March 4, 2001
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First Sunday in Lent Pastor Ole Amund Gillebo Gospel Luke 4:1-13 Sometimes we feel like the words of the poet Robert Browning: "The lark’s on the wing, But we do not have to wait for a long time before discovering that not everything is quite right with the world. Broken relationships, pain, violence, hate and war, misuse of power, injustice, and death enter into each of our lives. Sooner or later we are tempted to ask the question: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" At least for one reason it is good to read the Bible about the devil: all evil cannot come from human beings! Mankind is not the cause of all the wrong with the world. Evil is caused by the Evil one! The Bible tells us to be realistic with regard to the devil and his power. He is even called the ruler of this world.(John 12:31) This does not mean that we are not responsible. We are responsible for what we are doing and not doing, and on the last day we are to be judged by our Lord. Because of the disobedience of our first parents, all have opposed the Creator. Paul says in Romans 3:22-23: "For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God", and 5:12: "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned-." What was said to Adam and Eve; "You are dust, to
dust you shall return", (Gen. 3:19) From the Gospel for today we learn that the devil is the tempter, not only in the Garden of Eden and not only in the wilderness of Palestine, but in all this world. Temptation in the Bible has two main purposes. The first is the temptation to disobedience and sin. This comes from our inward will and is the devil’s work. The second main sense is the trial and testing by circumstances and experiences in life which intend to test our faith and our obedience to God. This is God’s work by the Holy Spirit. The purpose is to sanctify our life and to build our Christian character. (Romans 5:3) In many cases both meanings are present or possible. From the Gospel of today we understand they are both active in the temptation of Jesus. It was God by the Holy Spirit who led, even drove, Jesus into the wilderness. It was the devil who tempted him there. The three different temptations aimed at Jesus’ disobedience to God, his Father. But Jesus resisted every temptation with the word of God and in the power of the Holy Spirit. The three different temptations cover three central cases in human life as well: to seek life in material things, to seek power and glory for ourselves, to seek ourselves in God’s position! This is basically the temptation of all and of the church, as well. In short, the three cases focus the obedience to the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me", Ex. 20:2. Luther did ask in the Small Catechism: What does it mean? Answer: We shall fear, love, and trust in God above all things! The good message is that in spite of the devil and evil, God has himself acted and he has overcome our enemy. This is the good message of Jesus Christ. God has solved the problem and offers salvation through his Son, who overcame the temptation. He is the victor. He died for the sin of this world. By his resurrection God has provided justice and justification to all who believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him in his life. The good message is about God’s grace! By Baptism He brought us out of the power of evil into the Kingdom of God, and through Holy Communion He gives us his grace and the power to withstand the tempter. By the Word and the Sacraments we benefit from the victory of Christ! Paul says in Ephesians 6: 10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" and v 16-17: "all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Abraham Lincoln once said: "I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all around me seemed insufficient for the day". God, give to us your grace and power and protect us against the evil enemy. Amen |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |