Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

This familiar insight into the background of Jesus is impacting me with fresh ideas—ideas that relate to our own encounters with temptation. I’m viewing these ideas as being like little facets of light emanating from the marvelous jewel of God’s truth—none of which by themselves being adequate for defining the whole.

In my feeble attempt to give descriptive form to what I’m seeing I’m tempted (no pun intended) to call it “A Trinity of Trinities”—three trinities—or three sets of three.

1. TRINITY OF GOD.
This is not to presume that I even have the capacity to fully comprehend and understand God. But it’s easy to recognize the three Persons of the trinity of God at play here. The FATHER is the Master Mind behind the whole scene. The SPIRIT is the transmitter and orchestrator of the scene. And the SON is the physical recipient and object of all this attention.
2. TRINITY OF MAN.
Evidence of mankind being created in God’s image and likeness are seen in his three-part composition—MIND, SPIRIT, and BODY (corresponding to the order given above). I should not struggle over my lack of understanding of the three persons of the Godhead, since I don’t even perfectly understand my own composition. In the case of Jesus, although He was God (the Son), He became human (the incarnation) with the same set of vulnerable features that define and limit us all. In this account, the arch enemy (who is identified by three interchangeable names, “devil,” “tempter,” and “Satan”) is presented as coming to Jesus with the specific intent of tripping Him up—to damage and destroy His mission “to give his (perfect and sinless) life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28)—and as the sacrificial spotless “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Make no mistake about it: The arch enemy is still allowed by God to be alive and well—and he relentlessly carries on his strategies of damage and destruction, not of plants and animals and places, but against those created in God’s image and likeness—like you and me. In the account before us, Satan attempts to exploit Jesus’ physical hunger (BODY), manipulate His thinking (MIND), and prompt Him to serve and worship anything or anyone other than God alone (SPIRIT).
3. TRINITY OF TEMPTATION.
An overview of this story shows that there are three parties clearly involved—God the Father, Satan, and Jesus. And since Jesus is the representative and mediator of us all, it can be viewed as God, Satan, and you (and me). The two spirit kingdoms to this day remain in tension and conflict over ownership and control of the territory of mankind in general, and you and me in particular.

New clarity is beaming in my own mind on the dynamic principle of Colossians 1:27. Not only is it “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” but it is CHRIST IN YOU, YOUR ONLY HOPE FOR VICTORY OVER ONGOING TEMPTATION TOWARD COMPROMISE AND SIN.