In Jesus Holy Name Lent I February 21, 2021
Text: Mark 1:12-13 Redeemer
“What Forty Days Can Teach Us”
About 2,500 years ago, a fellow by the name of Aesop told a tale. This fable of Aesop begins with a sad, sorrowful female eagle sitting on the branch of a tree. Next to her sat a kite, a carrion-eating raptor. Noting the eagle’s dejection, the kite asked, “Why does the most majestic of birds wear such a mournful look?”
The eagle sadly replied. “I need a mate and I have been unable to find one.” After a moment, the kite sympathetically suggested, “Why not marry me?” The eagle turned and asked, “And could you take care of me?” This was in the days before female eagles were liberated. Wounded by the question, the kite boasted: “Why, I have often carried away ostriches in these talons.”
With no other offers forthcoming, the eagle agreed to be married to the kite. Soon after the ceremony, she said to her husband, “I wonder if you would bring back an ostrich for supper. I’ve never eaten an ostrich and I think one would be wonderfully delicious for our evening meal.” In a second the kite was gone. In two seconds he was back and placed before her not an ostrich, but a mouse. A pitiful, pathetic and from the smell of things… a long dead mouse. Insulted, the eagle cried: “And is this how you fulfill your promise?” to which the kite confessed
“I said what was necessary to get you to do as I wished.”
This is a story about us describing the all successful temptation techniques used by Satan since the beginning of time. Our old evil foe has shown his readiness, his eagerness to say anything, everything necessary to get us to do what He wants.
(illustration from Rev. Ken Klaus 2009)
Satan’s greatest triumph may be in causing people not to take him seriously. If people don’t believe you exist, if they believe you are just a cartoon character with red horns and a tail… they won’t try to stop you. And if a person no longer has a conscience….then selfish greed will be the mode of operation, Satan’s work is done. Most of our failure when temptations come our way… and they will….can
be traced to a foolish self-confidence that overestimates our own abilities and underestimates the power of our spiritual enemies.
Satan does not observe the traditional rules of warfare. He uses anything and everything that he can to bring us down. This is what Paul meant when he spoke about the “schemes of the devil” in Ephesians 6:11. The word “schemes” might also be translated as “traps” or “tricks” or “tactics.” I am reminded of a Texas politician who was asked why a certain candidate had lost an election. The answer: “It happened because he forgot the first rule of knife fighting. There are no rules.”
Satan doesn’t fight fair. He’s not going to give you an even break. He is a liar, a deceiver, a diabolical “angel of light” who comes to you in a thousand guises, tempting you to disobey the Lord. And He’s a lot smarter than you are. He knows your weak points better than you do. And he can attack you any time of the day or night. Satan does not fight fair.
In the Garden of Eden He slides up to Adam and Eve and slyly, sneakily suggested that they should just take a look at the forbidden fruit…”What can it hurt?” He asked. Implying that God was holding out on them. Like the kite, Satan will say whatever is necessary to get you to do as He wishes.
I need not tell you what happened. They ate, and since that day all of us have been eating the forbidden fruit of temptation. If you read through the Bible, you will come across stories of men and women who are called heroes of faith. Noah built an ark, without the knowledge of rain. Moses parted the Red Sea; Elijah raised a boy from the dead, and David brought down a giant with a slingshot.
These folks, these heroes, also did some pretty stupid, amazingly sinful stuff. Noah did build and ark, but he also got himself seriously tipsy. Abraham was the father of nations, but his lying got him into trouble. His messing around with a servant girl still has serious consequences. Moses was a legendary leader, but he began as a murderer and he did deliberately disobey God. David was the great warrior-king, but he was also David the murdering adulterer. Elijah did miracles and called fire from heaven, but he also hid out in caves and complained about how he was all alone.
