Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve"

 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.  And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had had ended, He was hungry.  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  Therefore if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan!  For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  For it is written:

'He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,'

and

'In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"

Now  when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

- Luke 4:1-13

In  yesterday's reading, we read that as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John the Baptist, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire."  And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.  But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison.  When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.  And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.   There is a dual symbolism here in Jesus' exodus into the wilderness, says my study bible.  First, it fulfills the Old Testament type, in which Israel journeyed in the wilderness for forty years after its "baptism" in the Red Sea.  Second, it prefigures each individual's own journey through the fallen world after baptism as we struggle towards the Kingdom.  Let's note that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  The temptation happens while we are engaged in a spiritual journey; the struggle is part of the road in this world.

And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had had ended, He was hungry.  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"  We note that every time Christ rebukes the devil, it is "with the truth and power of Scripture," as my study bible puts it.  As faithful, we become immersed in Scripture in order to resist and drive away temptation (Psalm 119:11).  Jesus' quotations are from Deuteronomy, and speak of loyalty to God.  Here, the devil challenges His relationship to the Father.  Here the quotation is from Deuteronomy 8:3, reminding us of the temptation in the wilderness of the Israelites.

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.  Therefore if You will worship before me, all will be Yours."  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan!  For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"  Here Christ is tempted with the notion of authority.  This will come up again and again in His ministry, as the leadership in the temple will challenge Him, asking by what authority He does what He does.  But Jesus asserts His own authority as the stronger man, when He responds, "Get behind Me, Satan!"  Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13, asserting both the Father's and therefore His own authority.

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.  For it is written:  'He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,' and 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"  Satan also uses Scripture, but without understanding their truth nor their power.  (The Pharisees similarly use Scripture in error in John 7:52.)  My study bible says that knowing and quoting Scripture without true understanding is worthless and at best ultimately condemnable.  Outside of the work of the Spirit (at work in Holy Tradition), Scriptures are robbed of authority and truth.   The quotation is from Psalm 91:11-12.  We note also the malice and corrupt intent behind the quotation, another important indication that the use of Scripture will be false.

And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"  Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:16.  Again, similarities will occur as the religious leadership repeatedly demands a sign from Christ to prove the presence and power of God, just as in the wilderness the Israelites tempted God (Exodus 17:1-7).

Now  when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.  There will be additional opportune time(s) for temptation.  My study bible refers us to Luke 22:40-46 and Matthew 16:21-23, both times when Jesus is tested when He is facing the Cross.

 How do we think about temptation?  I feel this is not an easy question, because there are so many ways into which we can be deceived into thinking that something is good for us when it is not, or that something is bad for us when in fact it is the way God leads us.  If we look at the examples that Jesus faces, His temptation often comes from "normal" human impulses.  He's fasting as a kind of practice of resisting temptation, a form of devotedness to God.  But every time Jesus is tempted it is in some sense based on the challenge to His identity as Son, testing His relationship to the Father, His identity from the Father.  His hunger may be a source of temptation, but Satan's real goal is something much deeper than simply tempting Christ on the basis of human need or vulnerability.  Satan's real goal is destroying the authority of God, the power of faith and the relationships of all beings, even the Son, in the truth of God.  Challenges and temptations may come in all kinds of forms, but the basic challenge is really to God's authority in us, the heavenly authority conveyed through faith.  That's the real temptation.  The devil in today's reading uses worldly goals to tempt, to deceive, to blind, but the real aim is the disruption of relationship to God, the destruction of saving faith.  And I think that's what we need to remember when we think about what temptation is.  There are all kinds of things in life that we need, that are essentially good, or that are even beautiful in many ways.  But the real question is all about where we find the fullest life, the truest beauty, a depth of joy, and a peace that isn't reliant on what everybody else thinks and does.  All of those things are rooted in salvation, the relationship to God, the life of fullness and abundance Christ offers us.  Real temptations are those things that seek to rob us of that abundance, and joy, and peace, and beauty.  They are the things that ask us to give up what truly fills us, the inheritance of sonship, the authority that offers real leadership in all times.  That is a loss that is eternal -- and internal.  We are asked to give up who we truly are, just as Christ is tempted to do here.  Let us remember where our real treasures are.

This joy of mine is fulfilled

After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison.

Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified -- behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegrooms voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.

