Readings for today: Matthew 4:1-22, 13:54-58, Mark 1:12-20, 6:1-6, Luke 4:1-5:11, John 1:35-2:12
After forty days and nights in the wilderness without food, Jesus was hungry. Such a small, ordinary, and obvious detail. I’ve often wondered why the Gospel writers chose to include it. Perhaps it was to reinforce the humanity of Jesus. Signal to their readers that Jesus suffered from human needs just like the rest of us. The need for rest. The need for food and water. These are points of connection we share with Him. But what if it’s meant to signal something deeper as well? What was Jesus hungry for? Food? He could have provided for Himself by turning stones into bread. Fame and glory? He could have thrown Himself down from the Temple and made a name for Himself. Power? He could have taken over all the kingdoms of this world in an instant.
It had to be tempting. After all, His Father had promised Him all those things and more. Why not reach out and take hold of them? Were they not His by divine right? Of course they were but Jesus was “hungry” for something more. He was hungry for God. He was hungry for His Father’s good pleasure and plan. He was hungry for the Kingdom of God and righteousness. And He knew to accomplish God’s ends through ungodly means would result in failure. Compromising on God’s truth would result in defeat. To give the devil even an inch would result in him taking a mile or more and Jesus would not have it. Why? Because His hunger was more than physical. More than emotional. More than intellectual. It was deep and spiritual and He refused to satisfy it through any other means than what His Father had ordained.
What about you? Do you hunger and thirst for God? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you hunger and thirst for the Kingdom of God in your life? How are you satisfying that hunger? Are you turning to the means God has ordained for you? Prayer. Worship. Meditation of God’s Word. Sacrifice. Service. Where is the enemy tempting you right now to satisfy your hunger through ungodly means? Take a look at your schedule or how you spend your money or where your focus tends to be. Is there time devoted to God? Do you give generously to the work of the Lord? Are you focused on others more than yourself?
Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays