a while back i posted some "part one" thoughts from luke 4... the temptation of Jesus. i had more in my mind at the time, but wasn't ready to spill it yet. but often when i let scripture marinate, G*D has a way of placing the important stuff back on the front burner at just the right time.
anyway... in my "luke four-ensics" post, i focused on the thought that we rarely contemplate how much the humanness of Jesus affected him. i'd like to take that thought one step further. in fact, i think this passage invites us to flirt with the idea that just maybe Jesus had a hefty journey before he could slip into his "last-3-years-of-life" role as The Son of G*D.
i don't think i'm committing heresy when i suggest that Jesus wasn't born completely understanding his unique part in the bigger story. nor do i think he just woke-up one day and realized he was different from everyone else in history. we all grow into our roles, don't we? even princes born into royalty must decide whether or not they will choose to live as royalty and embrace the responsibilities of the throne. do we really think Jesus had any less of a journey toward grasping the true nature of all that G*D was calling him to be & do?
Jesus' story from beginning to the very end... (as in the garden before his crucifixion... and even on the cross itself)... was laced with choices that reguired him to decide whether or not he would follow G*D & his path or take the much easier route. his GODness didn't negate that his man-ness had to choose.
we don't really have adequate ways of speaking about all this, of course. the mystery of how someone can be fully G*D and at the same time fully man is forever beyond our comprehension. but shouldn't that encourage us to gingerly consider the practicalities of the inconceivable? (which is what i believe luke is inviting us to do.)
i'm thinking that much of what really is going on in the desert temptation account is the story of what happened as Jesus fully embraced his imago dei-ness and his GODness... his unique leading role as manGOD... the natural result of which was to be tested in that decision by the ultimate test-expert who hoped beyond hope to subvert the plan.
so... plug that reality into luke 4... and reconsider the devil's enticement... and see if it doesn't make it more powerful.
1. "if you are the Son of G*D, tell this stone to become bread."
2. "if you worship me, it will all be yours."
3. "if you are the Son of G*D, throw yourself down from here."
how are these questions such big temptations unless they tug at the very core of Jesus' consciousness? ...surely not simply because Jesus was starving for food, making satan's words somehow more threatening... as i was always taught to understand them. it can only be because the devil was truly trying to get Jesus to either reject or abuse his divinity and divert him from any plan he might have to redeem creation.
still not convinced?
then consider luke's unique bookends to this temptation story.
on the left is Jesus' baptism story. ever notice that in luke's version, he records G*D's post-baptism words as if they are addressed to Jesus? "you are my Son, whom i love; with you i am well pleased." not "this is my Son." why is luke the only version to record it this way? and what would be the purpose of G*D saying this to Jesus unless he somehow needed to hear it? if it was for the benefit of those watching, then "this" would have been more appropriate.
plus... isn't it fascinating that what luke writes next is a genealogy of Jesus' adopted human lineage through joseph. (whose blood didn't even flow through Jesus' veins!) why would he do that? could he be pointing us to consider something? i find it fascinating that the geneology begins with the words "he was the son, so it was thought, of joseph," and ends with "the son of adam, the son of G*D". was luke chuckling with cleverness as he penned those words? at the very least they remind us that even though Jesus wasn't just a man, he spent his first 30 years as one.
on the right of the temptation account... is the story of Jesus heading to his hometown and facing the comments & criticism from the very people who watched him grow up. people who for three decades had considered him only to be "the son of joseph". from my perspective... this is just as huge of a temptation as the one in the desert! to stand in front of relatives and teachers and the community and come out as someone different/more than they've known you to be for years upon years?... a man from G*D at the very least?... the prophesied messiah?
tough stuff.
and did you ever notice that luke mentions twice that Jesus grew... once "in strength" and once "in wisdom and stature and in favor with G*D and men."? luke is the only one who gives us the insight of a developing Jesus... a concept that is typically uncomfortable for christians.
so... why is all this important?
i've got my ideas. but i'd love to hear anyone's thoughts before i do all the thinking for you.
i don't usually write posts for the purpose of interacting with people... which is why i rarely respond to "comments". but if you've got some ideas or would simply like to tell me i'm whacked... post a comment below... or send your thoughts in an email to [email protected] . either way... i promise i'll respond.
I wonder if it is for us? That is, Luke's insight of a developing Jesus may encourage us in some fashion as we strive to become more Christ-like ourselves as we follow Him. Would this picture of a developing Jesus help us relate to him even more?
I'm just wondering... Please tell me if I'm way off base.
Thanks for the post and thanks for you.
Posted by: Matt D. | May 14, 2008 at 09:44 PM
it certainly makes sense to me. but the question is... does it truly help you relate to him better? if it does... that may be the answer to your question.
Posted by: randy | May 14, 2008 at 11:20 PM
if Jesus, who is God himself, finds it necessary to experience growth in wisdom and strength then that is really cool.
It says to me that there is a goal beyond just HAVING wisdom(he already had it, didn't he? AHH PARADOX!), but that the very journey of attaining wisdom and strength is a goal unto itself, a sacred and holy thing this growth process is. Maybe Jesus didn't want to miss out on that, maybe he couldn't afford to.
The "you" instead of "this" is saying the same ting about encouragement. There is something sacred about Becky calling me a loving husband, not just because it motivates me to be a good man, or because it is a way to show "honor & respect" to her husband, but the very act of giving and receiving encouragement is sacred and holy, it's not just some means to an end.
I've heard the whole "life's a journey, not a destination" slogan before, but seeing Jesus this way your painting is landing that idea for me in a big way. That's just my first impression.
Posted by: Tim Maynard | May 14, 2008 at 11:50 PM
the fact that Jesus grew in wisdom doesn't necessitate that he in part became man for the purpose of experiencing something. it would suggest that pre-Jesus G*D was lacking in some way... or needy. i don't think that's accurate. but some interesting thoughts. i love the idea that giving & receiving encouragement is sacred & holy.
Posted by: randy | May 16, 2008 at 12:54 PM