“If” (Matthew 4:1-11)

The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines the church season of Lent as “a period of penitential preparation for Easter . . . it begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.”  In other words, Lent is the time that has been set aside for the followers of Jesus to voluntarily admit one’s sins and to work towards being a better person . . . or as some would say, to become more Christ-like in one’s life.  It is preparation to live the “holy” life to do God’s will . . . to love the Lord completely and to love others as God loves them.  And, in order to achieve this, distractions must be removed. 

Let’s keep this in mind as we enter our scripture reading this morning.  As we jump into this familiar story, I want us to consider the word “if”.  “If” is such a small word, but it is a word that carries great potential that is both good and bad.  I believe that the word “if” plays a big role in the journey through Lent for all of us as the followers of Jesus.  It plays a major part in the Jesus’ temptation story.

According to Matthew’s gospel, following his baptism, Jesus heads to the desert to begin a period of spiritual preparation before beginning his ministry.  We know that he spends 40 days there in the isolation of the desert.  He fasts.  He prays.  Towards the end of his time in the desert he has a visitor . . . the devil.  The devil comes with some propositions . . . some really tempting propositions, and what better time than when a person is tired and hungry?  What we have in our reading this morning is the dialogue between Jesus and the tempter regarding the three temptations.

So, what were the three propositions—the three temptations—offered by the devil?

First was the temptation of hedonism or the pursuit of pleasure and the satisfaction of desires for one’s self.  Here the temptation for Jesus is to go ahead and take care of his own needs—in this case, his hunger.  In this case it is to use his power for his own benefit and needs.

The second is egotism.  Egotism is “the practice of talking and thinking of oneself excessively because of an undue sense of self-importance.”  In this proposition the tempter is hoping that Jesus puts to the test the fact that he is God’s son . . . that he is too important for anything to happen to him.  Basically, the devil tells him to “throw yourself down”. God won’t let you get hurt.  The devil tells Jesus he is way too important for something bad to happen to him.

Third and last was the proposition or temptation of “materialism”.  Jesus could have it all . . . kingdoms, wealth, power.  It was all his, if he wants it.  If he wants it, all he must do is to bow down and worship the devil.  That is all that he must do is bow down and kiss the feet of the devil and follow wherever he is led.

So, there is that big little word . . . “if”.  The situation for Jesus boils down to what Jesus wants.  If he chooses one way, he gets such and such.  If he chooses another way, he gets something completely different.  Jesus must weigh the situation and determine which way he is going to go . . . God’s way or the way of the world with its powerful temptations.  The choice is his.

Well, we know that Jesus chooses the way of God . . . chooses to do God’s will.  He rejects the three proposals.  He rejects that which would pull him away from fulfilling God’s desire to work towards establishing the Kingdom of God . . . something that can only be achieved by living life in complete love of God and others. 

During the season of Lent, we are called upon to consider that which distracts and keeps us from following in the footsteps of Jesus to fulfill God’s will.  We are called upon to consider that big little word of “if” as it impacts our lives daily.  We are no different than Jesus when it comes to those “temptations” that have the capability of pulling us towards God and others or away from them.  We, too, are confronted with “if”.  The question is, how are we going to handle them?

We know how “if” works.  If I do this, this will happen . . . but, if I do this, this will happen.  One will benefit me, the other will benefit others.  One fulfills my desires, the other fulfills the needs of others.  One is my way, the other is God’s way.  Herein lies the struggle . . . which will be chosen?

As the followers of Jesus, there should be no debate . . . we choose to do God’s way . . . God’s will.  After all, that is what we see Jesus do in our reading this morning . . . he chooses to stick with God and do what God wants to be done.  He chooses to love God completely and to love others as God loves him.  As the followers of Jesus, we are to do likewise.

The only problem with this is that we are human and sometimes our humanness gets in the way of us doing the right thing.  Sometimes we choose the opposite of what we should, and we bounce down that bunny trail that takes us away from God and others.  We get distracted.  Thus, we have this self-imposed period of penitence where we are called upon to examine our lives to discover those distractions . . . remove them . . . and, move on with doing God’s will as Jesus has done.  The inspiration for doing this comes from the story of Jesus’ own temptation.

Thus, it is that we begin Lent with “if”.  We begin by weighing the temptation of living our lives God’s way—as demonstrated through the life and words of Jesus, or of living our lives for ourselves or as the world deems right.  We consider the “if” of doing it God’s way, that these are the rewards we will receive; and, we consider the “if” based on ourselves or the world and the rewards we will receive.  We pray about it.  We discern about it.  Then we pray and discern a little more . . . then we choose and do it.

The season of Lent is not about “giving something up”.  Giving something up is of no value if it is not replaced with something else that is positive and life-giving.  The season of Lent is about weighing our actions in life as to whether they are living up to God’s will of loving the Lord completely and loving others as God loves us.  It is not about tearing down things, it is about building up . . . building up God’s Kingdom.  It is the time of preparation for being ready to go out into the world to share God’s love in the way that we live.

“If” is a big little word.  Think about it . . . what would have happened if Jesus had chosen to take the tempter up on those propositions or temptations?  Where would we be now?  Where would the world be now?  As we enter this journey of the season of Lent, let us consider the ramifications of “if” . . . and, let us choose wisely.  And, remember, when in doubt consider what Jesus did . . . he chose the way of God.  Amen.