The Timing of Temptation

by Bill Ireland

*Author’s note: this is the third in a series of articles on Jesus’ temptation and its effect on our calling and ministry.

I have an idea most of us assume that temptation often comes out of the blue and is totally unexpected. When we are in the midst of a time of testing, we may say to ourselves, “I never saw that coming!” We imagine temptation runs on its own timetable, and we are never sure when it will show up. Surprise is temptation’s middle name.

Jesus’ experience suggests otherwise. Instead of being unpredictable, temptation frequently follows a well-worn path into our lives. Matthew’s opening comments about Jesus’ temptation afford us some timely clues:

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.i

As Matthew tells it, Jesus “was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” The idea of the Spirit leading Jesus into an encounter with the Adversary is a bit troubling. It certainly runs counter to Jesus’ instructions that we pray, “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Although Jesus’ experience here raises some profound theological questions, another dynamic was at work. Jesus was tempted as he took the next step in his growth and development. At his baptism, God told Jesus who he was; now he had to figure out what that looked like in flesh and blood. He was vulnerable because he was in-between identity and ministry.

Temptation often shows up for us when we are taking the next step in our growth and development. When we explore a new calling, for example, we are taking a next step, trying to figure out if the opportunity is indeed a work of the Spirit and if it’s right for us. The excitement of a new opportunity, however, can also leave us wide open for testing. Having our ego fed (Wow! Somebody is interested in me!) can prevent us from doing the necessary homework and soul work of assessing where we are and how our gifts can best be used. Just because a door is open doesn’t mean we have to walk through it.

A second observation. Temptation often shows up whenever we move from one place to another. The Spirit moved Jesus to leave the place of his baptism and blessing and make camp in a hostile and threatening environment. There, the Adversary awaited him, ready to sabotage Jesus’ mission before he got underway. By making this journey, Jesus moved from the comfortable to the uncomfortable, from security to threat, and from safety to vulnerability. Literally and figuratively, Jesus was a long way from home and separated from the source of his blessing.

When we venture far from home, we can easily lose ourselves. How many times have we heard stories of young people who left home for college, a new job, or simply to explore the world. Free of constraints, many lose their way, deciding they can now be anyone or anything they wish to be. While that choice may indeed promote growth and development for some, it can be extremely disorienting for others. The pressure to “go along to get along,” can be too great, and some lose both their way and their identity. The parable of the prodigal son repeats itself. The son gets out from under his father’s supervision and loses himself. Journeying to the far country can be both exciting and dangerous.

Uprooting and moving provides an opening for temptation. As with Jesus, moving from one place to another forces us to ask ourselves, “Who will I be here?” Can I remain true to myself in a new setting? What does it mean for me to be faithful here?

Testing can also be counted on to appear anytime we are tired, exhausted, or even on the back end of a rewarding experience. Matthew recounts that Jesus had fasted for “forty days and forty nights.” He embraced this practice as a means of opening his life up to God and to give some thought as to how he might actually go about being the Son of God. Engaging this discipline likely strengthened Jesus’ spirit. Maybe he experienced something of a “high” as a result. If we’re not careful, our practice of spiritual disciplines can make us more, not less, susceptible to temptation. Years ago, I had a conversation with a spiritual director about something that was troubling me. I told him I had offered up frequent prayers about the matter to no avail. Peace eluded me. That’s when my director advised me to stop praying about the issue. In this instance he said, my prayers, far from helping me resolve an inner conflict, were actually feeding my anxiety. Although his counsel was indeed counterintuitive, it worked. I found the resolution I was seeking. In this instance, my prayers actually opened the door for the tempter to unsettle my soul. The same holds for all of us: when we’re seeking something good, the Adversary can hijack our search and turn it against us.

As a result of his fasting, Jesus was also famished. He was weak from lack of food. His hunger obviously created an opening for the Adversary to suggest that Jesus use his power for himself and turn stones into bread. Temptation follows the same path into our lives. When we are tired, exhausted, weary, and hungry for something—well, that’s exactly when we’re liable to face some choices that will test our faith and our character.

Times of testing and temptation can indeed show up unexpectedly. Nevertheless, Jesus’ experience alerts us to its predictability. Far from being “out of the blue,” temptation and testing most often show up in some of our most common experiences.

iMatthew 4:1-2 (NRSV).