12 Jesus answered, “It’s been said, Don’t test the Lord your God.”[d] 13 After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity. - Luke 4:9-12

On Sunday, Rev. Brian kicked off our Lenten season in Revive by preaching the text we most commonly read on first Sunday of Lent - the temptation of Christ by Satan in the wilderness.  Luke’s version is highly descriptive, outlining a threefold temptation from the Enemy, put on Christ after Christ had already spent forty days starving in wilderness.

Create bread from these stones, the Enemy says.

I will give you the world to rule, the Enemy says.

Demonstrate your God-ness by leaping from this roof, the Enemy says.

In each case, Christ refuses.  But, he was tempted.  He was tempted to give in - but he doesn’t.  Christ is the Son of Man, as he says.  Meaning that he was fully human.

He felt.

He hurt.

He hungered.

But, he is also the Son of God - meaning that he is fully God.

He empathizes with us.

He knows our pain.

He feeds us life-giving bread.

Christ is like us, but so very not like us at the same time.  He took on our humanity and showed us that we can, through his strength, overcome our tendencies to go our own way.

He shows us a new path, and this season of Lent we are invited to join Christ on this path, together.  During our time on Sunday morning, we’ll follow Christ on his journey to the cross, as he preaches, teaches, and saves the very people who will persecute him  Christ doesn’t take any detours from the road set before him, and he calls us to travel along with him, through the cross, to the empty tomb.

If you’d like to study ahead, here is our roadmap for our time together in the coming weeks.

February 10 - Ash Wednesday - Before We Start, We Practice

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Discipleship takes preparation.  Jesus gives us just a few ideas.

February 14 - Lent One - The Starting Line

Luke 4:1-13

It all begins with temptation.

February 21 - Lent Two - Getting Off Track

Luke 13:31-35

Perseverance in the face of our culture, maybe the hardest part.

February 28 - Lent Three - Traversing Obstacles

Luke 13:1-9

Sometimes, the greatest obstacle to growth is ourselves.

March 6 - Lent Four - Don’t Look Back

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

God invites us to keep going, no matter how we lose faith.

March 13 - Lent Five - Almost Done, But Not Yet

John 12:1-8

Just when we think we’re done, when we’ve figured out the path, it all changes.

March 20 - Palm Sunday - Not The Finish Line

Luke 19:28-40

People thought that Christ’s entry into Jerusalem would fix everything.  It didn’t.

*Holy Week*

March 24 - Maundy Thursday - Fuel for Marathon

Luke 22:14-20

We are called to remember Christ, through the meal he gave to us as fuel for the lives we lead as his disciples.  All are welcome on the journey.

March 25 - Good Friday - It is Finished

John 18:1-19:42 (selected verses)

As Christ dies on the cross, he prays, “It is finished.”  Is it?

March 27 - Easter Sunday - Love Wins

John 20:1-18

Just when everybody thought it was over, that all was lost, a new hope arises from the darkness.

I pray that you’ll join us for worship this week and every week during this important season.  The Path that Christ calls us to is not an easy one, but the best things are never easy.  This Path is a strenuous marathon, a dangerous hike, a course full of obstacles.  But, together with Christ, we can win.

In Christ,

Pastor Jarrod