God's Mission
Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 17:1-2a
The Transfiguration
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them.
1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Pondering Point
Mountains have long held spiritual significance to people, places to ascend and meet with God. In both Matthew 4:1-11 and 17:1-13 we find Jesus on a mountain with company. It’s the devil on the Mount of Temptation; it is Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (as well as the MG of Peter, James, and John).
The wilderness is another place of spiritual significance. One week from today is Shrove Tuesday, known to many as “Fat Tuesday.” That means one week from tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, kicking off 40 days of Lent (excluding Sundays). Those 40 days parallel Jesus’ time in the desert immediately after His baptism, where He fasted from both food and water. Why? Scripture reveals He was led there by the Holy Spirit prior to beginning His public ministry.
The same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus in His baptism used this time away from others – and this time of testing – to prepare Him. Fasting was part of that preparation. As a discipleship pastor, I have no doubt that we all play a part in God’s mission, and that the Holy Spirit wants to lead us in that ministry. I wonder how He wants to prepare you. What do you think He is doing to prepare you?
Prayer Prompt
Ask the Holy Spirit how He wants to train and prepare you. Who might He use to assist Him in this? Look at your weekly schedule and ponder it with the Spirit; ask if you’re giving Him ample time, space, and energy to train you?
Journal Prompt:
The best time, space and energy in my schedule for training are...
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 130:1-2
- O LORD, out of the depths I call to you.
- O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be open to my pleas for mercy.
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Pondering Point
Would you say that your desire to receive mercy from God is paralleled with a heart that desires to show mercy toward others?
Micro-Group Connections
A Disciple's Lifestyle
Micro-Group Moment (MGM):
Considering the life of Jesus as a case for participating in Micro-Groups
With micro-groups (MGs) defined chiefly as 3-4 people, an obvious Micro-Group in the life of Jesus is the trio of Peter, James and John. We mentioned previously that He did activities with them that His Small Group (SG), known as the Twelve, missed out on.
The story of healing of Jairus’ daughter was one of them (Mark 5:37-43). And this week’s story is another one: Jesus’ transfiguration and meeting with Elijah and Moses (Mark 9:2-4).
Mark 5:37-43
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Mark 9:2-4
The Transfiguration
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
But there's more than one MG in the life of Jesus. He enjoyed a close relationship with the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Luke 10, John 11). He could be found at their house on multiple occasions and spent substantial time there. Lazarus is even described as Jesus’ beloved. They were like a second family to Him.
He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.
~ Mark 5:37
• Who “adopted” you into their lives allowing you to be part of a second family of sorts?
“Jim [Wilder] used the Hebrew word hesed to describe what neuroscientists call attachment. I had never heard hesed described as relational attachment. Over and over, he emphasized the importance of our attachments to each other. Attachment is an essential soil nutrient for forming our character...”
p. 79, Wilder, Hendricks The Other Half of Churchurch