Week 3 ——- What did Jesus do in the Wilderness?  (Part 3)

Matthew 4:1,2  —  Luke 4:1-2

Some of my best Bible studies began because someone asked me a question.  One of our group with us on this 70-week journey with Jesus asked me, “So what did Jesus do in the wilderness for 40 days?”  That is a great question!  The Bible simply said he fasted.  But as we have learned, fasting is a demonstration that you desire God more than you desire food, so it is not mere avoidance of food but the seeking of God instead that makes it a fast.  So he spent time with God alone as we do, through Bible study and prayer.  As I talked with my friend about this, he said, “Well, I can’t imagine Jesus carrying around a bunch of scrolls in the desert for 40 days, so what did he do?  True. Jesus didn’t own a personal copy of the Scriptures, at least not as we think.

Jesus certainly spent time with the Father in the wilderness.  He didn’t have a Bible to read; he grew up as a Jewish boy in the first century.  The scrolls were in the synagogue, but the Word lived in the people’s hearts.  The first scripture he and all the others memorized was Deuteronomy 6:4 and the following.  This would become the beginning of the Shema, the prayer he would pray every day of his life, at least twice a day.   He would have learned to read with the same primary reader everyone else used then – Leviticus.  Yes, while I learned to read with Dick, Jane, and Spot, Jesus read Leviticus. By age ten, many Jewish boys would have already memorized the first five books of the Bible and then begin to learn the rest.  Exceptional students would continue after 13 years old, and many would know most of the Scriptures and much of the oral commentary. 

Jesus would have memorized most, if not all, of the Scriptures.   All of his words are peppered with scripture quotes.  His response to the devil in the temptations, his prayers, his conversations, his lessons, his words from the cross — all from scripture.

And we know Jesus was an exceptional student.  Remember the story of 12-year-old Jesus in the Temple?

“After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”  Luke 2:46-47.

They were amazed at Jesus’ scripture knowledge, so he must have been in that group that had all of the Scripture memorized.  This amount of memorization may sound incredible or impossible to you, but you have to understand the culture that Jesus grew up in.  Look at that passage in Deuteronomy 6:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  You shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

What do we talk about as we sit in our house, as we walk, when we lie down, and when we rise?  Is God’s word our baseline normal conversation, or is it work, sports, or recreation?  Or is there conversation at all?  Is the primary conversation in your home coming from a television speaker? Is family conversation limited to logistics (who is picking up who? Who has what schedule today? Where will we eat?).   Moses said we need to create a culture in our home where God is central, and his Word is our conversation.   What are we diligently teaching our children?

I was challenged by a friend, Chad, eight years ago after listening to him quote the Sermon on the Mount (while we were standing in that very location by the Sea of Galilee!)  He asked me to consider making scripture memory a part of my life.  Sadly, I knew then that my brain was filled with more song lyrics than scripture.  I had memorized a few verses here or there, but no long passages or whole chapters.  (But I could sing almost every word of every TV show theme song from the 70’s.¹)  So I memorized 2 Timothy alongside him.  And three months later, we were done. (Actually, Chad finished 2-3 weeks ahead of me, but hey, I finished.²)  I can not tell you how much memorizing those four chapters has meant to me spiritually.  Those verses came alive to me.  I felt what Paul felt as he wrote them in that prison in Rome.  On a trip there, I planned to recite those four chapters in that dungeon prison where we know he wrote them.  Saying the words, I was so overcome with Paul’s emotion that I broke down in tears (every attempt).  So I failed to recite them in that place, but I succeeded in placing them in my heart.  And once a year, I spend a few weeks with those words that have become my friends to keep the memory fresh.  Sadly, I have failed to get anyone else to join me in a memorization study.  (Maybe one of you will!)

