In Jesus' weakest state he was the most tempted.
I have always imagined, and I know it has been depicted that satan physically appeared and conversed with Jesus. But maybe it was just internal. The kind of thoughts that we often have, but Jesus knew, and defined them as temptations from Satan, where we often consider them our own thoughts.
Maybe Jesus saw a stone that looked like a loaf of bread, and knew he could change it to bread and for a moment it was a temptation to him, "I have finished my fast, I could just make that stone some bread."
Maybe after seeing all kingdoms in an instant, he was a little overwhelmed at the prospect of atoning for each person in all the kingdoms, "Do I really have to suffer for all of them?" and for a moment he feared, or at least considered not fulfilling his mission. And in that way would have worshipped Satan, because he did his will instead of God's will. Loving satan more than god.
Perhaps from the top of the temple, he wanted some assurance, some proof that he was being supported, maybe he thought for a moment of asking for a sign. "If I am really meant for all of this, if I really do have control over the angels, they would catch me if I fell"
I doubt that I will ever have Lucifer standing in front of me with a wry smile, telling me to wield unrighteous power, do something selfish, or to expect more of God than I should. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't tempt me. I want to try characterizing any unchristlike thought I have as if it was an external suggestion, and see how that changes my perspective.
I have always imagined, and I know it has been depicted that satan physically appeared and conversed with Jesus. But maybe it was just internal. The kind of thoughts that we often have, but Jesus knew, and defined them as temptations from Satan, where we often consider them our own thoughts.
Maybe Jesus saw a stone that looked like a loaf of bread, and knew he could change it to bread and for a moment it was a temptation to him, "I have finished my fast, I could just make that stone some bread."
Maybe after seeing all kingdoms in an instant, he was a little overwhelmed at the prospect of atoning for each person in all the kingdoms, "Do I really have to suffer for all of them?" and for a moment he feared, or at least considered not fulfilling his mission. And in that way would have worshipped Satan, because he did his will instead of God's will. Loving satan more than god.
Perhaps from the top of the temple, he wanted some assurance, some proof that he was being supported, maybe he thought for a moment of asking for a sign. "If I am really meant for all of this, if I really do have control over the angels, they would catch me if I fell"
I doubt that I will ever have Lucifer standing in front of me with a wry smile, telling me to wield unrighteous power, do something selfish, or to expect more of God than I should. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't tempt me. I want to try characterizing any unchristlike thought I have as if it was an external suggestion, and see how that changes my perspective.
2 comments:
interesting. What about all the self hate talk we give ourselves. Are we repeating things the devil first fed to us and we partook of?
I think that that is how he probably would have been tempted, at least that's we are. That reminds me of a book I read called Where Angels Fall that had some parts where Satan was literally whispering in people's ears and they perceived them as their own thoughts.
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