"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and he has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

- John 3:22-36

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, about baptism and rebirth "from above" - how it changes our nature so that we may perceive "heavenly things" and enter into the kingdom (See For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son). This is for the salvation of the world, from the love of God for the world. In today's reading, John the Baptist teaches his own disciples and followers about Christ and his relationship to Christ.

After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. At this point in John's Gospel narrative, John the Baptist is still actively preaching and baptizing. We recall that John the Baptist's mission has been to prepare all for the coming kingdom, and the Messiah or the Christ. John the Baptist has also baptized Jesus in the Jordan, and was a witness to Jesus' anointing by the Holy Spirit. (See Behold! The Lamb of God!) John's baptism of water is for repentance, in preparation, but he has said that the Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified -- behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegrooms voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled." My study bible says here: "John the Baptist is called the friend (the equivalent of a modern 'best man'), but it is Christ who is the bridegroom; the bride is God's people. As God was the Lord of His people in the Old Testament, so Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church in the New Testament." In yesterday's reading and commentary, I quoted from a note in my study bible in which it was pointed out that John's Gospel introduces us to many instances of Jesus as a repeated type from the Old Testament. In yesterday's reading, Jesus spoke of His "lifting up" on the Cross, and how it will be a repeated type of the incident of Moses "lifting up" the serpent in the wilderness to heal the Israelites. Here Jesus is called the "bridegroom" by John the Baptist - my study bible's note explains the reference. John is not the bridegroom, but the "friend," although he has many followers and is universally accepted as a prophet, a holy man - and Jesus' early disciples come from among John's followers.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." My study bible notes, "The Forerunner expresses profound humility and acceptance of his role in the service of God. He renounces all earthly glory and reputation and glories only in Christ. John's aspirations of hope and joy as a minister and servant of God have now been fulfilled." John is the Forerunner, one of his titles in the Church since ancient times, because he has stated that he comes before the bridegroom; he is the herald of Jesus' ministry in the world. John the Baptist's joy is complete because his own mission as a servant of God is fulfilled. He had announced the coming of the Bridegroom, and prepared all for this event with repentance via baptism of water.

"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and he has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." My study bible notes here: "John gives a summary of the teaching of the Gospel about the origin, dignity, and saving work of Christ." What I find interesting about this part of our passage for today is the summing up that really is a repetition or reflection of Jesus' words from yesterday, concerning the things that are "earthly" and things that are "from above." I love that John the Baptist tells us that "God does not give the Spirit by measure." We will certainly witness repeated incidents throughout the Gospels of the fullness of this Spirit, and its myriad works that continue today, as we are witness as well to that Anointing from Christ. My study bible also has an overall note that applies to this entire passage: "John the Baptist gives his final witness to Jesus as the One who is greater. Jesus has the Spirit in fullness, He possesses all the authority of the Father, and He grants eternal life to those who believe."

We are once again in the arena of the "heavenly things" that come "from above," and are given to us without measure so that we too may enter into that kingdom. Through baptism, we become "like Him," so that we, too, may enter into depth of relationship and move forward in that depth and grow in that relationship. There's also an important understanding here about our role in all of this. How do we choose to serve? What role does the Spirit help us to play as part of the people of the Bridegroom? At the very end of John's Gospel, we may read a passage in which the Risen Christ speaks with His two disciples, John (the author of this Gospel) and Peter. (See John 21:15-29.) Jesus tells Peter to "Feed my lambs." At one point, Peter points to John and asks Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus instructs Peter then that John may have a different mission to do (Jesus asks, in fact, "What is that to you?"), that Peter must simply, "Follow Me." John the Baptist here expresses the same idea, that we each have our own mission as servants, and John's joy is full at the fulfillment of his mission. Humility, we should understand, is about the fulfillment of what it is that God wishes for us to do. That is something quite different from "humiliation," with which it seems to be often popularly confused. How will your joy be fulfilled? What is it that the Lord asks of you? In the fullness of the Spirit, holiness of the Kingdom - so we have been told - is like the mustard seed that continues growing and branching out until it becomes a great sturdy bush, in which birds of the air may nest. Holiness is ever-creative and growing, renewing and new. What way does it call you? Allow it to fulfill its promise in whatever unique way you are to serve, so that your joy, too, may be complete. The friend, John the Baptist tells us, "rejoices greatly because of the bridegrooms voice." What do you hear in that voice for you?