I can not overstate how seriously people in Jesus’ day took the Scripture.  The rabbis felt that study of the scriptures was the highest form of worship.   They said we speak to God in prayer, but God speaks to us in the Scriptures. Shmuel Safrai, in his epic 2 volume set on 1st-century Jewish culture:

“Torah study was a remarkable feature in Jewish life at the time of the Second Temple and during the period following it. It was not restricted to the formal setting of schools and synagogue, nor to sages only, but became an integral part of ordinary Jewish life. The Torah was studied at all possible times, even if only a little at a time . . . The sound of Torah learning issuing from houses at night was a common phenomenon. When people assembled for a joyous occasion such as a circumcision or a wedding, a group might withdraw to engage in study of the Law.”³

Now, call me a ‘Bible Nerd’ (go ahead, I know you already have), but the day someone pulls me aside at a party and wants to discuss a passage of scripture will be a wonderful day!  I love the Word.  I can’t wait to get up in the morning and study.  

I have 50 translations of the Bible, about 20 sets of commentaries, 22 Hebrew and Greek dictionaries, and over 300 books about ‘religion’ sitting in my lap right now (on my laptop), and that’s not counting the almost endless access to other sources and resources available in the internet.  How many Bibles do you have in your house?  We have more access but, sadly, less knowledge.  “These words,” as Moses said, “are to be on your heart,” not your shelf.

So Jesus had the Scriptures with him — they were on his heart, as God instructed through Moses.⁴  He considered the wisdom of the Scriptures within him.  And we know that he prayed.  Cultural studies have brought us much information as to the prayer life of people in Jesus’ day. 

In the first century, Jesus (and any other practicing Jews) would say the Shema (pronounced ‘shmah’) twice daily, usually in public. ‘Shema’ means ‘hear,’ and that is the first word of the prayer, quoted from Deuteronomy 6:4,5: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.…”  Jesus quotes this first part of the Shema in Matthew 22:37, calling it the great and first commandment.  

The Amidah is another prayer Jesus would have prayed several times a day.  ‘Amidah’ means ‘standing,’ and the prayer is always prayed standing up.  It has been done three times a day since the first century.⁵ It is also called “The Eighteen” because it was initially composed of 18 blessings. (A nineteenth blessing was added in 100 A.D.)  The wording today is not exactly as Jesus would have prayed, as the wording was not formalized until around 100 A.D. by the grandson of Gamaliel (Paul’s rabbi).  Some scholars have said that the prayer Jesus taught the disciples bears resemblance to much of the Amidah.⁶

Besides these formalized prayers, Jews in Jesus’ day often prayed ‘unstructured prayers.’  “An observant Jew recited at least 100 blessings a day”⁷  In Jesus’ day, these blessings typically began, “Blessed is He who….”.  Sometime after 200 A.D., the rabbis insisted that all blessings should recognize God as “King of the universe.” Hence, the modern blessings begin, “Blessed are you, O LORD, our God, King of the universe.”⁸  There are blessings said upon opening your eyes in the morning “Blessed is He who opens the eyes of the blind.” — upon hearing tragic news, “Blessed is He who is the true judge.” There is a blessing for everything.  Does this remind you of Paul’s encouragement to “pray without ceasing”?   My small group decided to try to do 100 blessings a day for a week.  None of us succeeded in reaching 100 each day, but we all agreed that this changed our attitude toward life.  Keeping God in every part of our lives and recognizing his provision for everything makes a difference.  Paul also said that we should be “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” (Ephesians 5:20)

This is a concise introduction to a very worthwhile topic.  Jesus’ time in the wilderness was spent reflecting on God’s Word and praying to His Father.  If you haven’t read Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg’s book on Jesus’ Jewish background, you need to.  It is a short, easy-to-read introduction to the world Jesus grew up in.  Reading this book began my study of our Jewish roots, and I could probably footnote this book throughout my writing.  There are much deeper studies, but this book is the best place to start.⁹

For a moment, imagine you are in the first century.  You have finished your evening meal.  What do you do now?  There aren’t a lot of options.  Netflix is down then; it is between sports seasons, and cell service is non-existent in Jesus’ day.  What would you do?  Our culture has more leisure time than any that came before.  What do we do with it?  Again, I want to encourage you to go into the wilderness sometime in these weeks to understand Jesus better.  Perhaps a more structured prayer time would be beneficial for you.  Maybe it is time to hide some of God’s Word in your heart.  You might want to spend a few days blessing God for everything that happens.  You may not hit 100 a day, but I promise it will change your outlook.

