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The Devil Debriefs: Reflections on the Temptation of Jesus (Mt. 4:1-11)

March 07, 2011 by Alyce McKenzie

Continued from Page 1

"If that didn't result in his nobly starving to death, I would take him to the pinnacle of the temple and say to him: 'Some Sons of God would want to prove their identity and power by pulling dramatic, high risk stunts. But you are content to stay in this backwater district and not take any risks at all and so preserve and extend your life and influence. The less you risk the longer you live. I have always wished that I had followed that advice, but I was so ambitious, so eager to move beyond the courts of heaven. I should have stayed there, at his side, where I belonged.'

"If that didn't motivate him to jump just to distance himself from me, I could try one final move. It would not involve my quoting scripture, which, in retrospect, was the wrong rhetorical strategy to get into with him, though he was the one who started it. Rather than establishing a common identity between us, I think he got the feeling I was manipulating God for my own purposes. The other problem with the scripture quoting approach is that he knows it better than I do. There is a first time for everything.

"If I had it to do over again I wouldn't give him the ultimatum: 'All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.' That was melodramatic, not dramatic. I came off as needy and desperate. The Devil is supposed to be cool. I was out-cooled. It was too much all around: the mountain, the ultimatum, and the over-the-top spread I showed him around the mountain. Who did I think I was dealing with? Some backwoods boy who just bought a lottery ticket?

"Next time I'll take him to somebody's home. Not a palace, but a humble home. One where there is love among the family members. I'll be fine as long as I remember to take my anti- nausea medication first. We'll stand at the window as they gather around their dinner table and I'll say: 'I think it's so admirable that you are willing to give this up without any regrets or second thoughts. Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but you, you have nowhere to lay your head. And you never will.' That's a good line. 'You will have no wife to warm your heart and bed. No children to surround you with love and laughter and care for you when your steps falter and your sight is dimmed with age.'

"And here I'd show him a scene of his hanging on the cross. 'No, you have a different future. It is so amazing that, rather than scare you, it energizes you; rather than frighten you with the prospect of pain, it strengthens you to forego the happy scene before us without any yearning or regret. Your steps will slow, but only because you drag a cross. Your sight will dim, but only because blood pours into your eyes from the wounds on your head. How I admire your utter singleness of purpose! I feel for your future pain. If I could, I would take your place. To save you this suffering.'

"I wonder if that last bit is too much? Does it sound insincere? And wait, what if he says 'Okay, you take my place.' Then what?

"All right. This 'coulda, shoulda' session has helped clarify my thinking. If another opportunity arises; I now have two strategies in the hopper, two arrows in the quiver.

The less is more approach: donut hole, ledge, time share.
The ghost of crucifixion future approach: starve to death, take no risks, and forego happy family and longevity in favor of premature, excruciating, and prolonged death.

Last time I oversold the future benefits of betraying his identity and mission. Next time I go the opposite way. I present him with negative pictures of the future if he stays on the path he has chosen.

Now to wait for an opportune time . . .

Page: 2 of 2

3/7/2011 5:00:00 AM

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About Alyce McKenzie

Alyce M. McKenzie is the George W. and Nell Ayers Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

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