Thursday, March 16, 2023

As a church, we are reading through the book of Luke in the weeks leading up to Easter. If you haven't signed up yet, text Luke to 419-419-0707. The LivingItOut devotions will be elaborating on one aspect of the Luke reading for that day.

When you think of a hero, what comes to mind? Perhaps it is a superhero, like Batman or Black Widow. Maybe it is an inspiring leader, like Mother Teresa or Harriet Tubman. Do you think of strong muscles, bold leadership, or the dangers they faced? The word “hero” creates this anticipation for incredible deeds and the defeat of evil.

Luke 4 begins with the story of the devil approaching Jesus, alone in the wilderness, after he had gone without food for forty days.

The devil began by trying to convince Jesus to turn stones into bread.

Luke 4:4
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil tempted Jesus to worship him in return for all the kingdoms of the earth.

Luke 4:8
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

At last, the devil attempted to persuade Jesus to prove his power by throwing himself off the temple roof. And again, Jesus replies:

Luke 4:12
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Three times the devil offered Jesus power and glory—things most people expected of the Messiah. In his book, The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey wrote: “What should the Messiah look like? A People’s Messiah, who could turn stones into bread to feed the multitudes? A Torah Messiah, standing tall at the lofty pinnacle of the temple? A King Messiah, ruling over not just Israel but all of the kingdoms of earth?”

Like a fictional superhero, we want God to come in and knock out all of the evil and suffering in the world. We expect him to arrive on the scene throwing punches or leading revolts against sin. However, the Messiah of the Bible gave us a greater gift than simply blasting away all sin and pain. Our God loves us so much that he doesn’t force himself on us. Instead, he gives us the option to love and serve him, offering us a place in his story. He wants us to choose his way of making a difference.

Jesus eventually performed even greater acts than the ones the devil tried to tempt him into, like feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. He defeated death forever when he rose again. Jesus’ name is worshiped in churches all over the world. Now he invites us to join him in making a difference. He is the hero we really need.

Questions:
Which Messiah do you most want, a People’s Messiah, a Priestly Messiah, a Kingly Messiah, or the real Messiah—Jesus?

What other truths did you see about God and his purpose for you in Luke 4?

Next Steps:
Memorize a few of your favorite Bible verses. They don’t have to be long—just find ones that remind you of who God is and who he says you are. Next time the evil one tempts you, remind yourself of the truth, just like Jesus did when he was tempted.

Read The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey to help you see Jesus in a new, incredible way.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for feeling temptation, for understanding what I face when I am tempted. There is so much hurt in the world right now, and I know that you are even more grieved by it than I am. Please help me to accept your plan through all of the pain, because you can redeem anything, even in the darkest moments. Use me to bring more of your love into the world. I love you, even when I can’t see your entire story. Amen.