The Temptation

Ephesians 6:18 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the principalities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness. Jesus walked forward steadily into the stony desert. He felt the sweet refreshing presence of Holy Spirit with him. A cascade of love spilled upon him from Father in heaven. He was totally at peace. His Spirit anointed ministry was about to begin and this would be its first great test. Spirit had led him into the desert to fast and pray and to find within his own spirit the empowerment from heaven to withstand the savage onslaught of Lucifer. He was ready, and so was Lucifer. Ten hard days without food had passed in the wilderness, and Jesus' body was growing weaker. Dust blew into his face and made him cough as his throat became parched and dry. He fought gnats and dust which assailed his body during the day, and phantoms of his mind that Lucifer assailed him with at night. He dreaded the strange visitations during the night hours when his mind seemed to pitch and surge through channels of darkness. He would fight off sleep in order to maintain control over his thoughts and connect with the love of his Father. He thought of his cousin, John, who was able to stick it out in the desert, fasting and praying and becoming stronger in faith. He knew he would probably not see his cousin again, not on this earth anyway. He felt terribly lonely and sad, and he felt great pangs of hunger gnawing at his stomach. He slumped to the ground, then a voice, deep and melodious, and yet so hollow rang in his ears. “If you're hungry there's some fresh bread over here.” He looked and saw only stones, and thought to himself he must have imagined what he heard. The voice taunted again. “They look like stones don't they? Well turn them into bread. It's easy. I'll show you how if you can't do it.” Jesus looked up at the spectre, his mind confused. Michael and Gabriel were watching from heaven. Gabriel placed a restraining hand on Michael's arm. “Don't do anything. Father has it all in hand. He trusts Jesus to withstand Lucifer. It is a massive test of faith.” “I know.” Michael glowered. He calmed himself, then he added strongly, “But I have been given charge over him, to protect his life on earth from unlawful acts of evil.” “Yes, but he will be subjected to evil no matter what, and Father knows he can withstand,” said Gabriel with authority. They watched as Jesus stood erect and looked Lucifer full in his face. They watched as pure light and total darkness confronted each other, and they waited to hear what Jesus would say. It was a long moment in time and all of history was caught in the look that passed between them. “There's only one kind of bread that I need in order to stay alive, and it's nothing you can conjure up.” I am strengthened and fed by every word that comes out of Father's mouth, and bread for me is to do what pleases him. Don’t try to tempt me to use supernatural power to feed my own appetites. Just leave!” Lucifer vanished and there remained a swirl of dust where he had stood. Gabriel continued to speak to Michael. “These trials only serve to strengthen him. In his weakness he is trusting totally in Father God to protect and rescue him. He must not rescue himself. All he goes through is so that he can strengthen those who come after him.” “How will that happen?” “It is still a mystery to me,” answered Gabriel, “but I do know that Holy Spirit and Jesus God are experiencing something entirely new together. They are sharing a life together in an earthly body. It has never happened before.” Twenty days had now passed by and Jesus was finding a new kind of inner strength. For some reason the grotesque phantoms of the night had disappeared and the comforting presence of Michael and Gabriel lingered in their place. Sometimes they made music that quietened his soul. At other times it seemed that they had simply created an envelope of peace that surrounded his entire being. He thanked his Father for these very special beings, so powerful yet so gentle. Lucifer was furious. Archons and Prince Powers shouted along with him and fuelled his outrage. Lucifer had, throughout time appointed Archons, who were the archangels of darkness, Prince Powers, who had influence over all the significant cities on the earth, and spiritual powers that relentlessly pummeled the human spirits of mankind. These beings would feed off the way of life, the ethos of that region. They would ingest the corruption, the hatred and malice, the greed and the power, the religion and idolatry, the indulgence and lust, and they would amplify it back into the culture. This way Lucifer fed himself into and leeched from every power base in the world. This is why Lucifer called himself the ‘god of this world.’ Chief Archon stood and addressed the gathering. “I have a strategy master.” Lucifer looked at him, impressed and interested. “Speak on, let me hear it.” “There are rules of engagement - and he can be trapped.” “Go on,” said Lucifer, liking the idea. “Well, if Jesus were to try to use angelic powers for his own personal empowerment, and not for their assigned mission, then it would be an unlawful act. He would be acting independently from his Father and be acting in self interest like any other mortal. This could bring his demise.” “What do you suggest?” from Lucifer. “Make him demonstrate the protective power of his angels who don't appear to want to leave him alone at present. Push him into showing off their power beyond the legal limits. An empty display like that will dishonor him for all time.” “Excellent strategy,” clapped Lucifer. “You can even quote a Scripture,” said Chief Archon, almost bursting with pride. “That always works, said Lucifer. “Which one?” “It's in Psalms, you would know it, about angels being given charge over him, and lifting him up, lest he dash his precious foot upon a stone.” “Yes I know it. Good, that’s excellent work. Now you just watch this.” There was a place in the side of a high mountain that Jesus would retreat to at night to shelter away from the wind. It was not quite a cave, more like a space underneath an overhanging rock with soft earth and some low- growing vegetation along the front. He stretched himself out there and was preparing to sleep, his eyes closed. He found himself suddenly jerked to his feet as though being lifted by some kind of harness under his arms and around his chest. For a fleeting moment he thought this was an hallucination, or he was dreaming a dark dream again. It was neither. He was being physically lifted into the air out of the cavern and over the desert. He heard Lucifer's voice again. “Just relax and enjoy the ride.” Jesus was not perturbed. As he looked down he saw that they were heading out of the desert and towards the city, where they alighted at the top of the spire of the great temple. “Aren’t you afraid?” goaded Lucifer insolently. “No,” said Jesus calmly. “Do you think you are safe then?” “I am in Father’s hands, not yours.” “Then if God is your Father throw yourself down to the ground and let's see what he does. Doesn't even Scripture say ‘Angels are looking after you so you don’t even need to worry that you will bruise your foot on a stone’?” Jesus replied. “Scripture also says 'Don’t put God to the test.' I will never call on angels just to save myself. Father can send them whenever if he wishes. I don't have to prove my power to you.” Lucifer knew he had been beaten, and better to bow out of this one and wait for another day. Jesus felt himself being swept through the air again and back to his ledge, where he sat and gave thanks to Father God and Spirit for giving him wisdom. Lucifer called for one of the greater Prince Powers, the one that he had appointed over Jerusalem. “Give me a report on John the baptizer and his talk about preparing the way for a kingdom.” “He speaks about the kingdom of God which Jesus is to establish somehow during his lifetime on earth. He also calls it the kingdom of heaven. The baptizer has also angered Herod, he won’t last long.” “So Jesus wants to rule the world does he?” “I am sure he does,” said The Prince Power. “And who is the god of this world?” “You are my lord. We worship you.” “I know, and so shall he, Jesus will worship me!” he vented angrily. Jesus had now been thirty days in the desert without food and he was famished. He was feeling weak in his body, but there was a distillation of strength in his spirit. He felt ready for anything. Lucifer appeared again at twilight as he was setting himself for prayer and meditation in his grotto halfway up the lofty mountain. “Let's go for another ride to the top of this mountain. The view is much better from there.” And with that Jesus felt himself again being transported through space, upward, to the top of the high peak above his retreat. Jesus breathed peace into himself. It was a supernatural peace that he could breathe into his spirit like breath into his lungs. It was the peace of his Father in heaven and it was always available to him. When they arrived at the mountain top Lucifer sat opposite Jesus and engaged him face to face. “Do you know that I am the god of this world?” shot Lucifer at Jesus. “I know that is a name you are called by.” “Do you know what that means? It means that I hold sway over kingdoms. It means that I rule. I influence kings and they control people.” Lucifer paused and then went on. “People worship gods.” “I know,” said Jesus. “I am the god of this world, and I hold sway over the kingdoms of this world and so… so if you will bow down and worship me, I will hand over the power and rule of all these kingdoms to you…forever…” There was a dramatic silence. Because of Jesus' humanity and its inherent weakness Jesus could fail at any time and accept the bribe. He could choose, as Adam did, to operate independently from Father, but he chose not to. In standing against Lucifer he was designing the destined victory for the soul of mankind. Part of his mission was to relive the trials of Adam and prove faithful where all other men had failed. “Did you hear me? I said forever! menaced Lucifer. “I heard you.” “And?” “Just leave.” “What?” Incredulously. Jesus muttered the words again without even looking at him. He stood up and looked towards the twilight horizon in its beauty. He turned to Lucifer. “Only The Lord God can be worshiped - There is no other. I will get back without you, I don’t need your transport.” Michael and Gabriel waited for Lucifer to leave then flew in and stood by Jesus on top of the mountain. “Father sent us to take you back.” Jesus slumped to the ground, his body exhausted by his ordeal in the wilderness. The angels swept him up and took him back to his shelter. There he relaxed and felt a surge of energy. He had outlasted Lucifer, a limited being, who is energized by fear, and Jesus had fed him none. Lucifer was utterly spent. Jesus had moved forward into a new spiritual authority. In those forty days he had also moved history forward towards a new authority for the people of God. Jesus became the ultimate spiritual gladiator or swordsman, girded up and ready to overthrow the enemy. In his right hand he wielded the Word of God to cut off the head of deception. In his left hand he used his smothering shield of faith against the menaces of taunts and provocation. He was protected from fear by love, a breastplate of gold covering his heart, and a helmet of truth protecting his mind from disorder. (Philippians 4:6) After his resurrection and ascension Jesus would empower mankind with this same power to overthrow cosmic powers. Those of faith on the earth would stand (Acts 7:55) with Jesus, above these beings and rule over them with a holy and unassailable authority.