Becoming Like Christ: Wrestling in the Wilderness
Wednesday, February 24
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Wrestling in the Wilderness
Matthew 4:1-11
Rev. Dr. Greg Smith
Times of uncertainty and transition can be difficult for any of us, even Jesus. When Jesus walked out of the waters of baptism in the Jordan he began a new life. His old identity ended, but he had not yet begun his new ministry. First, he had to go through the wilderness of transition. Whenever you or I encounter a change in our lives, we must also go through this wilderness to discover our new identity.
The Gospel of Matthew says the Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness. In the Bible, the wilderness is a place of encounter, where we wrestle with our demons and angels. The wilderness is where we let go of everything that identifies us and our place in life – your positions and possessions, your history and family, your successes and failures.
You cannot escape or hide in the wilderness, for that is where you discover who you really are, what you are made of, who you are and how you will live.
Jesus fasted in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. That’s a long time without basic needs of food and water, a long time to be vulnerable without protection from wild animals or the hot sun. When the tempter came, Jesus was weak and hungry. We are usually tested when in our weakest moment.
The tempter hit Jesus at his weakest point – his human hunger. Looking at those round stones baking in the hot sun, the tempter reminded him, “Since you are God’s Beloved Son, go ahead, feed yourself.”
Jesus could quickly provide all he needed to live. His choice went deeper than just providing bread for his hunger. Jesus was tempted to take the shortcut, to get the material things he needed without hardship, to have prosperity without patience, to have the kingdom without the cross.
It’s a choice we all face. We may want to win the lottery, live in a big house without a big mortgage, or enjoy chocolate cake without gaining weight. After all, who enjoys pain and suffering?
Jesus chose to be fully human without shortcuts. He was willing to use his divine power to feed others, but not himself. The tempter wasn’t able to steal that part of Jesus’ identity.
But the tempter was persistent. He appealed to another deep need – the need for security. He reminded Jesus that he could take the most dramatic actions and not suffer a scratch. After all, God promised all the protection you need, right Jesus? Don’t worry, the tempter told him. God’s got your back. God will make sure you’re safe. Don’t you trust God to be faithful?
This test was about more than just protection from harm. This test was about where and how Jesus would find security. Was his faith in God’s love enough, or did Jesus need to prove it in a dramatic way?
We too face that same test. We want miracles that convince us God is real. We want a grand demonstration of God’s love. Like the Israelites in their wilderness – we need to see that shiny golden calf to secure our trust in God’s faithfulness.
Jesus just shrugged his shoulders and told the tempter he wasn’t interested. He could trust God without all the drama. His faith and his well-being were secure without asking God to prove it.
What’s a tempter to do? He can’t steal Jesus’ identity through his hunger or his need for security. Well, no more subtle strategies for this Beloved Son! The tempter went directly to the heart of what he wanted – power!
He offered Jesus all authority and power over all the kingdoms of the world. To discover his identity Jesus must choose whom he will serve. Will he serve God and live his life the way God calls him to live, or will he choose to live by another way?
Will he choose a life of power and authority over all the earth, or will he choose the life of a servant? Is his identity to love God and serve his neighbors?
Will Jesus be all that the Beloved Son is called to be, or will he settle for less than his full identity?
You and I face similar temptations every day. Our temptation is to settle for something less, to take the shortcut, the easy way out. Our temptation is to become less than we are called to be, to settle for what we’ve always done, whatever we can get by with, to choose what looks good on the outside instead of choosing what is best.
To choose our identity as followers of Jesus requires strength and courage. Whenever you are tired and hungry, stressed or worried, Jesus will help you find strength and courage to be who God intends for you to be. You can choose to live into your full identity.
Jesus discovered his identity through hardship and challenge in the wilderness. In the end, angels provided everything he needed. By faithfully refusing to settle for less than his true identity, Jesus got what he needed.
You can discover your identity as a Child of God through the hardships and challenges you face in wilderness times of life. Jesus will strengthen you when the tempter tries to steal your identity as a Beloved Child of God.
When you are stressed, anxious, weary, or sick you can choose to live into your identity as God’s Beloved Child. Jesus will help you find the strength you need. You are God’s Beloved Child, today and every day.
Action
Find a journal or a notebook and go outside, some place where you are surrounded by nature. As you ponder these questions, write your responses in your journal. Listen to the Holy Spirit as you write.
Remember a time of your life that was hard, a time when you had to make challenging choices.
How did you make those choices? Did you choose to be all God has called you to be, or did you choose another way?
Why did you make the choice you made? Did your choice result in a change in your life?
Looking back now, how was God present in your choice? Did God guide your way, or did God step back and see how you would handle it?
Was this choice true to your identity as a follower of Jesus?
About “Becoming Like Christ” (Weekly Lenten Reflections)
In 2019, we developed a 7-week long series packed full of devotions called “Exploring Humanity and Divinity.” It was about wrestling with our humanity as we seek to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.
After a tumultuous last year, and with tensions high on political, cultural, and social levels, it seems that “wrestling” is just as relevant today as it was two years ago.
In that spirit, we believed it would be healthy to resurrect a similar theme to this year’s Lenten devotional series: Becoming Like Christ.