. In another temptation Satan offers Christ all the kingdoms of the world if Christ will worship him. Is he trying to convince Christ that our redemption could be quick and easy? Christ knew that Satan could not give us to Him, but that we needed to be won through His love and suffering and through our own personal choice to accept that gift.
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I like this idea "Christ knew that Satan could not give us to Him, but that we needed to be won through His love and suffering and through our own personal choice to accept that gift." Isn't true that through our suffering that we are brought closer to Christ...that is if we listen. And like us and beyond us Christ suffered. Our redemption is something earned and it is here and now. I feel the peace and love through Christ and get so many lessons through suffering. I know the importance of family, the humility of accepting help and gifts, the importance of community, and am reminded to be bold in my proclamation of his love and the written word. Are we not also tempted (just not on such a scale as Christ)? And when we accept our suffering and remember that "man cannot eat on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God," we receive more than physical nourishment but spiritual.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing lessons you have learned through your challenges. It helps me to remember these things as well. Yes, His suffering was far beyond our own, but we can feel that redemption come to us bit by bit, increasing day by day as we reach out to him and seek his spiritual nourishment.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
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