Sermon: Who We Are and Whose We Are - Deuteronomy and Jesus' Temptations

The Dual Lessons: Deuteronomy and Jesus' Temptation

• 📜 The sermon connects two seemingly disparate lectionary readings: a harvest festival liturgy from Deuteronomy and the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.
• 📖 Deuteronomy, meaning "repeated law," contains Moses' final sermons to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, emphasizing remembrance of their identity and God's providence.
• ✝️ The New Testament reading focuses on Jesus' temptations, where Satan challenges his identity as the Son of God, mirroring the need for the Israelites to remember who they are.

Remembering Identity in Deuteronomy

• 🌾 The spring harvest festival, known as Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, is highlighted as a time for the Israelites to celebrate their entry into the Promised Land.
• ⏳ Moses reiterates the law to a new generation, reminding them of their journey from Egypt, their rescue by God, and their inheritance of the Promised Land.
• 🗣️ The core message for the Israelites is to remember "who you are, where you came from, and who's you are."

Jesus' Temptations and Identity

• 💧 After his baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness.
• 🍞 The first temptation, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread," challenges Jesus' identity and immediate needs, to which Jesus responds, "Man shall not live by bread alone."
• 🌍 The second temptation offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he worships Satan, presenting an alternative plan to God's, which Jesus rejects.
• 🕊️ The third temptation prompts Jesus to jump from the temple, testing God's protection, but Jesus refuses to put the Lord God to the test.

The People of God

• 🧩 Moses addresses the diverse identities within Israel (priests, shepherds, different tribes) but emphasizes their shared identity as descendants of Abraham, chosen and rescued by God.
• 🤝 Similarly, Jesus, through his obedience and sacrifice on the cross, unites a diverse group of people into "one people, the people of God."
• 🙏 The sermon concludes by encouraging the congregation to choose God and live, drawing parallels between the Israelites' choice and the Christian's ongoing commitment.

Personal Identity and Faith

• 🧭 The concept of identity is explored through personal examples and the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), highlighting how various influences shape who we perceive ourselves to be.
• ⚖️ It is emphasized that while personal and vocational identities are important, the identity as a Christian and a child of God is paramount.
• 💖 The sermon draws a parallel between the count's act of retrieving the glove from the lions (vanity) and God's proven love through the cross, which does not require testing.