Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,
’Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you’,
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The genealogy we just considered is something of an interlude, a comment about, and foreshadowing of, Jesus’ significance as savior of all humanity. The action of the story proper starts moving again now in this description of Jesus’ temptation. Notice, for instance, that Jesus is just now returning from the Jordan where he was baptized and that he is, as Luke describes, “full of the Spirit.”

Which is important. Full of the Spirit, he can withstand temptation. Having just been baptized, he can enter into the wilderness. Having learned who he is by hearing whose he is – God’s beloved Son – he can endure the trial to come. Having received God’s affirmation – with you I am well pleased – he can face un unknown and difficult future. This connection between Baptism, the Spirit, identity, and affirmation to his ability to move into this encounter with the devil is important.

But also notice that it is the same Spirit who leads him into the wilderness. That’s important, too. The Spirit is not all “sweetness and light.” Yes, the Spirit descended on Jesus as he heard the voice from heaven grant identity and affirmation. And now that same Spirit is leading him into the wilderness to be tested for forty days and tempted.

Blessing or challenge, affirmation or wilderness, identity or isolation, Luke confesses the Spirit at work. Does this justify our consigning all that is difficult or tragic in our lives to the hand of God? No. God does not will evil for God’s people. But might the Spirit lead us beyond what we thought was possible, drive us to places we wouldn’t otherwise go, challenge us with situations we didn’t think we were prepared for? Count on it.

Makes you think twice about the ancient prayer of the Church, the one we sometimes pray at Holy Communion, “Come, Holy Spirit”!

But that is the nature of the Spirit – empowering, restless, dynamic, challenging. And if Luke wants us to know nothing else right now, I’d say he wants us to know that life in and with the Spirit is always an adventure. So go ahead, say it, you’ll be okay. Not the same, of course, but okay. “Come, Holy Spirit!”

Prayer: Dear God, send us the Holy Spirit to affirm, call, challenge, stretch, lead, and comfort us. Now. Always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.