A plethora of possibilities await the preacher, all suitable for the first Sunday of Lent.
Genesis speaks of God’s covenant after the flood; the bow in the clouds to be “the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."
The psalmist requests “Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation”.
Peter writes how “baptism, which (the ark in the flood) prefigured, now saves you” and echoes the request in the psalter, calling baptism “an appeal to God for a good conscience” that God gives through the resurrected Christ.
The gospel lesson is an action-packed thriller, offering at least five possible focal points:
- Jesus comes to be baptized by John;
- the Spirit descends upon Jesus in the form of a dove;
- Jesus is identified by the voice from heaven;
- Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he suffers and is tempted.
- Jesus goes to Galilee and proclaims “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Each of these is worthy of exploration and exposition; each can be blended with the other scripture lessons. Prayerfully consider what focus would best serve your people.
Why does Jesus – without sin – come for baptism? He doesn’t need it. He comes because “it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." I believe Jesus was choosing to identify so fully with humanity, that he identified with our need for cleansing and forgiveness. He felt the weight of “the sins of the whole world” on himself – here at the River Jordan, as well as later, on the cross.
Some early Christians thought Jesus became divine at the baptism. Though this was later ruled unorthodox, it would be worth exploring why Jesus needed the Spirit poured out in abundance. This part of his baptism allowed him not only to proclaim he fulfilled the word in Isaiah - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” - but empowered him to bring good news to the poor and so much more. If Jesus needed the Spirit, how much more we do.
The words spoken by the voice can also be found in the Psalms. Those who heard the voice heard an affirmation of the special role Jesus would play in God’s work of salvation. The Word become flesh must also have felt affirmed.
While Mark is brief about the temptations, the trio recorded in Matthew and Luke can always help us examine our lives. Appealing to human desires around our needs (wanting God to provide quickly and easily), our greed (an insatiable desire for more wealth and power), and spectacular deeds we wish we could do (and be better than mere mortals). Jesus rejects each with scripture.
How does Jesus deal with the temptations? By answering each with scripture, even countering a scriptural claim by Satan (from Psalm 91) with another scripture. John Wesley would later encourage Methodists to do something similar. In the preface to his first volume of sermons. Wesley shared his guide to reading the Bible:
“Is there a doubt concerning the meaning of what I read? Does anything appear dark or intricate?” Wesley said he would pray for insight, and “I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, ‘comparing spiritual things with spiritual.’ I meditate theron, with all the attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable. If any doubt still remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God; and then the writings whereby, being dead, they yet speak. And what I thus learn, that I teach.” (1)
Wesley also made use of both contemporary and ancient writings about the Bible (what we would call commentaries). Some of the poor theology making the rounds during the pandemic could be rebutted with some scriptural comparisons. We must meditate on the scriptures, seeking light and love, and encourage and teach our people to do the same.
Finally, Jesus says his listeners (and we) must “μετανοεῖτε”, the Greek word often translated as “repent”. The verb is in the imperative form; it must be done. The word combines μετα (meta) which can mean “in contrast to” and νοέω(noeo) meaning “perception or understanding”. Jesus is saying we need a totally new perspective in contrast to our human, worldly understanding.
God bless you as you lead your people into this season of growth and challenge.
(1) Sermons on Several Occasions, Rev. John Wesley, First Series, Preface, section 5 (Epworth Press, London, 1944 edition, Thirteenth Imprint 1977).
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Rev. Bob Dean is a retired UM pastor in Iowa, who enjoys studies of language and etymology, including Greek.