Universal Lordship

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus made a choice that led to what we are remembering today. Satan offered him leadership over all the kingdoms of the world if he would yield to Satan’s direction over his life and work. Jesus chose not to accept that offer.

Giving him worldwide dominion would have given him the very thing Jewish people were so desperately expecting their Messiah to have. If he had agreed to that role, contemporary Israelis would have accepted him. He would not have faced the cross, either because they would not have rejected him or because he would have used his power to repel any opposition foreign or domestic.

So here we are. The very occasion we are remembering teaches us that even gaining the whole world has no value if we have to sacrifice our character to get it. Participating in this occasion means we accept what his example teaches us no matter what diversionary ploys may come along to lure us into doing otherwise.