Until an Opportune Time... Luke 4, 23

May the mumbling commence!

            When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time… (Luke 4:13)

These are the words that end the passage in Luke that chronicles the temptations of Jesus.  “Until an opportune time…”  Even if those words do not haunt you, they haunt me.  God’s Chosen One, the Messiah, was not immune from temptation; so it follows that you and I will not be immune from temptation – particularly when we feel that we are at the top of our game. 

Have you ever read the gospels wondering when those opportune times came?  One that quickly comes to mind follows Peter’s confession of Christ – though ironically what follows in Matthew’s (16:21-23) and Mark’s (8:31-33) accounts is ironically missing from Luke’s account (9:21-27).  After calling Christ the Messiah, Peter rebukes Jesus for speaking of his upcoming betrayal and death – as recorded in Matthew and Mark.  Jesus calls Peter (or better his rebuke) Satan.  This appears to be an opportune time. 

Luke only contains the words of upcoming betrayal and death.  Peter’s rebuke is replaced by a call to pick up the cross daily and follow me.  Perhaps these words were inspired by Peter’s rebuke.  Peter spoke of the way of the world.  Jesus spoke of the way of God.  There were other opportune times that are not as transparent. 

I want to focus on one that I noticed in Luke’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion.  I believe that Jesus lives through the temptation that he survived earlier in the desert while he was on the cross.  Indeed, Jesus was experiencing another desert.  Look at the temptations side-by-side from Luke’s account of the desert temptation in chapter 4 and Luke’s account of the crucifixion in chapter 23:

Temptation One –

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." (4:3)

You are starving, save yourself.  Feed yourself.  If you are the Son of God..

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." (23:35)

If you are the Christ, save yourself.  These are a pretty close match.  This crucifixion temptation comes from the people.

Temptation Two –

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, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.  So if you worship me, it will all be yours." (4:5-7)

You will be king of the world, if only you bow down to me.

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." (23:36-37)

If you are king of the Jews… save yourself.  The world-wide kingdom has digressed to a potential Jewish kingdom.  This temptation is spoken by the soldiers of the powerful Roman government that scoffed at any potential Jewish threat.

Temptation Three –

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.'" (4:9-11)

Test God with miracles that force you into dangerous situations.  You will be sensational and attract many to God.  You will save not only yourself but many others.  If you are the Son of God…

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (23:39)

This temptation comes from the criminals crucified beside Jesus.  “Aren’t you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!”

The devil speaks through many different people from many different stations and places in life.  Who will speak through you or me this day?  Christ or Satan?  Each day we will face temptations.  Each day there will be an opportune time. 

I pray that you and I may be ready to face those temptations.  Remember: Jesus faced all those temptations and triumphed.  Jesus understands what we are going through and loves us to the end.  Praise God! 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out