NARRATOR: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for 40 days, where he was tempted by the devil. During that time Jesus ate nothing, and by the end, he was hungry.
DEVIL: If you are the Son of God, command this stone to turn into bread.
JESUS: Scripture has it, “Not by bread alone shall a person live.”
NARRATOR: Then the devil took Jesus up higher and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
DEVIL: I will give you the power of these kingdoms and their glory. The power has been given to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Bow down in worship before me, and all will be yours.
JESUS: Scripture has it, “You shall worship the Holy One, your God; God alone shall you serve.”
NARRATOR: Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and set him on the parapet of the temple.
DEVIL: If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for scripture has it, “God will bid angels to watch over you,” and “With their hands they will lift you up so that you do not stumble upon a stone.”
JESUS: Scripture also says, “You shall not put the Holy One your God to the test.”
NARRATOR: Having finished all this tempting, the devil left Jesus, to await another opportunity.
Luke 4.1-13
Sunday Readings: Deuteronomy 26.4-10; Romans 10.8-13; Luke 4.1-13