The Devil Is A Reasonable Man (Sunday, March 10, 2019) Rev. Peter Heinrichs
Luke 4:1-13 (NRSV)
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
5 Then the devil[a] led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil[b] said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”
9 Then the devil[c] took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying 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 protect you,’
11 and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Now the devil is a reasonable man. You notice that the devil even quotes scripture. And there is nothing inherently unreasonable in what the devil tempts Jesus to do. Let’s take a look. You’ll see what I mean. Jesus is only being offered an up-scaled version of temptations you and I meet all the time.
Now, I don’t have in mind a red devil with horns, a fork tool and a twitchy tail. The devil I know is a voice inside, the voice of mistrust that makes me want to grab onto all the security I can find. The fact is, sometimes I do have mistrust about my future and question what God’s got in mind for me and feel I need to take charge and build up some ‘guarantees’ around me. Well, guess what? That’s right where the devil shows up. The devil appears most reasonable when I’m feeling most vulnerable. The devil in my mind wears nice but normal clothes, not too flashy, carries the latest tablet in his hand that has lots of information in it, and has a way of looking into my eyes and telling me he’s got just the right package to fit my fears. And so he does. So he does. Sometimes he says I need to act quickly on this opportunity he’s offering because it’s only here for a short time……
Now even though part of me wants what the devil is offering, I’m not a total idiot. There’s another voice in me that speaks up and reminds me that fear is never my friend.
Let’s take a look at what the devil has to offer Jesus. We heard this morning that Jesus is hungry after 40 days of fasting. He’s starving. Maybe his body is weak. He’s far from home. If you have the power to summon a pizza when you’re starving – why wouldn’t you? What’s wrong with that? If you’ve got the power and you’ve got the need, it’s all good, yes? Take charge of your life, so the devil says! And the devil is a reasonable man.
Unless, taking charge is really about mistrust that God may be incapable of caring for what’s important. Then taking charge is pushing God aside and putting fear first. And Jesus answers the devil, in effect, No, God is in charge, and I am all right.
Now the devil has some strong arguments, when you think about it. Listen to what the devil offers Jesus next. Power! Glory! You and me, Jesus! What a team! Your goodness, my power! Think what good we could do in the world! Peace among nations, inequality crushed, injustice banished! “Righteousness flowing down like a mighty stream” like the Bible says! All you need to do, Jesus, is acknowledge to everybody that you need me in the picture!
So the devil says, and the devil is a reasonable man. What’s wrong with what the devil offers? Is there anything reprehensible about using every available means to do good? Hard to argue!
Unless, of course, you shade over into justifying any means by your ends. Then goodness begins to look suspiciously like control. Starts to look like you know what’s best for everybody. How the world has suffered from those who are certain they know best!
But Jesus answers the devil, saying No, God is in charge, and I am all right.
Now the devil is nothing if not persistent. He takes a last shot at Jesus and given who Jesus is, even this shot isn’t unreasonable. This identity thing, Jesus – you as the Son of God – how do you really know it’s true? How is anybody else going to believe you unless you can prove it! Just step off the tip of the Temple here, let people see angels catch you and can you just imagine the Twitter storm? People will flock to your side. All they need is a little miracle to believe in…..just take a selfie with angels and post it. It’s no big deal and the reward is HUGE.
So says the devil – and the devil’s a reasonable man. Where’s the flaw in the logic? I don’t see it. Nobody takes you on your merits alone in this world. You have to prove yourself! How is anyone going to take you seriously if you don’t strut your stuff and post on Facebook or Instagram on a regular basis?
And Jesus says, No. God is my everything, and I am all right.
Jesus is very clear. He is not fooled by dreams of control. He doesn’t need the devil to help him prove who he is and why he is here. He is, after all, already all right. He is already complete. Already whole. Already holy.
And so are we. All right.
Now it seems to me that the temptations of Jesus are everyone’s temptations. And they all come down to one question you must answer for yourself:
Who – or what – is in charge of my life? Am I serving the devil of fear and control? Or am I serving the God of guidance and trust? Who do I really want to put in charge of my life? To ask this question persistently and honestly every day is the end of seeking and the beginning of the peace of God.
Which shall it be?
Good for the devil! I mean, if I didn’t have to actually face the question of which lord I’m serving, I might miss my chance to decide for peace. The peace that allows me to say, with Jesus, God is in charge and I am all right.
I am thankful to the devil for making me decide. After all, the devil is a reasonable man.
