How Compassion Is Built

February 26, 2023

Hope Lutheran Church

Rev. Mary Erickson

Matthew 4:1-11; Hebrews 4:15-16

How Compassion Is Built

Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord.

This first Sunday in Lent always begins with the same story: Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Just as soon as Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, he was led by the Holy Spirit to spend 40 days by himself in the wilderness. While there, he experienced a barrage of temptations. The tack of each trial touched on a different inner desire.

The devil was looking for Jesus’ fault lines. Where were Jesus’ points of vulnerability? Where could he crack into him, just like how water seeps into a crack in the sidewalk during a winter thaw and then cracks it apart during a deep freeze? How could this temptation get under Jesus’ skin and worm its way inside until his center was corrupted?

Jesus was standing on the verge of beginning his ministry. When this period of retreat in the wilderness had concluded, Jesus would launch his public ministry. What was that ministry going to look like? What was Jesus’ purpose, what was the thrust of his mission?

It was like the launching of a moon shot. Before the morning of liftoff, NASA spends months calculating the exact course. To be off by even a fraction of a degree would send the space capsule way off its target. If the devil could skew the trajectory of Jesus’ mission right now, at its beginning, the whole course could miss the mark.

The first temptation involved Jesus’ needs on a physical level. Jesus had fasted for 40 days. Now he was hungry. How easy it would be for Jesus to generate food!

And wouldn’t that be great! How wonderful and good it would be if Jesus could wipe out hunger! He would be lauded a hero, a Messiah. He could care for all of our physical needs: hunger, disease, poverty. He could wipe them out.

The temptation is RELEVANCY. Jesus could solve all the world’s problems. He could be the great provider.

And, in fact, Jesus’ ministry will include these things. He feeds the crowd of 5000 people when he multiplies the loaves and fishes. But when the crowds come looking for him the next day for more free food, Jesus has vamoosed. He’ll heal their sick. But when they want him to set up permanently in one place, Jesus insists it’s time to leave.

And aren’t we tempted by the same desire? We want to make a difference, to leave our mark. We want to possess important skills and be capable. We want to provide for our families so they enjoy every opportunity, the memorable vacations, the nice clothes. Being relevant and adept in the ways of the world is very alluring.

But Jesus doesn’t bite when the devil lures him to turn stones into bread. He’s not going to be Captain Relevant. He didn’t come to solve all the world’s problems.

The second temptation involves a spectacular event. Jesus could jump from a high precipice and land unscathed. Wow! Wouldn’t people be totally impressed? Such a show of superhuman ability and people would flock to him.

The temptation here is to be MAGNIFICENT. He could be that special person everyone wants to know, he could have celebrity. And to a certain degree, Jesus also engages in these things during his ministry. He calms a raging sea – WOW!!! “Who is this,” the disciples wonder, “Who can calm the wind and the sea?” And on the mount of transfiguration, Jesus glows with divine light. But then he tells his disciples to keep it under wraps. Don’t tell anybody.

And aren’t we tempted by being spectacular? How many of our actions are motivated by trying to be cool or popular? How many times are our words dictated by the desire to be seen as smart or hip and be lauded by others? If we make an honest examination of ourselves, we see that being popular and admired is a very strong motivator.

But Jesus says no. “No, this is not who I am or what I’m about,” he tells the devil. “I’m not going to perform circus tricks to impress people.”

The third temptation is all about POWER. The devil tempts Jesus with absolute dominion over the hearts and minds of people. Just think how he could eradicate all evil! Greed, animosity, discrimination, violence – all gone. In an instant, Jesus could align the wills of all people into perfect harmony with HIS will.

And aren’t we also drawn to power? Don’t we yearn for control? And how does that thirst for power sour every level of our human existence? From our most intimate relationships to the warring powers of one country over another?