Jesus was tempted. Matthew renders the temptations intelligible:
temptation of the bread, temptation of prestige, temptation of power. These are various forms of messianic hope that, then, existed among the people. The glorious Messiah who, like a new Moses, would feed the people in the desert: “
command these stones to turn into bread!” The unknown Messiah who would impose himself on all by means of a spectacular sign in the Temple:
"throw yourself from here!" The nationalist Messiah who would come to dominate the world: “
All these things I will give to you!”
= In the Old Testament, identical temptations allow the people in the desert to fall after their exodus from Egypt Jesus repeats history. He resists the temptations and prevents them from perverting God’s plan in order to suit it to his human interests of the moment.
The tempter or Satan is whatever makes us deviate from God’s plan.
Peter was
Satan for Jesus
= Temptation was always there in the life of Jesus. It went with him from the beginning to the end, from his baptism to his death on the cross. For, the more the proclamation of the Good News of the Kingdom spread in the midst of the people,
the greater the pressure on Jesus to adapt himself to the messianic expectations
of the people to be the messiah desired and expected by others: “a glorious and nationalist messiah”, “a messiah king”, “a messiah high priest”, “a messiah judge”, “a warrior messiah”, “a messiah doctor of the law”. The letter to the Hebrews says, "Like us, he was tried in all things, except sin"But temptation never succeeded in deviating Jesus from his mission. He continued firmly on his journey as
“The Servant Messiah”, as proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah and awaited especially by the poor, the
anawim. In this,
Jesus did not fear provoking conflicts with the authorities and with those dearest to him.
All those who
tried to make him deviate from his path received hard replies and unexpected reactions:
** Peter* tried to take him away from the cross: “Far from it, Lord, this will never happen!” . And he heard the reply, “Get behind me, Satan!”
** His relatives*, wanted to take him home. They thought he was mad but they heard harsh words, which seemed to create a rupture. Then, when Jesus had become famous, they wanted him to appear more often in public and to remain in Jerusalem, the capital. Again, Jesus replies showing that is a radical difference between his purpose and theirs.
** His parents* complained: “Son, why have you done so?” . But Jesus replies, “Why were you looking for me? Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” .
** The apostles* were glad of the publicity Jesus was getting in the midst of the people and wanted him to turn towards the people. “Everyone is looking for you!”. But they heard the refusal, “Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring villages and cities, so that I may preach also to them; it is for this that I have come!”.
** John the Baptist* wanted to coerce Jesus to be "
the strict judge messiah". Jesus reminded John of the prophecies and asked him to compare them to facts, “Go tell John what you have heard and seen!”).
** The people*, when they saw the signs of the multiplication of the bread in the desert, concluded, “This surely is the prophet who is to come on earth!” . They got together to coerce Jesus to be “
the messiah king”, but Jesus took refuge on the mountain to be with the Father in solitude.
- When in prison and at the hour of darkness, the temptation to be "the warrior messiah" appeared. But Jesus says, “Put your sword back into its scabbard!” and “Pray that you may not enter into temptation”
= Jesus turned to the Word of God and there found light and nourishment. Above all, it is the prophecy of the Servant, proclaimed by Isaiah that fills him and encourages him to go on.
At the baptism and in the transfiguration, he receives the Father’s confirmation for his journey, his mission. The voice from heaven repeats the words with which Isaiah presents the Servant of Yahweh to the people, “This is my beloved Son, hear him!”.
Jesus defines his mission with these words, “The Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life for the redemption of many!”. This lesson he learnt from his mother who said to the angel, “Behold the servant of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word!”.
By turning to the Word of God to deepen awareness of his mission and by seeking strength in prayer, Jesus faced temptations. In the midst of the poor, the anawim
, and united to his Father, faithful to both, he resisted and followed the way of the
Servant Messiah, the way of service to the people.
…