Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
I do not believe that was the temptation. It was IF YOU ARE SON OF GOD AND GOD IS TAKING CARE OF YOU, then prove it to yourself. He was tempting Christ's humanity. And the beauty of this is that we can relate to that. We're human. Jesus showed us that as MAN, He refused to tempt God, worship anyone other than God, and test God's care.
|
Interesting take, Mike.
The temptation, if against his humanity, was asking things of him that were simply unhuman. The fact is, the temptations were based on "if you are the Son of God," which is a divine charge, not a human charge.
To me, it's a repeat of the garden -- and I borrow Paul's "second man Adam" comparison. I see the temptation in the same storyline: trusting God.
I also like how he didn't take the easy way out. If he did, it changes everything. Some churches still operate with the "easy way out" approach. He could have showed mighty signs to everyone and compelled them to himself. But he didn't. As the Kierkegaard quote shows, he's lightness has given us independence to do with him what we will.
The echo of Satan's temptation was in Peter, the thieves on the cross, Pilate, and the mockers even at his last breath (if you are the Son of God, come down from there). He chose a cross over a crown, and it changed everything.