Lent 1 C The Temptation of Jesus Star Wars Style

spoiler alert Star Wars series

The Truce at Bakura is the  1993 Star Wars novel by Kathy Tyers that details events that take place immediately following the 'Return of the Jedi' (1983 Lucasfilms).

In this novel, Luke Skywalker continues to fight the temptation to descend to the Dark Side of the Force. He is surprised the the temptations do not get weaker, they get stronger. The more powerful he becomes in the Force, the more powerful the temptations become to submit to the Dark Side. But unlike his father, Anakin Skywalker, Luke refused to cave. He doggedly continues the practices that Master Yoda taught him, disciplining himself to resist the temptations.

Luke has just experienced the most majestic victory of his peripatetic adult years and even his entire life. He has seen the destruction of the Empire's Death Star. He has convinced Darth Vader to remove his mask. He has witnessed his dead father's apparition in the Force along with his mentor Obi Wan Kenobi.

It is often after the greatest victories that we experience the driest deserts and the strongest temptations.

Jesus has just been baptized. He has seen the Holy Spirit descend upon himself in the form of a dove, and heard his Father say that he is well pleased.

 He had experienced the

most

 majestic

magnificent

moment

of his life.  

Then he encounters the

deepest

darkest

driest

duration

of his life.

Veggie Tales puts it this way

We didn’t have a lot of fun in the desert

We didn’t have a lot of fun in the sand.

Now of course Veggies refers to the Israelites wandering in the wilderness.

But there is a reason why Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness.

There is a reason why he is in the wilderness

There is a reason why he is in the desert.

It is no accident that there are parallels to the trials of his ancestors.

Like Luke, Jesus practices the disciplines taught him.

Like Luke, Jesus refused to give in to the Dark Side.

Jesus emerges from the desert as Luke emerged from the swamp in the Empire Strikes Back.

Ready.

To.

Face.

Anything.

The.

Dark.

Side.

Throws.

At.

Him.

Garden pictures of God's great creation John 1:9

Today I was overwhelmed by the beauty of my fall garden. This summer in Oklahoma was extremely hot and dry. I watered and watered, thinking I would lose many of my perennials. Thankfully, the loss was minimal. This mum was planted last year in the fall. It has bloomed beautifully. The one shiny yellow flower reminds me of Jesus, a lone light in the dark world. John 1:9, NIV, The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. 

These are my Oklahoma roses. They are a smaller rose, seem to grow wild. This bush has been whacked and cut and pruned and it still comes back every year. It has been covered in disease and dried. I have cut it down almost to the ground, but it still blooms. May our lives do the same. 

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5

Lent 4B Love Darkness? Love light?

Lifting up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, Moses saved the people from the bites of snakes. All they had to do was look up to his snake rather than focusing on the snakes around them.

What a pictures that Jesus draws when he speaks, "So must the son of man be lifted up."

Look at the cross. Don't look at the snakes crawling around you. Especially the ones tempting you into sin.