Deut.
26:4-10; Rom. 10:8-13; Lk. 4:1-13
The temptation of Jesus presents a deep study of
human nature. Maslow is one of the most influential
psychologists of the 20th century who is well known for his Theory of hierarchy
of needs. The temptation of Jesus can be compared to three tier model of human
needs.
Physiological needs - these are biological
requirements for human survival.
The devil said to Jesus, "If you are the
Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
Stealing to eat' cases increase as
austerity bites. Charities and police report rise in people shoplifting
for groceries such as baby milk and food. When police officers in North
Carolina responded to a report of theft at a local supermarket, they found a
mother struggling to afford to feed her family. The woman suspected of
stealing food from supermarket in Hillsborough, North Carolina had been without
food for three days. We see so many such examples around us.
The temptation that Jesus faced is
a part of our life. Modern man faces this temptation in two different ways. On
the one side there is a group of destitute who struggle to get food for
survival. People of war torn areas. People who survived great calamities.
People who lose everything due to some human folly. They are tempted with most pressing
need of satisfying physical need.
On the other hand to another group the
temptation appears before them in the form of affluence. Fast food and parties
is the same temptation before us in another form.
Jesus was able to resist the temptation
because he was filled with the spirit of God. The silent moments of prayer gave
him strength to resist even the most pressing biological need. So Jesus
answered Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." For us
too the greatest strength to resist all the temptations is the strength derived
from the word of God.
In the hierarchy of needs Marslow
puts Safety needs next to biological need. Every man
looks for property and wealth and personal security. And the devil took
him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and
said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their
glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If
you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."
Money often makes everything messier, including —
and perhaps especially — murder. CNBC's new primetime original series, "Deadly
Rich," takes viewers inside the lives of those who were driven
to commit deadly acts all in the name of financial gain. These people come from
all walks of life, but they are united in their relentless quest to get rich
quick — no matter the cost.
The first episode of Deadly Rich dives into the
murders of Miami Fontainebleau Hotel heir Ben Novack Jr. and his mother Bernice
Novack. When Novack Jr. is found murdered in a New York hotel room, the secrets
of his unconventional life come spilling out. His wife Narcy Novack soon
becomes a key figure in both of these gruesome killings.
Just look around, open the newspaper or
switch on the TV what we find most is people taking the lives of others just
for money or property. It is a great irresistible temptation for us too. We forget
values and relationships when it comes to property and money. Children fight
against parents. Sibling fight among themselves. Relatives brew great enmity
among them. All these happen because we worship wealth and value it much above
everything.
Jesus said to the tempter, "Away
from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve
him only.'
In the hierarchy of needs Marslow
puts Esteem needs next to safety needs. Esteem for
oneself - dignity, achievement, mastery, and the desire for
reputation or respect from others like status and prestige.
And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the
pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
"'He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,'
to guard you,'
And "'On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
History has no shortage of disastrous rulers; this
list could easily have been filled with the Roman Emperors alone. Rulers have
been homicidal, like Nero or Genghis Khan. There are many instances of not
only sibling rivalry, but also of sons trying to rebel against their fathers
(i.e. the ruling emperors) for the throne. The most prominent being that of
Aurangzeb, the fiercest Mughal ruler.
After the death of Humayun, the guardian of his son
Akbar had to keep the death of the emperor secret so that Akbar could take the
throne peacefully (Akbar was only 13 at that time).
Akbar's son, Jehangir, had to fight his own son, Prince Khusrau Mirza, for the claim for the throne. The prince claimed that his grand-father, Emperor Akbar, had named him the successor in his will. Jehangir defeated him in battle, and was imprisoned, and later blinded for his acts.
Akbar's son, Jehangir, had to fight his own son, Prince Khusrau Mirza, for the claim for the throne. The prince claimed that his grand-father, Emperor Akbar, had named him the successor in his will. Jehangir defeated him in battle, and was imprisoned, and later blinded for his acts.
In The Ottoman Empire for a few centuries once one
prince became Sultan, no other prince could be left alive. Occasionally princes
fought wars against each other, but usually they were young children still in
the palace and they were merely executed.
In the contemporary history too we have many
examples rulers committing homicide to retain power.
This temptation for recognition and to gain
power reflect in every one’s life – in the family, in the office, in the
church, in the society, in our nation and in the world at large.
May the season of lent give us strength to overcome
all our temptations and follow the ways of God.
Satish