This prayer asks God to guide believers through times of struggle or temptation as Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. It asks that people open themselves to blessing by undergoing repentance and listening to the Spirit, rather than avoiding difficulty. The prayer concludes by asking for God's guidance so that people can face challenges as Jesus did when tempted in the wilderness.

1. A Prayer for the People of God
God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit.
Amen.

3. Matthew 4:1-11
Stepping IN to the STORY

4. WADI QELT
Where Jesus was led by the Spirit after His baptism

6. WADI QELT
Jericho &
The Dead Sea
St. George’s Monastery
Springs

7. CHRISTintheWILDERNESS
IvanKramskoy(1872)

8. Matthew 4:1-11
Stepping IN to the STORY

9. - 1491 – 1596
- Spanish Catholic priest/theologian
- Co-founder ofThe Jesuits
• 3 vows; focus on education
- Known for his teaching on spiritual
exercises/meditations, including a method
of “prayerful imagination”
- Allowing the Spirit to guide your
imagination as you “live into”
the text through Spirit-guided prayer
ST. IGNATIUS of LOYOLA

11. IMAGINATIVE PRAYER
- Read through the text 3-4 times
1. Notice the basics:
who/what/where/when
2. Notice major/minor people/interactions;
atmosphere, mood, tone...
3. Where are you in the story?What are you
seeing/smelling/touching/feeling/hearing?
4. What thoughts/insights come to mind?
What questions come to mind?

12. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil. He fasted forty days and forty
nights, and afterwards he was
famished. The tempter came and said
to him, “If you are the
Son of God, command these stones
to become loaves of bread.” But he
answered, “It is written,‘ One does not
live by bread alone, but by every word
Matthew 4:1-3 (#1)

13. Then the devil took him to the holy city
and placed him on the pinnacle of the
temple, saying to him, “If you are the
Son of God, throw yourself down; for it
is written, He will command his angels
concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands
they will bear you up, so that you will
not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said
to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put
Matthew 4:5-7 (#1)

14. Again, the devil took him to a very
high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their
splendor; and he said to him, “All these
I will give you, if you will fall down and
worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away with you,
Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the
Lord your God, and serve only him.’”
Then the devil left him, and suddenly
Matthew 4:8-11 (#1)

15. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil. He fasted 40 days and 40 nights,
and afterwards he was famished. The
tempter came and said to him, “If you
are the
Son of God, command these stones
to become loaves of bread.” But he
answered, “It is written,‘ One does not
live by bread alone, but by every word
Matthew 4:1-3 (#2)

16. Then the devil took him to the holy city
and placed him on the pinnacle of the
temple, saying to him, “If you are the
God, throw yourself down; for it is
written, He will command his angels
concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands
they will bear you up, so that you will
not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said
to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put
Matthew 4:5-7 (#2)

17. Again, the devil took him to a very
high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their
he said to him, “All these
I will give you, if you will fall down and
worship me.”Jesus said to him, “Away
with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve
only him.’” Then the devil left him, and
suddenly angels came and waited on
Matthew 4:8-11 (#2)

18. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into
the wilderness to be tempted by the
devil. He fasted 40 days and 40 nights,
and afterwards he was famished. The
tempter came and said to him, “If you
are the
Son of God, command these stones
to become loaves of bread.” But he
answered, “It is written,‘ One does not
live by bread alone, but by every word
Matthew 4:1-3 (#3 & #4)

19. Then the devil took him to the holy city
and placed him on the pinnacle of the
temple, saying to him, “If you are the
God, throw yourself down; for it is
written, He will command his angels
concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands
they will bear you up, so that you will
not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said
to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put
Matthew 4:5-7 (#3 & #4)

20. Again, the devil took him to a very
high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their
he said to him, “All these
I will give you, if you will fall down and
worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away
with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve
only him.’” Then the devil left him, and
suddenly angels came and waited on
Matthew 4:8-11 (#3 & #4)

21. Matthew 4:1-11
Stepping IN to the STORY

22. 1. Miraculous power for selfish gain
Only uses this power to serve those in need…
THREE KINDS of POWER Jesus AVOIDS

23. 1. Miraculous power for selfish gain
Only uses this power to serve those in need…
2. Social/religious power for manipulation
Doesn’t need/want fame/human approval…
THREE KINDS of POWER Jesus AVOIDS

24. 1. Miraculous power for selfish gain
Only uses this power to serve those in need…
2. Social/religious power for manipulation
Doesn’t need/want fame/human approval…
3. Political/military power for enemy domination
Jesus is not a “Christlike Caesar,” but defines
true kingship: leadership by self-giving love
THREE KINDS of POWER Jesus AVOIDS

25. 1. Feed Everyone; forget God
Activism apart from worship
2. Persuade everyone; forget faith
Proving God and eliminating faith
3. Liberate everyone; kill the bad guys
Political power as means to an end
(“We MUST use the ring of power…)
THREE Temptations of JESUS

26. Jesus Christ is not a Caesar of
Left-Wing activism or
RightWing militarism or
Middle-of-the-road empiricism
Jesus Christ is the true King of kings
who did not come to take sides,
but came to take over
through self-giving love

27. Matthew 4:1-11
Stepping IN to the STORY

28. Benediction
God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit.
Amen.