Short Stories
In those days when John was preaching in the wilderness, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand," there were many who went to him and were baptised in the river Jordan confessing their sins. "I baptise with water, but there is One who is coming who will baptise with the Holy Spirit," he told them.
And Jesus came to him, but John said, "Why do you come to me? I need to be baptised by you."
"Let it be done," Jesus answered, "that righteousness be fulfilled."
So John baptised his cousin in the river, and afterward saw the Spirit of God descend on him like a dove.
Then Jesus was led into the wilderness where he fasted and prayed for forty days, and at the end of his fast he was hungry. Then Satan appeared to him and thought to tempt Jesus to leave his appointed path. Jesus was tired and weak but Satan was afraid. He would try to trap Jesus, but the bait was a risk, for Jesus did not yet know his full power.
"If you are the son of God," Satan said, "command these stones to become bread."
Jesus looked at the round, sand scoured desert rocks. They were almost the color of fresh loaves. He looked at Satan and He knew he could do it. He could feed the whole world.
"Man does not live by bread alone," he said, "but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
The Devil then took Jesus to a mountain peak and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory in a moment of time. Surely the whole world would be enough, Satan hoped, after all, it is why he is here. "All of this is in my authority," he said, "and I will give it to you if only you will worship me."
Jesus saw the world before him and knew what it could become if only he were their leader, and Satan held his breath. Jesus looked to the heavens and said, as if to himself, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only will you serve."
Then the Father of Lies played his last throw in his gamble for power. It was to be all or nothing. He took Jesus to the highest point of the temple at Jerusalem and said to him, "If you are the son of God, this temple is no danger to you. Throw yourself upon it and his angels will protect you and their hands will hold you up."
Jesus looked down at the place where Adam was said to have worshipped his Holy Father for nine hundred and thirty years; where once had been the Ark of the Covenant, holding the tablets of Moses and manna from the wilderness, and Aaron's staff. Jesus looked at the temple and saw his own agony and death. He looked up, beyond the wall and across the valley to an ancient grove of olives on a nearby hill and thought of his disciples, and he thought of twelve legions of angels.
"You will not tempt the Lord, your God," he said.
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