Temptation on a Silver Platter

(John 3:25-36)

25An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

I love how Scripture doesn't always fill in every detail. Sometimes there are things that aren't fully explained because God wants us to think it thru and relate it to our real life to understand it. That keeps his word real to us, fresh, not just a story written out line by line. Every passage of Scripture contains so much more than merely the words on the page. And it is the Holy Spirit that comes along side of us and helps us to find the answers to our many questions. That is why an unbeliever will never be able to understand the Scriptures in Truth, because he has no relationship with God... and therefore has no one to interpret and to converse with concerning Truth. How precious is the Spirit of Truth.

The argument among the disciples was about ceremonial washing, which is part of the ritual before eating or performing holy functions. It was handed down traditionally from the time of Moses. That is where the argument started...

But by the time the argument reached John it had become a taunt that pitted the ministry of John against the ministry of Jesus. It's as though you can see the enemy reaching into the hearts of men and manipulating them like a puppet on his hand. The smallest legalistic things is used to rouse peoples anger, disrupting their common sense and self-control, and then it escalates into the real intent of the enemy -- to tempt that key person to sin.

It doesn't even have to be the pastor, often times it is that right-hand man, or that little woman holding the world on her back. But the enemy knows that if he builds enough discontent among the group, he can maneuver them to thump that first domino over, or to drop that one straw.

It's fascinating, the tangled web, the poised precision of the strike, yet the quiet subtlety slithering from the garden so long ago into our own hearts and lives. A challenge to our greed, to our pride, our inability to say no to our arrogance... temptation.

Here is John hearing the usual grumbling that arises among any group of people. Thinking that it will subside and be resolved and peace restored, like the many times before. But suddenly from no where, it turns upon him and is suddenly thrust in his face -- arrogance/jealousy served up to him on a silver platter, "... the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

This was the moment. The enemy slithered close listening with every scale on his body for the sound of John lifting his fork to take a bite. If snakes could sweat, he would have been. It was a crucial moment, many things hinged on the decision that John would make. He was not immune to the temptation, he was a man just like you or me. Human. Doubts flashed thru his mind. We'll read more about that after his arrest.

Do you think your commitment, your walk, your faithfulness, doesn't matter?...
well, think again. The power of many things was in John's hand at that moment. God would succeed in his plan, but how many souls would be won or lost based on the decision that John was about to make. How many wounds would be inflicted upon the people that watched him, that depended on his leadership to reflect Christ?

"Jealously, Envy, Arrogance, and Pride... just a little. What would it really matter? So what if I make an off the cuff comment that damages the reputation of some good person, or that makes me look a little better than them. I need affirmation too. I need people to like me just like anybody else. Isn't that merely being human? Is it truly so harsh a thing that you would label it a sin?..."

yes, it is a sin.

John knew that. But beyond that, he knew what God had called him to. He knew that he was to fulfill a purpose and that that purpose was complete. He knew that the passing of the baton was at hand, and he knew that that would be the most difficult of the entire task. Sacrificing what you know and love. He loved obeying God, he loved his calling, he loved everything about it and that he was good at it, anointed. But now that calling was asking him to give the glory of it all up, to invest it in the call of another. To hand it off to someone else, so that they could fulfill their calling and mission and ministry. He knew without doubt that that was the will of God, as contrary as it felt to every human desire and want of his flesh.

The temptation was there... but so was the faithfulness of this man of God.

19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5)

and so...

27To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.

31"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

If only we would choose faithfulness over arrogance in the face of temptation.
We hold so much power in our hands with every choice we make. Good or Evil. Life or Death.

Father God, make us strong, help us to seek You continually to increase our faith and our faithfulness, so that we would always choose Life. For that is your heart, your love and your desire for each of us. You paid such a great price to share the power in your hands with us, to put it in our hands as your children, as your family, to keep us from Evil and from Death. Thank You Lord. Help us to be full of courage. To claim what we are instructed to claim, to declare your Truth and Love without fear or regret, and to sacrifice all for your glory even those things that we love most dearly. In the name of Jesus, our God and Friend. Amen.