Sermon Index
February 26, 2012
Lent 1B
Jesus was thoroughly tested. After his Baptism in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness. He was there for forty days where he was tempted by Satan.
The Bible word “tempt” also means “test,” because every temptation is also a test of faith. Satan was testing Jesus to see if Jesus was really the Son of God. Maybe Jesus was just another prophet like John the Baptist or even like Moses and Elijah. Maybe Jesus was like one of the Old Testament Heroes like David or Joshua. Maybe Jesus would be a political messiah, maybe a social reformer or someone to help and save Israel from the Romans. Who is Jesus? Satan had to find out. The claim was that Jesus was the Son of God. The Voice from Heaven had proclaimed that. But Satan had to find out for himself. He had to test this man named Jesus. Would he pass the examination? The Holy Spirit was sure that he would pass. The Holy Spirit encouraged Jesus to meet up with Satan. He drove Jesus out into the wilderness.
When you read Mark 1:13, it seems that Jesus was being tested throughout the forty days, not just 3 times at the end of the forty days. When we preachers preach from Matthew or Luke, we often point out that Jesus resisted the temptations by quoting scripture, so we too should memorize key Bible passages to help us in our times of temptation. But in Mark, there is no room for us to think about ourselves. It is wholly Jesus who is being tested. This testing will start here and continue to the end of the Book of Mark. Let me explain.
After being tested by Satan, perhaps only a few days later in Mark 1:24, there was a man who had an unclean spirit. This unclean spirit cried out and questioned the authority of Jesus, saying, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” He tested the authority of Jesus, and we see that Jesus did have the authority and power to drive out the spirit. Then right after that, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many other people, testing his power to heal. Then in Chapter Two Verse Seven, the scribes start questioning Jesus about forgiving sin. They said, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus showed that he did have the authority to forgive sin by healing the paralytic. If only God can forgive sin, does that mean Jesus is God? Then after that, the Pharisees begin to test Jesus about many customs and religious practices and Sabbath regulations.
Jesus tests the disciples. (8:27-29) “Who do you say I am?” Peter gave the correct answer. “You are the Christ.” Jesus examined the Jerusalem Temple on Palm Sunday. It did not pass inspection, so Jesus cleansed the Temple, driving out the merchants and money changers (11:15).
Jesus was tested yet another more time as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then Jesus was arrested and tried and tested by the Jewish leaders and by Pilate. He was tested when on the cross. (15:30-32) “29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!’ 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. ‘He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’ (Matthew 27:40) “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” Of course, the only way for Jesus to really pass this test was to stay on the cross.
The final test is on Easter morning. (Mark 16:3) “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” Then we have the story of Thomas. Did Thomas test Jesus, or did Jesus test Thomas? “Unless I see the mark of the nails, I will not believe.” “My Lord and my God!”
Satan is not the only one to test Jesus. Satan is not the only one who wants to know who this Jesus really is. We do, too. Our faith life is a constant challenge against God. We are continually testing God. Does God love me? Will God help me? Why did a certain disaster happen? Why do I and those I love have to suffer? Does God really exist? Does it really matter whether God exists or not?
As we are testing God, at the same time, God is testing us. He is testing our faith. He is not testing our morals or ethics. Our life-style is important, of course. But we are not saved by our ethics and morals. We are only saved by the Grace of God who looks at our faith, or our faithfulness. He looks to see if we have a connection with him. When Satan tested Jesus, Satan said, “If you are Son of God, then turn these stones to bread; then come down off the cross.” Satan wanted Jesus to prove that he was the Son of God by his actions. But God says to us, “If you are a son or daughter of God, then I love you.” God proves that we are children of God not by our actions that we do, but by the actions of Jesus; the actions of his dying on the cross and rising again. That is the only way we are going to be able to pass the ultimate test.
God judges us by who we are. We are his children. This is the same way we judge God. Who is God? He is our Father. Whenever your faith is tested, whenever you feel tempted, whenever you have doubts – remember who you are, that you are a child of God; and remember who Jesus is, he is the Son of God.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church