Denied!

Please Read Matthew 16:24-26

Self has been the problem from the very start. Poor Eve, she was the first to be duped by the devil to put her “self” above all else. This delicious and seductive temptation was too much to resist. She fell for the insidious question, “did God really say…?” The answer of course was, “God DID say…”. Too late. She traded in God’s goodness for self and things were never the same again. Eve did not deny her self.

Fast forward to the other famous temptation, the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. That devil was up to his tricks again. Each one of the three temptations was an attempt to make Jesus put himself first, above his heavenly Father. The devil’s diabolical plan and purpose was to make Jesus believe that he had the power and the right to act independently from the Father. It was to separate Jesus from the God-head.

Jesus was dared to prove his credentials and turn stone to bread. Seems innocuous enough, he was, after all, very hungry; but to do so would have been to do something apart from the Father’s word and under his own independent power. His only response to the devil is the Word, “man does not live by bread alone.” Jesus denies himself.

The devil tried again. Look at all these kingdoms, Jesus. Authority and splendor are yours for the asking. Just one little thing, worship ME. Was this enough to make Jesus act on his own behalf, apart from the Father’s will? The whole world! How about a quick and easy road to messianic glory; skipping the cross. What a compelling offer. Would Jesus go for power and authority and relevance? Nope, He doesn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole; he doesn’t even address the offer. He responds with the Word, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him ONLY”. Jesus defers to the Father and denies himself.

Third times the charm, right? This time the devil gives Jesus the chance to do something spectacular, thrilling, death defying. Of the three temptations this is the most spiritual one. It is not about bread or kingdoms, but God. It is not about filling legitimate needs to satiate our stomachs or need for power, but prove that God is on our side. This is the one that shoots straight to the heart of Jesus’ relationship with the Father. Jesus could very well secure his significance when those angels swoop down and rescue him from his free fall. Jesus’ final and remarkably calm response was again the Word, “do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Jesus again refuses to prove God’s faithfulness. He refuses to make something of himself in a showy display of confidence. Jesus denies himself.

Jesus is facing the cross. He is facing painful death. He is facing taking on the sin of the world. Jesus continues to deny himself as he asks us to deny ourselves. He is not asking anything more from us than he himself endured already. God provides us his Spirit to lead us through with power and strength just as he provided his Spirit to Jesus as he went through the temptation and the cross.

Paul asserts that he was given the thorn in his flesh too keep him from becoming conceited and here is God’s Word of comfort to him. . .

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9.

God is faithful to us with his wonderful grace as we deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow him.

Jennie Kind