Zacharias, the father of John the Baptizer, was an experienced temple priest, but he couldn’t find it in his heart to believe God, even when the Lord sent an angel with a special message. He doubted. Peter was a great apostle, but almost every action of faith he performed was counter balanced by doubt or denial. He walked on water, but sank; he confessed Jesus as the Son of God, and then tried talk the Savior from going to Jerusalem. One night he fell asleep when he was asked to pray. Then a few hours later he cursed that he did not know Jesus. Like the kite, Satan will say whatever is necessary to get you to do as He wishes and save your own skin.
These stories are in the bible to remind us that Satan is skillful in tricking believers into following our internal selfish desires. Satan, like the kite, will say anything to get us to do what He wishes. This is why Jesus came. He came to break the power of Satan, who makes people so afraid of death that they will say foolish things like: “All people will go to heaven… there are just different pathways to follow…so be tolerant”. Or… “Life is short. This is all there is, go for the gusto, now, do what you want.”
Every person is a sinner. We all have fallen short of holiness of character. God expects holiness because He is holy. (I Peter 1:15)
The entrance of God the Creator of the Universe into the world which He created by His birth in Bethlehem was following His plan that He set in motion in the Garden of Eden. He promised that Satan would be crushed. God promised that with the death of His Son, Jesus on the cross, all our broken commandments would be erased. (Colossians 2:14) With His resurrection from death and the grave He promises that the glory of eternity is secure for all who believe in His Son, Jesus.
In our Gospel lesson today Mark only writes two short verses. They are both critical to our understanding of how Satan’s temptations can be overcome.
1. At the baptism of Jesus the Holy Spirit, descended from heaven and dwelt in Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to live a life without sin. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to drive out demons, heal people and raise them from the dead, because the Holy Spirit is God’s invisible presence. Jesus was the visible face of God.
Question: How can we like Jesus overcome temptation?
What did Jesus do when tempted by Satan in the 40 days in the wilderness?
First: Jesus quoted the bible. When temptation comes our way …we too can tell Satan to get behind us. If we have been reading the Bible the Holy Spirit will use Gods’ words to send temptation away. It is a promise. (John 14:26)
Second, Jesus quoted the first of the Ten Commandments. The 10 Commandments become a curb, that keeps us on the straight and narrow path. They become a barrier to keep us safe. It is the Holy Spirit that reminds our conscience of God’s commandments. Then it is our responsibility to “keep in step with the Holy Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
Third: During the Passover meal Jesus told His disciples that He would give each believer His Holy Spirit. He said: “it is better for you that I go away…for when I go away, the Holy Spirit will come to you.” (John 16:7) At that first Maundy Thursday Passover meal they did not understand that promise, because the Holy Spirit only resided in Jesus. Understanding that the physical presence of Jesus would be replaced by the Holy Spirit was a truth that was only actualized on Pentecost.
Jesus who had been physically present with the disciples was going to be “inside” them by the power of the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Jesus and enabled Him to successfully defeat the temptations of Satan is the same Holy Spirit that dwells in each believer. Jesus told His first century disciples that His presence would be the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would now be His voice in each disciple’s heart for generations to come.
After Jesus came out of the grave, His disciples learned to recognize Him, not by His physical appearance, but by His voice. The bible is God’s voice preserved in written form. When you spend time reading the scriptures you will be better able to hear the Lord’s voice when He speaks. The Holy Spirit will also use your conscience to remind you which pathway on which your feet should walk. (from Leonard Sweet Jesus Speaks)
I love the illustration of a small child holding the hand of their parent or grandparent. There is security. There is a connection of love. When temptations come… hold on to the Holy Spirit who has promised to guide you in all truth.
The Apostle Paul also gives advice to us on how we can dismantle the temptations before they take root in our mind and life. (Ephesians 6)
1. We have always encouraged you to read more in the bible this year than you did last year. For when you know God’s word…. The Holy Spirit will use God’s word to resist the temptations when they come. God’s word is the “belt of truth”.
2. Know God’s commandments for the Holy Spirit will remind your conscience to keep them and thus you be able to keep walking on the narrow path of holiness. The commandments can be the breast plate to protect you from Satan’s suggestions.
3. Trust the voice of the Holy Spirit when He speaks to your heart. Listen and obey.
