Testing During Lent

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,

returned from the Jordan and was

led by the Spirit in the wilderness,

where for forty days he was tested by the devil.

(from Luke 4:1-13)

I am a lover of dark chocolate.

At Christmas, I order Santas, snowflakes, and homemade truffles from Snowflake Chocolates in Jericho, VT.

So, my announcement of giving up dark chocolate for Lent was met with skepticism from the congregation.

After Jesus was baptized in the Jordan and was praying, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended on him, and a heavenly voice said, this is my Son whom I love.

The Spirit then led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested by the Tester.

The first test comes while he is fasted by the Tester telling him to change stones into bread.

By self-control, Jesus doesn’t.

For the second test, the Tester says the world is full of enemies and danger and the Tester will fulfill Jesus’ desire for power to control.

Jesus’ answer is to worship the God of justice and mercy

The Tester, for the final test, takes Jesus to a high pinnacle and jump because the angels will catch him.

Jesus rejects this knowing his is a vulnerable human being and must suffer on the cross.

These three tests confirm Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.

Our first test is defining our identity: who we are, who we chose to be, and who God called us to be.

This is a daily test as others feel they know who we should be or need to be.

You are a beloved child of God.

Lent is the time to decide to live differently as a child of God.