The Vine: March 10, 2025
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”
This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted]by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”
This is the story of Jesus is being tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus was told to turn a stone into bread, offered the whole domain if He would worship the devil, and challenged to jump off the Temple. In all three situations, Jesus answered with scripture.
What do we do with this story? Do we view it as a story about avoiding temptation? If Jesus avoided temptation, then we can avoid temptation. Yes, but there is so much more to this story.
In His temptation, Jesus faces the choice that every human has faced since Adam and Eve. Listen to God’s voice or listen to the voice of the Tempter. Live depending on yourself and what you can secure or depend on God and be sustained by His words. All of us, in some way, have chosen bread alone. Out of our brokenness, we reject God’s voice and give in to temptation. In His temptation, Jesus stood in the place all humanity stands, but where we fail, Jesus succeeds. What we are unable to do, Jesus does for us. This scripture is about Jesus's triumph over Evil. One scholar said that after this event, any other time we see demons come to Jesus, they have a defeated presence.
When the voices whisper lies about who we are or try to bring us shame, we can tell them to flee from us. We can be confident that Christ is with us whenever we face adversity. Jesus understands our struggles because he has faced them. No matter what we face or have done, God has gone before us to show his immeasurable love for us all.
Prayer:
Almighty God, your Son fasted in the wilderness,and faced human temptations. Give us courage to face and name our own temptations,and to direct our lives in obedience to your Spirit. You know us better than we know ourselves; may we know you and grow closer to the vision you have for us, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever; Amen
Questions for Reflection:
1) Beyond simply avoiding temptation, what deeper significance does the text ascribe to Jesus's 40 days in the wilderness, and how does it relate to the human experience?
2) How can the knowledge of Jesus's victory over temptation provide practical encouragement and strength when facing personal struggles?
3) The scripture mentions "voices whisper lies." What common "lies" do you hear, and how can Jesus's example help you combat them?
4) How does understanding that Jesus faced similar struggles enhance your sense of connection with him and your faith?
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