The Relevance of Jesus’ Temptations
 

“1 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 for forty days, and was tempted by the devil. During those days he ate nothing; but when they were over, he was hungry. 3 Then the devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’ 4 Jesus replied to him, ‘It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone.”’ 5 Then the devil took him up and, in the blink of an eye, showed him all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, ‘I will give you all the power and glory of these kingdoms; for they have been handed over to me, and I give them to whomever I please. 7 If you fall down and worship me, all this will be yours.’ 8 Jesus replied to him, ‘It is written: “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.”’ 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; 10 for it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you”; 11 and: “They will lift you up in their hands, so that you do not strike your foot against a stone.” 12 Then Jesus answered him: ‘It is written: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”’ 13 After these temptations, the devil left him until the appointed time.”
 

Every year, on the first Sunday of Lent, at the beginning of the Lenten season, the account of Jesus’ temptation by the devil is read, and so it will be in 2025. It seems to me that this year, Lent – and the confrontation with the theme of temptation – is of particular urgency.

What have we not had to endure in recent years, weeks and days: the coronavirus pandemic, climate-related natural disasters, war in Ukraine, terror and war in the Middle East, brutal attacks, the rise of autocracies and far-right tendencies, government crises and changes, a turning point in global affairs. Many are shaken and frightened; quite a few feel overwhelmed or burnt out in the face of these massive problems.

Lent, which begins in March, invites us to bring all this before God, to entrust it to Him and to gain a little healing distance. I feel a real longing within me to ‘go into the desert with Jesus’ and to have my worries transformed through contemplation of Him.

Jesus himself is confronted with the Evil One in the desert. Some may take issue with the figure of the devil as he confronts Jesus. Is this not a figure of superstition from an outdated, primitive form of religiosity? It does not bother me that the account of the temptation personifies evil as the Evil One, thereby heightening the drama. It is the issue that matters; it is more relevant than ever. Just as Jesus was then, so we are challenged by evil today. Jesus undergoes three temptations; everyone can interpret them in their own personal way. I offer the following suggestion.

1) “Command this stone to become bread!” (v. 3)
What fascinates me most about current technological developments are the breathtaking possibilities of so-called artificial intelligence. With the help of AI, I can now do things in a matter of seconds that were unthinkable just a year ago. I receive a relatively competent answer to every question within seconds. AI suggests: the possibilities seem limitless. Cars will soon drive themselves. Elon Musk wants to fly to Mars. What else is to come? Will we not also be able to turn stones into bread? I have nothing against the opportunities offered by progress. But where humanity presumptuously sets itself up as absolute, the word of Christ counters: “Man does not live by bread alone.” Or, in another passage, with regard to the finitude of human life: “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you.” (Luke 12:20)
Against the mortal sin of pride (superbia), which lies behind the presumption of the person who sets themselves up as absolute, Lent invites us: Be humble!

2) “All the power and glory of these kingdoms I will give to you.” (v. 6) It has probably
never been any different throughout history, but at present it is becoming particularly blatant: the powerful of this world crave ever more power. The three great empires of today’s world provide the most distressing examples: Ukraine (Putin’s Russia) – the threat to Taiwan, influence in Africa, manipulation of trade and the media (China) – Canada, Mexico, Greenland, Panama, the Gaza Strip, Europe (Trump’s USA). But at what price? Does one not sell one’s soul to the devil with this insatiable lust for power?
Jesus is well aware of these abysses: ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers oppress their peoples, and their great ones use their power against them. But it shall not be so among you; rather, whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.’ (Mk 10:42f.)  He reminds us that glory is due to God alone, to whom everything belongs (Lk 4:8).
Yet greed and avarice exist even in small things: always wanting more. I should not point the finger at others, but start with myself. Lent invites
us to turn away from the mortal sin of avarice (avaritia): Let go!

3) “Throw yourself down from here... They will carry you on their hands.” (vv. 9, 11) The
devil adds a subtly disguised temptation: a lack of care and responsibility masquerading as trust. It is not trust in God, but foolishness, to let oneself fall into the abyss. One topic was virtually absent from the German election campaign: the climate crisis. Whilst this was rightly seen as the most pressing problem facing humanity before the pandemic, other events simply pushed it aside. Isn’t that absurd? No one on earth will be spared from climate change. Perhaps a somewhat dramatic comparison: on the Titanic in 1912, first-class passengers were still listening to a concert whilst water was already flooding into third class. For me, the third temptation serves as a warning that we must cast off recklessness and complacency and awaken to responsible action. “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Lent invites
us to combat the mortal sin of sloth (acedia): Take responsibility!

I wish you a blessed Lent, in which you may gain some distance from the temptations of evil and find liberation in the company of Jesus.

Gerhard Hotze