How should our king come? As a mighty warrior, irresistible, conquering all to lay waste his enemies? Not this king. He would not desire to be known as a man of blood, lest his people be afraid to come into his presence. Shall he come with majesty, trumpet and drum, roar of crowd, surrounded by great ones and exalted by all? No again, for the poor and the weak would never be able to come to one who had no touch of the common. Or perhaps as a profound philosopher, a man of intellect and ideas. And again, no, for our greatest needs are of heart and hope, untouched by cool intellect. How then should our king come?
He was first announced. He was then identified. He was common, yet unique. And before he could open his mouth and begin his work, “He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.”Both Matthew and Dr. Luke chronicle the major temptations the devil threw at him…for bread (I’ve always thought the verse, “Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry,” was the epitome of understatement.), for wealth and power, and for notoriety, as well as his response to each one through the word of scripture.
Fasting, loneliness, a marathon of temptation (Many think Jesus was tempted only with the three mentioned. It doesn’t say that. “…where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days.” That’s what it says. How would you do if you received Satan’s attention and effort for 40 continuous days?)…what kind of king comes that way?
The writer of the book of Hebrews later clarified the essential character of Jesus: “…let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
And that is how this king came. Tempted before he could announce his presence, or perform his miracles, or preach his sermons, so that he could experience the depth of our brokenness and the breadth of our need. He will speak soon enough, and when he does his words will inspire neither fear nor disdain nor dismissal. He speaks our language and he understands.
Prayer: “Father of mercy, my mind wrestles with the idea that you are the eternal, immutable, irresistible God…yet, by choice, as mortal, tempted, and weak as I. Only because you are God could those contradictions exist. I am eager for heaven, where I will finally understand. But it is in my weakness and need that I see you best…the perfect priest who forgives and cleanses, who opens the way to love. I do not know how you withstood the unrelenting temptation. I do know that it cast open the way to heaven for one such as I. I am grateful and I give myself into your care. Amen.”