Jesus is led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for 40 days. Can it be a coincidence that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years? (I think not.)
Jesus calls disciples out by the sea of Galilee, while Matthew recalls the words of the prophet Isaiah: "the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light."
Jesus goes up a mountain and begins to teach people. Can it be a coincidence that Moses also went up a mountain and brings down God's great teaching, the Ten Commandments? (I think not.)
So 'Jesus' ministry begins not with miracles but with temptations and with teaching. In fact, although Jesus will eventually do plenty of miracles, he begins his ministry by refusing to do miracles: turning stones to bread, jumping off the temple and letting the angels catch him. (You can make the case, I suppose that the disciples immediate decision to drop everything, get up and follow Jesus was a sort of miracle.)
Then there is the Sermon on the Mount. It begins with Jesus making some incredible statements about who is really blessed in this world. And it goes on and on. "You have heard it said," "but I say to you." "Even the Gentiles love those who love them. You're better than that!" (By the way -- you and me: we're gentiles....)
So, what do you think? What is the most challenging thing you have read so far in the Sermon on the Mount? What is the most provocative?
Why do you suppose the first thing that happens to Jesus after he is baptized is temptation? Do you think it's important HOW Jesus is tempted?
And, notice this: When James and John, Peter and Andrew are called -- they aren't in church. They're by the sea. Hmmmm.
Here is something I have wanted to know for years:
ReplyDeleteWhat would have happened if Jesus had bowed down to the devil?
Did he REALLY have an option to do that? Did he have an option to walk away from being God? Because if he didn't, he couldn't be truly human, could he?
And if he had that option, and took it, what would have happened?
I have asked my spouse this on more than one occasion. He dodges it every time....
My 2 cents: I believe Jesus had to have the option to walk away, to bow down to the devil, to say 'No.' If he didn't have the option, then all he did is simply God playing with Barbie doll with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat would have happened? I have no idea. I'm glad I don't know.
Thanks, Pat!
ReplyDeleteI find it a fascinating thought experiment. Would creation have been destroyed immediately? Would the divine part say "Oops! We made a mistake--let's blow this popsicle stand and try another version"?
I think we get so caught up in the passion/resurrection/atonement narrative that we give short shrift to what is key to the whole thing--the Incarnation. And that is why this question fascinates me so much!
We tend to think that Jesus' only risk was being executed. If the story is true--if Jesus was God made man--then the risk to creation itself was potentially enormous.
Doxy -- I think Jesus did have a choice regarding being tempted (I remember a seminary professor who said to us, "was it easy or hard for him? Because I want it to have been a struggle to resist temptation, like it is for us.")
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the "what if", I think pastors have a hard time answering that question. We're not trained to deal with the hypothetical questions regarding scripture, only to look at what's really there. It may stunt our imaginations.
It would be interesting to do a midrash on this.....
Paige, this is one reason I value the Presbyterian "Brief Statement of Faith" (which is "brief" only by comparison to things like the Westminster Catechism!). We actually have credal statements about the life of Jesus:
ReplyDeleteWe trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God.
Jesus proclaimed the reign of God:
preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives,
teaching by word and deed and blessing the children,
healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted,
eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners,
and calling all to repent and believe the gospel.
Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition,
Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain
and giving his life for the sins of the world.
God raised Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life,
breaking the power of sin and evil,
delivering us from death to life eternal.
Diane, this blog is wonderful, and a rather herculean undertaking! I pray you stamina for the task ahead!