If You Fall Down

Matthew 4:1-11 

New

International Version 

Jesus Is

Tested in the Wilderness 

4 Then

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by

the devil. 2 After

fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The

tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these

stones to become bread.” 

4 Jesus

answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every

word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]” 

5 Then

the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point

of the temple. 6 “If

you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: 

“‘He will command his

angels concerning you, 

    and they will lift you

up in their hands, 

    so that you will not

strike your foot against a stone.’[c]” 

7 Jesus

answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the

test.’[d]” 

8 Again,

the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of

the world and their splendor. 9 “All

this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 

10 Jesus

said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the

Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]” 

11 Then

the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. 

This

is our first Sunday in our journey through the season of Lent. Did you notice

that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness? It’s important for us to

remember that the Spirit is with us and leading us through the journey during

Lent as well. In this passage, the devil tempts Jesus three times. Did you

notice that the devil says, “if you are the Son of God.” We are often tempted

to doubt our identity. We question if we truly are loved and cared for by God.

We are tempted to think we don’t have value and don’t have a call or mission in

life. On our journey with Jesus this Sunday we will remember who we are, who we

belong to, and what the Spirit may be leading us to do. We will fall down and

mess up over and over again. Don’t give up, Jesus loves and cares for us! May

we journey and grow closer with Jesus during this season. Our focus on Ash

Wednesday and again this Sunday is that an inward repentance, renewal and

fasting should lead us into outward change and compassion for all of God’s

children. Pastor Andy