Deuteronomy 26:1–11 Psalm 91:1–2,9–16 Romans 10:4–13 Luke 4:1–15
During the next 40 days we will hear some very familiar passages from scripture. Many of them accompany us each year and, if you have been in church all your life they will be very familiar to you. To awaken our senses to them, and encounter them in a different way, we are going to use this time to inhabit these gospel texts in guided meditations, recognising that scripture is to be explored, lived in and through, seen from the inside out and not simply studied.
Sit back, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Inhale, filling your lungs and stomach completely, and exhale slowly. Allow yourself to settle into a quiet place of stillness. Let your mind become open and receptive, as we begin this new journey together, with Jesus, straight from the waters of baptism, out into the wilderness.
You are Jesus.
Imagine the wilderness around you.
The earth is dry, cracked beneath your feet.
Your body is weak after forty days of fasting. Hunger gnaws at you.
The tempter approaches. “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” You feel the deep yearning for relief, but you know better. You are here for a purpose.
You stand firm, recalling the assurance of your ancestors from Deuteronomy: “we cried to the Lord. He heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression.”
This is your God. You know you must stand firm.
Pause.
Cry out to God, certain you are always heard, known and loved.
In that strength, respond to the tempter; “One doesn’t live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
You know God’s Word sustains you more than physical food.
Reject the temptation to fill your emptiness with anything other than Truth.
Reflect:
What areas of emptiness are you trying to fill with temporary fixes?
What is God calling you to trust Him with, instead of controlling it yourself?
In your mind and heart, hand it to God…
You are the Tempter.
Feel the coldness of the moment.
You see Jesus, worn and vulnerable, yet resolute.
You offer Him a challenge; “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels to guard you…’”
You seek to manipulate, twist Scriptures to your own advantage, make God prove Himself. But Jesus stands firm and responds: “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” His trust in God is unshakable.
Pause and reflect:
Where have you been demanding signs, testing God to prove His faithfulness?
What would it be like to trust completely?
Can you rest in the promise from the psalmist that “those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”?
You are the World.
You present an image—power, success, control, all within reach.
You offer Jesus kingdoms, glory, and fame. “All this can be yours, if you worship me.”
The allure of quick success, without sacrifice, is right there. You ask for loyalty, for Jesus to turn away from His mission and allegiance to God. But Jesus rejects you firmly: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” (Luke 4:8)
Feel the pull of that temptation.
The world offers power, and glory in exchange for your soul.
Where is the world asking for your devotion in exchange for momentary satisfaction?
Pause:
What does it look like to reject the world’s promises of power, wealth, or comfort?
How can you choose to worship God alone and serve Him faithfully?
You are the Wilderness.
Sense the barren landscape beneath and before you, the dry wind in your face.
You are not a place of comfort but a place of transformation. It’s here that Jesus faces the rawest parts of Himself—His hunger, temptations, humanity. Yet it’s here, in the wilderness, that He grows in preparation for His mission.
Pause:
What is your wilderness?
What difficult or barren places are you facing?
Remember, the wilderness is not a place of defeat—it’s a place where strength is forged, growth happens, and God meets you in your deepest needs.
Take a moment to reflect on each of these aspects—
You are Jesus,
You are the Tempter,
You are the World,
You are the Wilderness.
Where do you see yourself most clearly?
Which elicits the biggest response in you?
What is God inviting you to do, to become, to trust?
Take a deep breath in, and exhale slowly.
Let the wisdom of the wilderness sink in.
When you’re ready, gently open your eyes.
Carry with you the clarity to face the temptations, the power to resist, and the trust to walk through your own wilderness with God. Amen.
Holy Adventures 