The second temptation Jesus faced was slightly different. Satan took Jesus to the highest point of the temple, which was already sitting on the top of a hill (the temple mount). He told Jesus to jump because God said his angels would not let him fall. He was basically asking Jesus to show off. But Jesus again quoted a scripture: Deuteronomy 6:16, which directly refers to Exodus 17:1-7. Just after God brought them out of Egypt, the Israelites began to question whether God had their best interest in mind because they had no water to drink. They quarreled with Moses and grumbled against him. They sought to stone Moses because of their thirst. They doubted God.
Jesus never doubted God. If Jesus had any doubt in his mind that God would take care of him, then the temptation to jump and see if God really would protect him would have been greater. He never doubted God, and he saw no reason to prove God's faithfulness by jumping. He didn't need to show off for anyone. He left his ego behind, and humbly accepted who he was without having to prove it to anyone. If you think about it, that is what he was here for anyway. He came to humble himself to death on a cross because he knew he was able to cancel our debt. He didn't have to prove it to anyone.
So what does that mean for us? Why do we feel the need to prove ourselves? Do we feel that the world needs to know that we can measure up to its value systems? Or is it an intrinsic need to show others that we can measure up - to satisfy our ego? Maybe it's a bit of both. But in the eyes of God, we can't measure up. We need the blood of Jesus to cover us, and when we accept that, there is nothing to prove to this world anymore. Our value system is not the same as the world's. Our ways of ministry should focus on building character in ourselves and in others, rather than trying to measure up to a value system that degrades character and faith. Sometimes we just need to leave our ego behind, and know that we are in Christ. There is nothing to prove to anyone. God doesn't need us to prove ourselves. Rather, if we simply allow ourselves to focus on who we are as sons and daughters of God, our character will be built. So let's be humble; let's know who we are in Christ; let's stop trying to prove our worth by measuring ourselves against the wrong value systems; let's give all the glory to God!
So if the lesson from the first temptation is for our spiritual appetite to overshadow our physical appetite, then the lesson from this second temptation is to allow our worth in Christ to overshadow our ego. Again, this is not going to happen tonight because you agree with this concept. It takes time, prayer, Bible study, solitude, community, and leaning on the Holy Spirit. We must come to terms with who we are in Christ in order to stop feeling the need to prove ourselves to others. As we walk down this path, the needs of our ego will become smaller and smaller, and who we are in Christ will become clearer and clearer. That's the transformational process!
Next week we'll dive into the third temptation. But for this week, let's really contemplate our worth in Christ. How can we become less defensive, less proud, less showy, and more humble and satisfied with our identity in Christ. This will transform our character and help us to live as Jesus lived. Here are a couple of things to mull over...
- Think back to when you first came to know Christ. How have you become more in tune with your identity in Christ since then?
- What does it mean to not put God to the test? How have you tested Him?
- Why is this aspect of character so important?
- What other thoughts or questions come up from this?
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