FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-A

I Reading: Genesis 2:7-9;3:1-7: The creation and fall of our first parents.

II Reading: Rom 5:12-19: However great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater.

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11: Jesus fasted for forty days and is tempted.

Jesus’ Temptation: Overcoming All, Mt 4:1-11

Why was Jesus being tempted now, right after his baptism (a mountaintop experience) and right before the launch of his ministry? There is one primary reason. He had to be prepared-prepared mentally, spiritually and physically. How he could prepare himself? There was only one way: He had to get alone with God and subject himself; to gain complete control over His body and spirit. He had to get completely apart from the world.

He got alone for forty days and nights in order to be with God. He prayed, he thought, he meditated on the Scripture. Finally he planned to bear heavy1 responsibility to launch his ministry after conquering the temptations.

1. Jesus’ temptation (v.1)

a. Led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted

b. Tempted by the devil

2. Temptation 1: To prove his deity by using his power for personal reasons (v.2-4)

a. The temptation

          1) To meet needs by His own power

          2) To trust himself and his own  ability instead of God

b. Jesus’ answer: From Scripture

          1) Man needs more than bread

          2) Man needs God’s life spiritual

3. Temptation 2: To prove his deity by the spectacular (v.5-7)

a. The temptation

          1) To test God

          2) To attract attention by the spectacular

b. Jesus’ answer: From Scripture

          1) God is not to be tested

          2) God is to be trusted, not the spectacular

4. Temptation 3: To prove his deity by compromise (v.8-10)

a. The temptation

          1) To achieve his purpose by another route

          2) To switch loyalties or to take a short-cut

b. Jesus’ answer: From Scripture

          1) A decisive choice

          2) A worship of God alone

5. Conclusion: The triumphant victory over temptation (v.11)

Thought: The devil knows just where to tempt a person.

1. In the wilderness or desert: in the time of poverty or need

2. On the pinnacle, the highest point of the temple: in the time of richness, multitudes, power, fame etc

3. On a high mountain: in the time of prayer, peaceful life, serenity etc.

Thought: Jesus Christ met temptation by doing three things:

1. He spent time alone with God

2. He made sure he was led by the Spirit

3. He relied upon the Scripture

Thought: God created us out of his love to trust His love. But the disobedience of our first parents and our own disobedience brought suffering and death and injustice to the world. We are naked now, that is, powerless, miserable, destined to death, incapable of seeing God as a blind person. Lent is a time to come back to our senses; to realize our sinful life, foolishness, disobedience to God’s command and will. Let us pray to God with repentant heart so that God may heal us from our sins, strengthen us and lead us back to himself.

Thought: The armor of God is the glorious provision God provides for the believer’s victory over temptation (Eph 6:10-20)

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com