Intergenerational Talk: Temptations of Christ
Here’s an
intergenerational conversation about Luke 4:1-13 (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13)
– the temptations of Christ after his baptism.
It was written by Moira Laidlaw.
Children’s Feature: Temptations of
Christ
(Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13)
Give three
people placards to wear which identify them as one of the following:
Narrator
Evil thoughts
Jesus
Find the
following props:
Hamburger-shaped stone
Crown and money
Picture of the Temple or perhaps a
church with a large spire
Leader: In Jesus’ time,
it was a regular thing to go without food for a few days or even weeks.
This was to help people concentrate more on what God wanted them to do
with their lives because it took away the hassle of having to think about
what to buy or prepare to eat and so gave extra time for prayer and
thinking abut God. Some people still do that today. I
don’t think I’d be very good at going without food for any length of time
– I have difficulty just staying on a diet - I find temptations everywhere! Our
story from the Bible today about Jesus, tells us how he did not eat
for many, many days. This happened after he had heard the
voice at his baptism claiming him as God’s beloved Son and he was filled
with the power of the Holy Spirit. Maybe he played these events over and
over again in his mind like a movie, wondering what God had in mind for
him to do next.
Narr: After Jesus had
been walking through wild, desert country
and hadn’t eaten for a week or
so, he felt very hungry....
Evil thoughts (holding out the stone):
See this stone -- looks just
like a hamburger doesn’t it?
Why don’t you use your power to turn
it into one—
you wouldn’t be hungry
then.
Jesus: No
- I refuse to use God’s power in that way.
I would only be serving myself
, and God’s power is for all people.
Narr: As
Jesus walked a bit further,
perhaps thinking about
this power he possessed...
Evil thoughts (holding out crown and money):
Just think how wealthy and
powerful you could be.
You could live in luxury and rule
the whole world.
Jesus: No—God
is the only one who is to be worshipped.
God’s power is for building
others up, not to build me up.
Narr: And
then, as Jesus walked along in prayer,
perhaps he pictured the temple
in Jerusalem....
Evil thoughts (holding up a picture of the temple):
You could jump off the very
highest point of the temple
and wait for the angels to catch
you.
They would, wouldn’t they??
Jesus: God’s power is not to be used in sensational, high-powered
acts.
God’s power will be found
enabling poor and powerless people
to live lives of worth and
dignity.
Evil thoughts slinks away.
Jesus stands with head bowed and
hands together in attitude of prayer.
Narrator sits down.
Leader: Jesus understood these temptations as evil—tempting him to use his power
in ways which would bring glory to himself rather than to God. He
was able to resist temptation because he was happy to let God be in control at
all times. He must have prayed for God’s strength to keep
him strong. There are times in our lives when we will be tempted to
do other than what God wants us to do. If we follow Jesus’ example and
believe that his power and strength are in us, we will be able to resist
doing wrong even as Jesus did.
