The test

Epiphany 2 year A Sermon 

Ok… it’s still the first century…
somewhere in the Roman Empire…
maybe the huge metropolis of Alexandria… in Egypt…

sometime after Paul’s letters have been written…

and my brother and I are sitting on the floor of our local Synagogue…listening to Matthew’s story about the life of the rabbi… Jesus of Nazareth…

Illegally…

My name is Amos…like the prophet…
my saba…my grandpa… has smuggled in a copy of this new writing… because the followers of this so called Messiah… aren’t allowed in the synagogue anymore…
and neither are their writings…

but my grandpa’s love of a good story…
got the better of him…
and he enjoys reading to us…

Besides here in Alexandria…us Jews are looking for any sign of hope…because bad news has arrived…
that the Temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed by the Roman’s… and thousands of our people killed…

we’re desperate for a sign
that God hasn’t abandoned his Covenant with us…

Only recently…members of a new sect …
were ejected from the Synagogue…followers of the rabbi Jesus of Nazareth…

until they got together…
we’d never heard of him before…

His followers claim God’s covenant is renewed through him… this time like the prophets said…this time…
for all people and all nations not just the Jews…even pagans.

And they’re constantly justifying…
the inclusion of unclean gentiles…by quoting the scroll of Isaiah…

especially the part where God says to his servant Israel…

It’s too easy that you should be my servant…
to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel…

I’ll give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. [pause] I’ve just had to memorise that myself…

And now our family’s got a copy of the banned story…
of this Jewish rabbi…who apparently claimed…
he was the light of the world…

My grandpa’s already read us… the part where Jesus was born…and how when he became a man…
he was baptised not at the Temple…but by his cousin John in the river…

And everything we’ve been hearing is giving us hope…  hinting of prophesy come true…
God’s covenant faithfulness renewed again…
in this rabbi Jesus

And today I’m very keen to hear…
what happened after the shekinah of God came down like a dove…and the voice of God announced this Jesus to be God’s beloved son…like king David...

I’ve bet my brother in the very next chapter…
Jesus will enter Jerusalem like a hero with his army…
and take back the throne of David…

And so our very very brave somewhat rebellious grandfather…sits down to read …the next chapter in the life story of Jesus of Nazareth…he clears his throat….

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit… into the wilderness… Why…to be tested by the devil.

Jesus tested himself first… and fasted forty days and forty nights…after this he was very hungry.

Ahhhh I whispered to my brother…just like the escape from slavery in Egypt…just like the Exodus…
maybe God will send him manna!

Shhhh says Grandpa…and keeps reading…

Suddenly…the devil came to him and said,

‘If you are the Son of God then…
tell these stones to become bread.’

And Jesus answered,

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Holy moley I think…Jesus is starving…
and instead of grabbing those stones and turning into bread for himself…Jesus is quoting from the Torah…from the book of Deuteronomy…
I’ve just memorised it…

Shhhhhh says my grandpa again…
you should notice my grandson…
Jesus is refusing to use any power he has
for his own selfish ends…
 

Then the devil took him to the Holy City
and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple.

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.

For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you…and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

Grandpa… I cry…Jesus used scripture to fend off the devil…and now the devil is quoting scripture back at him…you never told me the devil could do that!

Shhh Amos there’s a lot you don’t know already…remember Job?  Now hush and listen…

But Jesus replies…

“It is also written:
‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

And again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world
and their splendour.

“All this… I will give you,” the tempter promises Jesus,
“if you’ll just bow down and worship me.” [pause]

I had to interrupt…

But that’s a lie Grandpa…the world isn’t his to give

You’re right my grandson…the devil is the father of lies
but please be quiet and listen…

And Jesus said to him,

“Get away from me, Satan! For it is written:
‘Worship the Lord your God…and serve him only.’

Ohh ohh ohh I couldn’t help myself…I know that grandpa…that’s from Moses tablets of stone…on Mount Sinai in the wilderness…and now the devil’s taken Jesus to a high mountain…and offered him…
all the power and riches in the whole world…
if Jesus will just worship him…

Grandpa! It’s like Caesar asking us to worship him as a God…

Exactly my boy…grandpa says…but for this man Jesus …even the whole world is not enough to make him turn his back on God. Now listen…so

the devil knows when he’s defeated and leaves Jesus on his own…and this writing says that’s when God’s angels came to look after him.

But what happens next Grandpa…did they feed him manna…did they carry him back to the city

You’ll just have to wait and see…young Amos…
it is good for a boy to learn patience
…at least we know this…
faced with the greatest of temptations…
this young man Jesus who’s supposed to be God’s son …refuses to take a self-serving path when he’s tempted…

what he does next…we’ll just have to wait and see. [pause……]

But we’re not really sitting in a 1^st century synagogue
are we…no… here we are at the ends of the earth…
in a 21^st century church…on the edges of an ancient lake…

And most of us know the story…
of the one who took on human frailty…
and so faced increasing temptation…
to clothe himself with power…

who chose instead… to wrap himself in love…

And we still need to hear it don’t we…
the story of Jesus temptation…
because the father of lies is still plugging away …appealing to our weakness…and pride…
promising bright lights …bigger profits…
greater status…more popularity…

forget sharing…he says…why not go for a monopoly…for total conquest

again and again and again…

just bend towards me…the tempter says…
just make a little bow… a nod in my direction…
a teeny tiny lie…to help you win…
at someone else’s expense…

You do this kiddo…and I'll help you all the way
to fame and fortune…

We need to hear it don’t we…
we need to be reminded that Jesus faced it too…

That the one we choose to follow… stayed strong
…even when we’re weak… [pause]

From the start of human history…
the serpents offer to play King of the Hill
has been on the table…
And every age has had its takers…Pharaohs and Caesars, despots and dictators,

you and me sometimes…

No matter how much damage is done taking the hill… too often we defend our scramble over others to the top…by keeping the lie alive…
that a certain amount of selfishness is necessary
given the realities of this world.

But the one we claim to follow
saw the offer of worldly dominance
as inconsequential…

saw that serving and saving himself…
wasn’t going to contribute…to the salvation of the world
…something more self-giving was required
something… sacrificial…

And that’s the question isn’t it?

Whether we’re first century Jews listening to Matthew’s story for the first time…or 21^st Century kiwis whove heard it a thousand time…

Will we follow this Jesus…and take up his way…
or will we choose a different way…worship a different god...

it seems to me…our decision is important to the salvation of the world.