1st Sunday in Lent
Jesus is tempted in the wilderness. The struggle against evil.
Bibelsk grunnlag
After his baptism, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he fasts for 40 days and is tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13). Three temptations: to turn stones into bread (self-gratification), to throw himself down from the temple (to test God), and to worship the devil in exchange for the kingdoms of the world (power). Jesus rejects all with Scripture quotes from Deuteronomy.
Betydning
Jesus undergoes the trial that Israel failed — 40 years in the wilderness with grumbling and idolatry. Where Israel fell, Jesus stands firm. The temptations represent fundamental human temptations: satisfaction of needs, prestige, and power. Jesus' answers show that God's word is the weapon against temptation.
GT-forbindelser
Israel's 40 years in the wilderness (Deut 8:2-3) — Jesus quotes directly from Deuteronomy. Adam's temptation in the garden (Gen 3) — the new Adam stands firm where the first fell. Moses' 40 days on Sinai (Exod 34:28). Elijah's 40 days to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
Liturgisk kontekst
Purple color. First Sunday in Lent. The account of the temptation is read every year — it sets the tone for the entire Lenten season as a time of struggle.
Historie
The account of the temptation has been linked to the 1st Sunday in Lent since the early church. The 40 days in the wilderness provided the model for Lent. Many Church Fathers saw the temptations as a summary of all human temptations.