The wilderness is a scary and transformative space.   Geographically the wilderness of the bible was often a place between places, like the wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho.  If you were to see it as it stands today, even in our times of over population and immigration, the wilderness is vast and empty.  It is rock, sand, and scrub brush. There are cliffs and hill that cause twist and turns in your path.  Even if there are people ahead or behind you…you seem alone. And these wildernesses were not generally known as safe, welcoming places. A wilderness is a place you travel through as quickly as possible, it is not a place one generally lingers. Yet there were those who did…prophets, teachers, monks as well as holy men and women often chose the wilderness for all of the negative qualities of isolation and barrenness and because…of all the things the wilderness isn’t…there is one thing that the wilderness is.   It is a place of transformation…if you go spend time, intentional solid time, in the wilderness you will not leave unscathed.  You will be changed. So, it is no surprise to me that one would need to both be led into the wilderness at times, and driven into it at others.  The key difference to me is trust. One will be willingly led if they trust the one leading, whereas where there is less trust, the one leading may be needing to push a bit…or perhaps in some circumstances forcibly drive someone towards their destination. In our reading from Luke, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness…and willingly, as he had returned form the Jordan FULL of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was already in close contact and communication with God and the Spirit, a relationship of love and trust had been established between Jesus and God and on that basis Jesus trusted the Spirit enough to go willingly. Then Jesus enters into the wilderness and there we know well, how he was tempted with…bread, power, and a chance to challenge God.   However, today I am less concerned with the temptations themselves and more with how they were dealt with. First of all, Jesus spends 40 days fasting in the desert…which means he spent time in communion with God.  Like many before and after him, Jesus likely spent his time in the wilderness in spiritual contemplation.  In preparation for how he would live out the next phase of his life and while there, Jesus we know was tempted by the devil. And what I find significant is that Jesus goes with it.  There is no arguing, no denial, no ritual to cast out evil …nothing.  The devil speaks, Christ responds. Whatever, we believe about the devil…be he cloven hooved and individual, or a more generalized, spirit of evil pervading humanity… we each encounter something distinctly evil at one time or another.   At such times, …and especially as it often seems these time are times of Spiritual weakness, dark nights of the soul, or trials of the spirit…it is interesting to reflect on how Christ dealt with the devil. Jesus didn’t fret or fuss, Jesus simply acknowledged the evil that was before him, responded and moved on.  Neither spending too much time and energy in fighting the devil off, nor in ignoring his presence.  Jesus was succinct, firm and clear. I think that Jesus could do this because Jesus knew where he stood, knew who he could trust. Not himself, hungry and likely wanting that bread that was offered pretty badly.  Nor the devil, who taunted him and tried to break the bonds of trust Jesus had established with God. After all, just before entering the wilderness Jesus was baptized at the Jordan and heard these words from the mouth of God…”you are my beloved with you I am well pleased”  Words of love and trust, words of blessing and sanctification.  So, when the devil taunts Christ saying…if you are the son of God…if you really are the beloved as God said…command this stone to become bread. Or in other words…if you are so beloved, God helps those who help themselves…trust in your own power and prove it.  Jesus knows that the words are empty there is no real question or authority behind them. Jesus trusts God and the relationship that exists between them, and instead of relying on human talent and ability to refute the devil, Jesus draws on that relationship between God and his people.   Jesus goes to Scripture which reflects the story of the relationship between God and his people as it evolved over thousands of years.   Jesus trusts this relationship…he says…It is  written, one does not live by bread alone. It is the same when Jesus is tempted with glory and power, and on the pinnacle of the temple.  Jesus is tempted to trust something other than his relationship with God.  To rely on his own importance, or power, or to give the trust belonging to God…to another.  Each time Jesus clearly puts his trust in the relationship with God and simply tells the devil NO. So that when the temptation is finished, the devil leaves…until the opportune time. We don’t know when that opportune time comes again, or if it did.  However, as Jesus was fully human I assume that opportunity must have presented itself every once in a while.  Perhaps when Jesus was tired, worn down, frustrated, betrayed, hurt or doubtful…these are the times when an opportunity to be tested comes up once more. Maybe when Jesus was in the garden, weeping…questioning.   Do I really need to die, can you not find another way…do I truly have to drink from this bitter cup? At times like these Jesus, and we, are tempted to put our trust in something or someone other than God. Perhaps Jesus though he had a better idea, perhaps the temptation of power without sacrifice was revisited, perhaps Jesus doubted how worthy the disciples were of his sacrifice , … there must have been many things floating through his head that night.  Many desperate plans and alternate endings presenting themselves. But only one real question. Whom do you trust?   This is the same question that presents itself to us whenever we are faced with trials, dangers,   indecision and temptation…who is it that you will trust in? Yourself?  Your family? Your friends? The media? The culture? The status quo? The lure?  The desire?  The temptation? Or will you trust the relationship that God has with each of us? Perhaps the relationship you’ve built with God isn’t strong enough yet for unquestioning obedience, perhaps you doubt this trust.  Well, Lent is an excellent time (or as good as any other) to build that relationship…to allow yourself to be led into a proverbial wilderness and spend time fasting (either literally from food, or from the many things which distract you from time spent with God) and praying,  listening and being open and honest with God. And if you don’t know how to start …do as Christ did and acquaint yourself with the thousands of years and hundreds of people that we meet in our scriptures.  The great story of God’s relationship with God’s people…how he loved them, cared for them and built relationship with them in good times and in bad.  The scripture is full of means and examples of how God cares and desires a relationship with each of us.  Spending time reading the scriptures is like spending time reading old letters, and hearing old stories of family and friends…it builds your relationships and lets you get to know people in a special and intimate way.  Reading the bible helps you get to know God and who he is in a special and intimate way, as you develop your own relationship with God. So that when the devil comes and tempts us…as evil eventually does, you will have the trust and faith, the depth of relationship that will allow you to smile at the evil or temptation before you and go with God.  So that when there are questions, doubts and temptations…you will know with whom to put your trust. So that when the Spirit puts out her hand to lead you, you can willingly, gladly, confidently put your hand in hers and be led where ever you are called to go.  Deal with what ever is put before you and live your life as Christ did…trusting in the truth of your belovedness and the sure knowledge  that God will guide you well. amen