It Is Written… Part 3
We’re three weeks into our new series called “It Is Written” and hopefully you are beginning to see just how deeply woven together the Old and New Testaments are. Jesus quotes a fascinating passage this week in Matthew 4:4, and he quotes it literally word for word. The big question we must ask ourselves this week is: “Am I REALLY depending on God?” So often we say we are, and we sing songs about it, but we’re really trying to live in our own strength and by our own wits. That only gets us so far, and in the grand scheme, it’s not very far at all.
Title:Temptation in the Wilderness Date:1898 Artist: Rivière, Briton, 1840-1920
Anchor Texts:
Matthew 4:1-4 NASB - The Temptation of Jesus
Deuteronomy 8:1-3 NASB - God’s Gracious Dealings
Questions to Ponder:
Recall some times in your life you ever been “tested” by God. In a way that you clearly remember. What happened? What did you learn?
In Matthew 4:1 we read that the Devil was tempting or testing Jesus. Why is another name for the Devil “The Tempter”? Why is “tempting” such a difficult test for us?
In each temptation the Devil tries to get Jesus to ____________________.
Was Jesus really “tempted” at all to follow the Devil?
Jesus teaches us how to use the Old Testament to __________ or ____________ certain types of behavior.
Jesus also teaches us that we must understand the __________ and the _____________ of the verses we memorize.
We know the effects of starving physically, but what are the effects on a person of starving spiritually? (I.e. if one never “lives on the words that come from the mouth of God?”
Answers:
4. “support”, “refute”
5. “meaning”, “context”
6. “bypass suffering”
The Theme in Song:
This weeks song is a little different for a few reasons. It’s an instrumental piece, though I encourage you to read the lyrics in the video description. It’s also performed by an orchestra. The beauity of so many instruments working together is inspiring, and reminds us that we cannot resist temption on our own but we need first God: Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and we also need the church, past and present to continue to copy and speak the words of scripture so that we can stand firm.
The Theme in Art:
William Blake is a fascinating man. He’s known for his art, his poetry, his philosophy and his religion. It’s no wonder that his artistic depiction of the temptation of Christ is so unique. The Devil is portrayed in an especially interesting way. Why do you think he looks the way he does? Compare the hands, faces and postures of the two. What is the same, whats different?
William Blake, The First Temptation of Christ