“Created to be Authentic”

First Sunday in Lent

March 9, 2025

“I’m not scared to be seen, I make no apologies. This is me!”

Romans 10:8b-13

Luke 4:1-13

Children’s Message:

Who am I? Do you know? What can you tell people about me? Well, to help, I have my driver’s license. That tells you a little bit about me—it has my name, it says I wear contacts and have blonde hair (though that’s changed over the years). It even says I can drive a motorcycle! I have a card here that says that I am a Pastor in the Nebraska Synod, the ELCA. But do I have any cards that prove that I’m a musician? That I love to read murder mysteries? That I’m in the middle of watching the “Supernatural” series on Netflix?

No. My paperwork only tells you the basics about me—but probably not the truly important things. What’s something important about you that paperwork can’t tell someone?

Today’s gospel story comes after Jesus was baptized, and God said, “This is my Beloved Child.” And then, the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness, where he didn’t eat or drink for 40 days. He was so hungry that when the Devil suggested he turn a rock into a piece of bread, I bet he seriously thought about it. But the key to the story was that the Devil said, “If you’re the Son of God. If you’re the Son of God, prove it.”

He didn’t have any paperwork to show. But he could do miracles. And he probably wanted food. Why do you think he didn’t just do it? Because being the Son of God is more than doing miracles and taking care of himself. It’s about taking care of the world. The Devil wanted him to do something that wasn’t very God-like. It’s like telling me to preach that God only loves some people, not all people. I can’t do that. It just isn’t what I believe or who God is.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help us show the world who we truly are. Help us show he world who YOU truly are. Amen.

Message:

When Jesus encountered the Devil, he was tired, hungry, and he had to be wondering—is this worth it? Is creation worth this? Am I worth it? It’s easy to imagine him stoic and strong, defying the Devil with holy power. But I don’t imagine it was that easy. Weak and struggling to survive, the Devil came like a friend—like a brother. “Hey, these people—they’re going to eat you alive. You need to keep up your strength. I’m worried about you. Here. You’re the Son of God. You can do anything. Take this stone and make it bread. If you don’t, you’ll die. Please. At least give yourself a fighting chance. Do what you need to do.”

And Jesus likely struggled with this. But in the end, through gritted teeth, he said, “No. Life is more than food. It’s more than survival. I have to believe that God is with me.”

“Oh, Jesus. You sweet, naïve thing. If you won’t take care of yourself, then think about all those people in the world, suffering. They rely on corrupt leaders. You could change everything for them. You could be their king. God gave me the power over the kingdoms of this world. Just worship me, and I’ll give them all to you.”

And it probably sounded good. I mean, who doesn’t think they could do a better job than the ones currently in charge? But selling your heart and soul to the Devil in order to accomplish what seems good still leaves you without a heart and soul. It’s not a good trade. And it’s not how God works—making puppets out of humans in order to ease suffering.

The final piece is just for show. And the Devil uses Scripture to give it power. “Jump, and let the angels catch you.” With his final bit of strength, Jesus laughs. “You fool. When it’s time for me to jump, the angels will not save me because I won’t let them.”

The Devil tried to convince Jesus that he could be different—that he SHOULD be different. He should be the strong and mighty God the people wanted. The people needed. The people expected. But he refused to be anything other than who he was. Who he is.

People always say, “Just be yourself.” But do they mean it? And what part of myself, exactly? The quirky part? The serious part? The part that is so angry I lose my words? The part of myself that is so hopeful I want to cry?

Just be yourself. That’s what Jesus did. And it didn’t exactly end well for him, did it? Not on the human side of things, anyway. Just be yourself—until yourself isn’t who they want. Until yourself is unexpected. Until yourself challenges their ideas of right and wrong. And then…be who they want you to be. Be what they expect, what they want, what they can control. That’s how to get ahead in this world. Isn’t it?

But what if the person they want and the person you are are diametrically different? What if you simply can’t be what they expect. What if who you are deep down has clawed its way out and refuses to be stuffed back into the dark hole of non-existence. What then? What if the ones you love the most are the ones who refuse to see you as you truly are?

What if those in authority have already decided? You are an abomination. You are beyond love. You are beyond hope. You are too weak, too loud, too soft, too fat, too skinny, too…YOU.

In the devotions, I included the lyrics and link to the song, “This Is Me,” from the Greatest Showman. It’s a powerful and defiant cry to all who would suggest that you—in all your ‘you-ness’—could be anything less than God’s beloved. No matter what the world does to you, no matter what the world promises or refuses, you are you. You are perfectly wonderful, amazing, wholly and utterly claimed by God.

So, I’ll leave you with another song, called “Girls,” by Rachel Platten.

Pastor Tobi White

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

Lincoln, NE