If..

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-13 NRSV)

Have you ever questioned something you know to be true?

Have you ever wondered if something was real even when you could look at it and feel it?

Today we read the story of Jesus in the wilderness, the desert, with Satan being tempted after He had fasted and spent time with God for 40 days. Satan questions if Jesus is the Son of God. Satan says to Him, “If you the Son of God…” Does Satan not think He is the Son of God.

We read this passage of scripture and we think that Satan is questioning or trying to get Jesus to question His identity. But what if Jesus’ identity is secure and Satan was not questioning it or getting Jesus to question it, but was affirming it. What if I told you the translation was not the best. The word in Greek for if also means since…

So Satan could have been saying, “Since you are the Son of God…” all of the scripture that speaks to the Messiah is about you and you can do all of those things so why do you still suffer here? Why don’t you just take care of it? And isn’t that where we get caught? Rather than trusting in and knowing that God will be there for us, we question if He is there.

Do not wonder if God is there, remember that since God is there you will be walking in His shadow.