A Light to the Nations

After his baptism and before the start of his preaching, Jesus is led by the spirit into the wilderness and is tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). He doesn’t wage a war with the tempter, nor does he argue. His only defense is “the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:16). To each temptation Jesus references what is written. All his responses are taken from Deuteronomy, which is the second giving of the Law; that is to say, the definitive expression of God’s will for his people after he had brought them through the wilderness and as he was about to bring them into Canaan. Jesus knows he isn’t wrestling with flesh and blood. Having Deuteronomy in his back pocket (in a manner of speaking), he employs the only offensive weaponry allowed in Scripture. And it is sufficient. 

St. Gregory of Nyssa commemorated on January 10 in the Orthodox Church.

“A Couple of Miles” performed by the Flesh.