Spiritus Sanctus | Holy Spirit

Jesus full of the Holy Spirit - Luke 4:1 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

If water is life, water can also be considered death. I am going to ponder a bit on the baptism of Jesus. Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan. A full-grown man about the age of 30, completely aware what His baptism will bring, salvation. When he goes into that water, its also death He is taking upon himself. The death due to the Sin of Mankind. As soon as Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends upon him in the form of dove. Please note the dove is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit descends in the bodily form of a dove and the voice of Abba Father is heard. "You are my beloved Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

Since Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit, He (Jesus) is led into the wilderness. Let us move back in history. The Israelites wandered through the wilderness during their journey of Exodus. The Israelites did struggle and particularly when they were hungry and it took God to give them manna daily. It took 40 years for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. Here in this wilderness Jesus is tested for 40 days by the devil.

The gospel of Luke has mentioned Jesus as: Christ (Messiah), Lord, Son of God and Son of man.  In the Gospel of Luke Chapter 4 verse 3, the satan directly attacks Jesus's identity. He directly questions who His father is and who's Son He is (If you are the Son of God..)      

Keep in mind whenever we feel we are underwhelmed, overwhelmed, doubtful, disappointed, hopeless, worthless, not beautiful, not successful, no one loves the person I am, remember who has sowed that seed in you, (wink-wink). Don't you dare fall into that trap. Next the satan is going to attack you with the things you are struggling the most, the most basic thing. Jesus was famished by the time He was nearing the end of his fasting. And the first thing He was tempted with, was bread-food.

In your day-to-day life there could be a possibility that you could be lacking something you want and you don't have it. For example you are in a marriage where there is no love, no companionship, no physical or emotional love. The first line of attack of the satan would tempt you to commit adultery, or seek the things you want outside of your marriage.

If you working hard and you have the only house you are staying in, the satan is going to put fear into you that you would be homeless. Or there will be a rainy day that will bring you a downfall of fortune, and with that fear you keep working and in the bargain you don't have time for God. You don't have time for your family members and become a very self-centered,  self- reliant person where there is no trust that it is God who provides.

There can be endless examples I can quote. Just remember whatever we are lacking, it is only temporary, as said by Jesus Himself. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

As per the gospel of Luke, the second temptation was that in an instant Jesus was showed all the kingdoms of the world and its glory and with the second temptation all of this can be given to Jesus only if He worshipped and served satan. Now we all know that everything belongs to Jesus, in fact everything was made by the Word and the Word was God. The Word was with God. So why this temptation? Well, we all know that we are children of God. And how many times have we forgotten this in times of adversity, struggle, anger, strife, violence, and in the waiting.

Like-wise satan tempted Jesus at the time when His body was weak due to hunger. So even if we are homeless, we have been duped, we have creditors knocking at our doors, we are hurled with abuses, lost our jobs, reputation tarnished, betrayed, we were put into prison, and even losing our loved ones . 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.'

Right from the time of Old Testament Jerusalem has great importance and Jerusalem is more important to Christianity because it is where Jesus Christ was occasionally brought as a child, preached to the poor in his adult life, crucified at the end of his life, and resurrected by God. Satan takes Jesus to Jerusalem of all the places.

Satan can lastly take you to your very own place, people, memory, position, job, marriage, children, something that's the closest to your heart. One final time the satan demands if Jesus is the Son of God. So, time and again satan makes you feel worthless with your downs. And this time the devil or satan may make you do some terrible things in your misery or doubts and hopelessness. Don't be fooled, don't be so naïve, do not be deceived, don't put God to test. The answer to all this is faith. The more you hear the Word of God, the more faith you will have.

Remember, God will only give you difficulties and temptations that one can handle. Our Mother, Jesus's Mother must have been praying for her son when He was in the wilderness. So will our mother not let you fall, she will hold on to you tight, as you battle in the jaws of the satan. The one we serve has brought good news to the poor, sent to release the captives free, recovery of sight to the blind, set free who are oppressed and the one to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. Fear not! 

Reflection on Luke 4: 1-19 by Shalley Augustine

(Listen to podcast here)