Blessed are you, O LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has given us his Word to instruct us and who listens to heartfelt prayer.

————

Like all Jewish prayers, both of these prayers are full of Scriptures.

The Shema

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6: 4–9)

 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. 

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. (Deuteronomy 11: 13–21)”

(The last section, below, is repeated only in the morning, because the tallit, which carries the tassels, is only worn during daylight hours.) 

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.’ ” (Numbers 15:37 – 41)¹⁰

The Amidah

“(1) Blessed are you, O LORD, our God and God of our fathers—God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob. The great, the mighty, and the awesome God, God Most High, who bestows loving-kindness and is the creator of all. Who remembers the love of our Fathers, and will lovingly send a redeemer for their children’s children, for the sake of your name. O King, Helper, Savior, and Shield—blessed are you, Shield of Abraham. 

(2) You are mighty forever, O LORD, you resurrect the dead, you are great to save. Sustaining the living in loving-kindness, resurrecting the dead in abundant mercy, you support the falling and heal the sick, set free the captives, and keep faith with those who sleep in the dust. Who is like you, master of mighty deeds, and who may be compared unto you? O king, who sends death and revives again, and causes salvation to sprout forth. You are surely believed to resurrect the dead. Blessed are you, O LORD, who revives the dead. 

(3) You are holy and your name is holy, and the holy ones praise you every day. Blessed are you, O LORD, the holy God.* 

(4) You graciously give knowledge to man, and teach mortals understanding. Favor us with your knowledge, understanding, and intelligence. Blessed are you, O LORD, who graciously gives understanding.

(5) Lead us back, our Father, to your Torah; bring us near, our King, to your services, and cause us to return in perfect repentance before you. Blessed are you, O LORD, who accepts repentance. 

(6) Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed, for you pardon and forgive. Blessed are you, O gracious one, who multiplies forgiveness. 

(7) Look upon our affliction and fight our fight, and redeem us speedily for the sake of your name, for you are a strong redeemer. Blessed are you, O LORD, the Redeemer of Israel. 

(8) Heal us and we shall be healed, help us and we shall be helped, for you are our joy. Grant full healing for all our wounds, for you, O God and King, are a true and merciful physician. Blessed are you, O LORD, who heals the sick of his people Israel. 

(9) Bless for us, O LORD our God, this year and all of its yield for good and shower down a blessing upon the face of the earth. Fill us with your bounty and bless our year that it be as the good years. Blessed are you, O LORD, who blesses the years. 

(10) Blow the great trumpet for our liberation, and lift a banner to gather our exiles, and gather us into one body from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are you, O LORD, who gathers the dispersed of your people Israel. 

(11) Restore our judges as before, and our counselors as in the beginning, and remove from us grief and sighing. Reign over us, O LORD, you alone, in loving-kindness and compassion, and clear us in judgment. Blessed are you, O LORD the King, who loves righteousness and justice. 

(Note that #12 was only added after 100 A.D. and was not part of the prayer Jesus would have prayed.)

(12) May no hope be left to the slanderers, but may wickedness perish in a moment. May all your enemies be soon cut off, and speedily uproot the arrogant. Shatter and humble them speedily in our days. Blessed are you, O LORD, who strikes down enemies and humbles the arrogant.** 

(13) May your compassion, O LORD our God, be stirred over the righteous and over the pious and over the elders of your people, the House of Israel; over the remnant of their scribes, over the proselytes, and over us. Grant a good reward upon them who truly trust in your name, and assign our portion with them forever. May we not come to shame because we have trusted in you. Blessed are you, O LORD, the stronghold and assurance of the righteous. 

