Jesus returned from the Jordan River full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. There he was tempted for forty days by the devil. He ate nothing during those days and afterward Jesus was starving. The devil said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread.” Next the devil led him to a high place and showed him in a single instant all the kingdoms of the world. The devil said, “I will give you this whole domain and the glory of all these kingdoms. It’s been entrusted to me and I can give it to anyone I want. Therefore, if you will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It’s written, You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” The devil brought him into Jerusalem and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here; for it’s written: He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.” Jesus answered, “It’s been said, Don’t test the Lord your God.” After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity. (Luke 4:1-13, CEB)
This translation gets is partially correct.
Usually, in the NRSV we get the devil questioning Jesus, “If you are the son of God…” But here the CEB starts out, “Since you are God’s Son…”
Well I know I have written before, the Greek word here is εἰ and it means if, and since. And I have always believed that since the devil is a fallen angel, there was no doubt in the devil that Jesus was God’s son. Now the devil could have been saying if to make Jesus question that fact, but I am more prone to say that the devil said since you are God’s son, turn these stones to bread.
The devil doesn’t doubt who Jesus is, and Jesus doesn’t doubt who he is. Do we doubt who Jesus is?
Since Jesus is the son of God and stepped down from his throne to love us, can we not love the world?
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 