Jesus tested in the Desert Matt 4 Rev Dr Ian

Robinson Mt Hawthorn

Community Church

March 13

MeditationIn the desert, only some tracks will take you to water.Find them or perish. With floating mirage comes true mirrors.So, it is here that Jesus’ real self, his inner direction is best discerned.What sort of Son of God am I? will I be?In the fatigue of fasting, the temptations and distractions rise to facehim. Deeply human perversity rises to the surface, like thirst and other lusts. To bend the Word to my appetite. To twist the Faith to my programme. To seize Worship to myself. Why is it that, God, in times of wilderness, utterly worn out on the edge of survival, the devil seems more real than you? Yet, even there, Word and Faith and Worship are the right tracks to the water of life.

What the Desert Says Not just my enthusiasm, a Bible

centrepiece Everybody, every year, 7 days under stars To learn to live in God Only Dt: When you have wealth, Do not forget

3 Contexts

1. What the Desert Says

2. What God and Spirit said

3. Public baptism under John B

AND SOON success in public mission: leadership, healing, evangelism, teaching

Test 1: Make bread

a. Jesus has the power for miracle

b. Jesus has the compassion

c. It will happen one day – feeds 4000/5000

d. Deut 8.3 Desert-speak: De-throne the appetites. Every word of Yhwh.

Test 2: Make the angels jump

a. Jesus has the status as Son

b. Jesus has to take risks in faith

c. It will happen some time – e.g. Gethsemane and the cross

d. Deut 6 Desert-speak: Whose is this thought?

Test 3: Take over the world

a. Jesus has a global mission

b. Jesus deserves the world’s praise

c. It will happen one day: every knee shall bow

d. Deut 6.13 Desert-speak: Serve Him Only. What are your other “veto” statements?

Conclude: Five Challenges

1.The need is not the call

2.Good-ideas are not God-ideas

3.Values are equal to Vision

4.Interpret Scripture faithfully

5.Detox from Consumerism

PrayerGather us, Jesus, around your fire,

and tell us how to love you only,

to read and recall the Word with you,

to de-throne our unruly appetites,

to serve you only,

to think your thoughts with you,

to grasp your mission,

to value your Values and Visions.

For we suspect, when we bother to care enough, that we have been ruled by unruly comforts, wasted our waiting-time, and goods have become our gods. Amen Amen Amen.

SOMEHOW - a liturgy of Holy Communion

On the night that he was betrayed Jesus took bread

and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying:

“Take, eat, this is my body broken for you.” Jesus, our feast-giver, thank you for

hosting us.  

Likewise, after the supper, he took the cup and said: “Drink this all of you. This is my blood for the forgiveness of your

sins.” Lamb of God, sin-bearer, have mercy on

us. Silence – as we identify with our whole

nation, then pray further...

On that night, the glory of God was mixed with many streaks of darkness. We too are a nation with many mixed

thoughts. Some of us feel that god is punishing us. In Jesus Christ, the wrath of God was

somehow simply satisfied. Some of us are enslaved to old regrets and

bad habits. In Jesus Christ, the price of freedom is

simply satisfied.

Some of us feel our potential is doomed to frustration.

In Jesus Christ, the futility of life was swallowed up in victory.

Some of us just struggle to make our way in life,

Jesus Christ is the way to follow. Some of us are trapped in the way of

shame, honour and revenge. In Jesus Christ, forgiveness is found.

Some of us are trapped in the way of pride, competition and oppression,

In Jesus Christ, love has become the wellspring of Life.

Some of us feel confused about what, on earth, real godliness is like.

In Jesus Christ, the image of God is simply satisfied.

  Pause to contemplate this salvation...

In all the ages, we have gathered like this, The people of the Way. In all Creation the angels also gather In clear eyed praise of Jesus Christ,

singing: Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Power and Might Heaven and Earth are full of your glory Hosanna in the Highest.

So here and now we gather, around this good old table, Daring to confess some of our mixed

motives, We hunger to worship in spirit and in

truth, We thirst for the Holy Spirit to transform

us more.

We come again in humble access, Free to be in God, In the way made possible by Jesus, Knowing that in the grain of the bread and the press of the wine , Somehow today we can be simply satisfied.   Distribution – Say: The Body of Christ, The

Blood of Christ

Eyes Wide Open The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ The Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be yours now and forever. Amen