(14) To Jerusalem your city return in mercy, and dwell in her midst as you have promised. Build her speedily in our days as an everlasting structure, and quickly establish there the throne of David. Blessed are you, O LORD, the builder of Jerusalem. 

(15) May the descendant of David, your servant, be brought forth speedily, and may he be exalted through your salvation, for we hope for your salvation every day. Blessed are you, O LORD, who brings forth the horn of salvation. 

(16) Hear our voice, O LORD our God, spare and have mercy on us, and accept in mercy and favor our prayer. For you are a God who hears prayers and supplications. Do not turn us away empty-handed, O our King, when we come before you. For you listen to the prayer of your people Israel in mercy. Blessed are you, O LORD, who hears prayer. 

(17) Be pleased, O LORD our God, with your people Israel and their prayer, and reestablish the sacrificial services to the altar of your House. May you accept the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer offered in love with favor, and may the sacrificial services of Israel your people be ever acceptable to you. And may our eyes behold your merciful return to Zion. Blessed are you who restores your Shekinah to Zion. 

(18) We acknowledge to you, O LORD, that you are our God as you were the God of our fathers, forever and ever. Rock of our life, Shield of our salvation, you are unchanging from age to age. We thank you and declare your praise, for our lives that are in your hands and for our souls that are entrusted to you. Your miracles are with us every day, and your benefits are with us at all times, evening and morning and midday. You are good, for your mercies are endless; you are merciful, for your kindnesses are never complete; from everlasting we have hoped in you. And for all these things may your name be blessed and exalted, always and forevermore. Let every living thing give thanks to you and praise your name in truth, O God, our salvation and our help. Blessed are you, O LORD, your name is good, and to you it is right to give thanks. 

(19) Grant peace, happiness, and blessing, grace, loving-kindness, and mercy to us and all Israel your people. Bless us, our Father, every one of us, by the light of your countenance, for by this light of your countenance you gave us, O LORD our God, the law of life, loving-kindness, and righteousness, and blessing and mercy, life and peace. May it be good in your eyes to bless your people Israel in every time and at every hour with your peace. Blessed are you, O LORD, who blesses your people Israel with peace.”¹¹

Please see my Bibliography for recommended books and links to obtain them.

1.`        Yeah, you Millennials and Zoomers, it used to be a thing. There are whole songs with lyrics.  “Here’s a story of a lovely lady…” or “Just sit back, and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip…”  Now, with shorter attention spans and more commercials, there is no time to give 30 seconds to a song before the show.  Did you notice that the theme song for “Friends” got shorter and shorter as the series went through the years?

2. Chad Boss is my scripture memory hero.  Chad introduced me to an organization he has been involved with, “Scripture Memory Fellowship.”  Find them on Facebook with that name or at scripturememory.com for resources to start your memorization project.

3. Safari, Shmuel, The Jewish People in the First Century: Historical Geography, Political History, Social, Cultural and Religious Life and Institutions (1976) p 968

4. I am reminded of a preacher I knew, an old retired seminary professor who would say, “Well, I don’t read the Bible much anymore.  I do sit around and quote it to myself frequently.” Thank you, Dr. Marsh. May his memory be a blessing.

5. The Amidah may have been twice a day in Jesus’ time.  Currently, it is three times a day except on Sabbaths and Jewish Holidays when a 4th time is added.  On the Day of Atonement, a fifth time is added.

6. Spangler, Ann; Tverberg, Lois. Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus (2009)  Loc 371, Kindle Edition.

7. Ibid., Loc 1410, Kindle Edition.

8. Ibid., Loc 1590, Kindle Edition.

9. Spangler, Ann; Tverberg, Lois. Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus (2009).  See also Walking in the Dust with Rabbi Jesus (2012) and Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus (2018)

10.      Spangler, Ann; Lois Tverberg. Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith . Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

11. Ibid.