CHAPTER SIX: FEELING THE HEAT

Jesus had fasted and prayed before, but this time he knew he needed to do so in earnest. He felt confident that now with the Spirit upon him he would be able to endure a long fast, and lengthy time in prayer. He thought of the many days Elijah and before him Moses had spent up on the mountain. He knew he was called to begin something momentous, but what sort of Son did G-d expect him to be? Was he meant to use his divine power and character to prove to one and all that he was G-d’s beloved and only begotten Son? When he prayed to Abba sometimes he got a glimpse of how things ought to go and be, but in the past it had not been as clear as he might like. What he needed was a vision from G-d, a vision that would make all things plain. He must fast in earnest, and pray some more and prepare to hear from G-d.

On the 39^th day of fasting, drinking only water, and praying again and again, Jesus began to get the sense that he would finally hear from G-d, as he had at the Jordan. By now he was near starvation, and his whole body ached. He had lost so much weight that his strength was minimal at this point. One more day and he would give up his fast, and come down off the mountain. He had been patient, and he now had a sense that things would come to light, that the vision would come.

Light was the right word, for towards the end of the 40^th day Jesus saw in his mind’s eye what at first appeared to be an angel of light. Only this angel did not come to convey a message from G-d, he came with a challenge, a threefold challenge.

“If you are the divine Son of G-d, then turn these stones into bread!” said the voice of the one standing in blinding light. Shading his eyes, Jesus thought for a moment about how to respond. What kind of Son of G-d was he supposed to be? Not one who used his divine power for his own pleasure or personal purposes. It occurred to him that this challenge was more of a test, a test of his character, and he must not fail the test. Yes, he had access to the power and was sorely tempted to produce some food. After all G-d had provided manna miraculously for his forebears in the desert. But bread was not the issue here, the purposes for which his power should be used was the issue. And more to the point if he was going to fulfill all righteousness like a true Israelite, Jesus needed to live in a way that a mortal could and should live. He would rely on the Word of G-d and the Spirit of G-d to get him through this trial, the same two resources any pious person had access to.

It is written “People don’t live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God’s mouth” replied Jesus thinking of the lessons God had taught the wilderness wandering generation. They had been given manna miraculously precisely to remind them to rely on G-d, even for the necessities of life. Jesus would do so in this instance as well. Praying for daily bread showed one relied on G-d, even for the bare necessities of life.

Without warning the vision changed. Now Jesus saw the Temple precincts and he seemed to be standing on the pinnacle of the corner of the Temple perimeter. “If you are the divine Son of G-d then you can surely throw yourself down from here, for it is written “He will command his angels…and they will lift you up in your hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” This test was harder, for the voice coming forth from the light was quoting Scripture back at him. But Jesus in his heart did not believe he had been called to use his power gratuitously, or for his own protection, or to prevent his experiencing the painful consequences of bad human choices. And why was this angel urging him to rely on angels for his rescue, when he need not put himself in danger in the first place?

Again quoting the sacred texts he replied “It is written you shall not put the Lord your G-d to the test.” Jesus realized that he was not hearing the voice of G-d speaking through this angel here, or even the voice of some benevolent angel. He was hearing the voice of the Adversary, a false god, and he remembered the warning Moses gave to the wilderness wandering generation about following such voices, such supposed deities. Thank goodness he had the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, with him to oppose the Adversary.

Suddenly the vision changed yet again. He seemed to be standing upon Mt. Hermon, the tallest mountain anywhere near Galilee. From here he could see without limit in all directions. The Adversary now moved in for the kill. “All this I can give to you, if you will just bow down and worship me.”

How easy it would be to free G-d’s people if suddenly Jesus was the ruler of this world. He could accomplish all he wanted for God’s people immediately, and without any difficulties. But now it was even clearer who was tempting him— ‘the ruler of this fallen world’. Setting his face like a flint and in his strongest, sternest voice Jesus replied “Away from me Satan, for the Scripture says ‘Worship the Lord your G-d and him only shall you serve!'” What kind of beloved Son would he be if he betrayed his Father, the only proper object of human worship, by worshiping a lesser being like the Adversary?

As quickly as the vision had come, it all disappeared, and Jesus found himself lying in the dirt on top of the mount he had ascended to pray forty days before, drenched in sweat, and ravenously hungry. Despite his hunger, it was his exhaustion, his need for sleep which prevailed. The last thing he remembered before falling sound asleep was that there seem to be some other beings of light, some other angels attending him. He must have passed the test. G-d had finally come to his aid and he had not chosen to act in a way that humans had no capacity to act. As he was closing his eyes he thought to himself— “henceforth, I must live as, and present myself as Son of Man, as truly human and yet also more than human, like the Son of Man in Daniel. I must constantly remind myself to live within my human limitations, limitations of time and space and knowledge and power. Only so will the sons and daughters of humankind be able to follow me and imitate my pattern of life. Only so will I avoid the trap of appealing to one or another set of preconceived notions of what ‘the anointed one’, the ultimate son of David must be and do.