 Tuesday: Challenge of Fame
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest
point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself
down."
Matthew 4:5-6a
The Gospels tell us that Jesus was in Jerusalem frequently throughout his
life on earth, beginning when He was eight days old and continuing after
the resurrection. It was a busy place. Herod sat in the Jewish palace. Caiaphas,
the High Priest, had a separate palace. Pontius Pilate conducted part of
his government from Jerusalem. It was an active city, and Jesus knew it well.
Under Herod the foundations of the temple in Jerusalem were expanded. New
columns were raised. New gates were constructed. It was Herod's claim to
fame. The work began before Jesus was born and it continued for more than
a quarter of a century after Christ's ascension. This magnificent place of
worship, often called "Herod's temple," served as a cross roads between the
priests and the people, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the peasants.
Everyone was familiar with the temple. If something happened at Herod's temple,
everyone was going to hear about it.
The devil knew that Jesus had come as the good shepherd to gather His sheep.
He knew that Jesus would attract followers, and this did not sit well with
Satan. Instead of resisting Jesus directly, though, the devil tried to deflect
Jesus from His mission. Satan urged Jesus to jump from the top of Herod's
temple. What a spectacle that would be! Anyone who jumped from that height
and landed without a scratch would have created quite a sensation. People
would notice, and people would follow. Jesus refused to jump.
Both Jesus and Satan knew that God would not let Jesus die before completing
His mission. They also knew that the mission could not be completed unless
Jesus followed God's plan. Satan tried to derail the mission with the prospect
of fame and recognition. Jesus derailed the temptation by giving the glory
and honor to God.
Completing a pilgrimage is a big undertaking and sitting at the foot of the
cross is a moving experience, but these are nothing for us to brag about.
They are things that we do to honor God. If we do or say anything that claims
credit for ourselves, then we are missing the point. The journey is for us,
but it is not about us. Jesus taught us that the glory and the honor are
for God alone.
God of glory, thank you for blessing me with your care and protection.
Remind me with every step along this pilgrimage that although the journey
is for me, it is about you. It is not about my fame or my recognition. It
is about your glory. Keep me strong, bear me up, and bring me safely into
your loving arms. Amen.
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