Sunday 17th February - "Jesus tempted too!"

Who among us has not been tempted at some time?  Very few, if any, I should think.  Today we are surrounded by temptations of every kind - chocolate when we’re on a diet; stationery in the cupboard at work.  But is the temptation wrong in itself?  No, only if we give in to it.  
Jesus was tempted by the devil soon after His baptism. Very often temptation comes when we have had a great spiritual experience.  At His baptism, God had said to Jesus “You are the Son of God”.  The devil set out to make Jesus prove that this was true.  The temptations with which Jesus was presented were those of provision, power and protection.  The devil used Jesus’ hunger after fasting.  He very often attacks at our weakest point.  You might wonder how the Son of God could be tempted at all, but he was absolutely human as we are and he understands our temptation moments because he’s experience all of human life. 

Jesus was then tempted with being King over all the nations but only if he worshipped the devil who reckoned he had power over all things.  We must be aware of the devil’s existence but not give him power and authority because Jesus took that away from him on the Cross.

The devil was not giving up and took Jesus to a high point on the temple in Jerusalem, the most sacred place for Jews.  He suggested Jesus that if he was the Son of God and threw himself down,  the angels would hold him up!

Each time Jesus was presented with a temptation he countered it with a quotation from Scripture (all from the Book of Deuteronomy which underlines the Ten Commandments).  On the third occasion, the devil tried to use Scripture too.

Now realising he was beaten, for the moment, the devil slunk away and waited for an opportune moment in the future to continue his attack on Jesus.  Many times in his ministry, Jesus must have been tempted;- all the demands on him by the people to heal; they were expecting him to become a hero, ridding them of the Roman occupation; demanding signs from heaven to authenticate his authority from God.

So why was Jesus tempted at all?
 

 *Temptation is part of all our experiences.
 *Jesus was human and divine
 *Temptation destroyed Adam but Jesus is the new Adam.

Resisting temptation can make us stronger in our faith and as people. But God, in his mercy, will always give us a way out.   (1Corinthians Chap. 10 v.13) 

Elizabeth Ewen

Sunday February 3 - Candlemass

Candles and lanterns abounded and songs about Jesus being the Light of the world were sung with heart and soul by nearly 70 worshippers - an extraordinary morning.  We sang ‘The earth was dark’ immediately followed by ‘Colours of Day’. We had great fun with ‘Jesus’ love is very wonderful’ and then we made lanterns – yes we added cut out yellow candle flames (which I have to admit looked a bit like rabbit ears!).

We spoke of Simeon by using an interactive version of the story in Luke 2. ,sang ‘Light of the World’ and then made a Giant Candle of Hope to which we added our messages of Faith, Hope and Love for 2013 which will be displayed in church – keep your eyes open, for you can’t miss it when it goes up!

We talked of how we can be mirrors of Jesus’ love in the world and closed our morning by singing ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ while the big people waved (very carefully) their little candles around and the children jumped up and down with their paper lanterns. As we didn’t have our hands free for the clapping bit in our last song, we were all stamping our feet.  What a wonderful time of worship.

Every blessing and much joy to you all for 2013.

Deacon Olivia.