I just wouldn’t put my life in his hands.
So be it. Amen
Luke 4:1-13 (NRSV)
4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
5 Then the devil[a] led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil[b] said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”
9 Then the devil[c] took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying 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 protect you,’
11 and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Now the devil is a reasonable man. You notice that the devil even quotes scripture. And there is nothing inherently unreasonable in what the devil tempts Jesus to do. Let’s take a look. You’ll see what I mean. Jesus is only being offered an up-scaled version of temptations you and I meet all the time.
Now, I don’t have in mind a red devil with horns, a fork tool and a twitchy tail. The devil I know is a voice inside, the voice of mistrust that makes me want to grab onto all the security I can find. The fact is, sometimes I do have mistrust about my future and question what God’s got in mind for me and feel I need to take charge and build up some ‘guarantees’ around me. Well, guess what? That’s right where the devil shows up. The devil appears most reasonable when I’m feeling most vulnerable. The devil in my mind wears nice but normal clothes, not too flashy, carries the latest tablet in his hand that has lots of information in it, and has a way of looking into my eyes and telling me he’s got just the right package to fit my fears. And so he does. So he does. Sometimes he says I need to act quickly on this opportunity he’s offering because it’s only here for a short time……
Now even though part of me wants what the devil is offering, I’m not a total idiot. There’s another voice in me that speaks up and reminds me that fear is never my friend.
Let’s take a look at what the devil has to offer Jesus. We heard this morning that Jesus is hungry after 40 days of fasting. He’s starving. Maybe his body is weak. He’s far from home. If you have the power to summon a pizza when you’re starving – why wouldn’t you? What’s wrong with that? If you’ve got the power and you’ve got the need, it’s all good, yes? Take charge of your life, so the devil says! And the devil is a reasonable man.
Unless, taking charge is really about mistrust that God may be incapable of caring for what’s important. Then taking charge is pushing God aside and putting fear first. And Jesus answers the devil, in effect, No, God is in charge, and I am all right.
Now the devil has some strong arguments, when you think about it. Listen to what the devil offers Jesus next. Power! Glory! You and me, Jesus! What a team! Your goodness, my power! Think what good we could do in the world! Peace among nations, inequality crushed, injustice banished! “Righteousness flowing down like a mighty stream” like the Bible says! All you need to do, Jesus, is acknowledge to everybody that you need me in the picture!
So the devil says, and the devil is a reasonable man. What’s wrong with what the devil offers? Is there anything reprehensible about using every available means to do good? Hard to argue!
Unless, of course, you shade over into justifying any means by your ends. Then goodness begins to look suspiciously like control. Starts to look like you know what’s best for everybody. How the world has suffered from those who are certain they know best!
But Jesus answers the devil, saying No, God is in charge, and I am all right.
Now the devil is nothing if not persistent. He takes a last shot at Jesus and given who Jesus is, even this shot isn’t unreasonable. This identity thing, Jesus – you as the Son of God – how do you really know it’s true? How is anybody else going to believe you unless you can prove it! Just step off the tip of the Temple here, let people see angels catch you and can you just imagine the Twitter storm? People will flock to your side. All they need is a little miracle to believe in…..just take a selfie with angels and post it. It’s no big deal and the reward is HUGE.
So says the devil – and the devil’s a reasonable man. Where’s the flaw in the logic? I don’t see it. Nobody takes you on your merits alone in this world. You have to prove yourself! How is anyone going to take you seriously if you don’t strut your stuff and post on Facebook or Instagram on a regular basis?
And Jesus says, No. God is my everything, and I am all right.
Jesus is very clear. He is not fooled by dreams of control. He doesn’t need the devil to help him prove who he is and why he is here. He is, after all, already all right. He is already complete. Already whole. Already holy.
And so are we. All right.
Now it seems to me that the temptations of Jesus are everyone’s temptations. And they all come down to one question you must answer for yourself:
Who – or what – is in charge of my life? Am I serving the devil of fear and control? Or am I serving the God of guidance and trust? Who do I really want to put in charge of my life? To ask this question persistently and honestly every day is the end of seeking and the beginning of the peace of God.
Which shall it be?
Good for the devil! I mean, if I didn’t have to actually face the question of which lord I’m serving, I might miss my chance to decide for peace. The peace that allows me to say, with Jesus, God is in charge and I am all right.
I am thankful to the devil for making me decide. After all, the devil is a reasonable man.
I just wouldn’t put my life in his hands.
So be it. Amen