Jesus Remembered: Christianity in the Making, vol. 1

THE MISSION OF JESUS §11.7
standing particular temptations at certain points — most notably when confronted
with the likelihood of a fearful death (Mark 14.32-42 pars.). 198 But it
could also mean that they saw Jesus' whole mission as characterized by a firm refusal
to embrace the sort of alternative strategies for mission which the temptations
represented. 199 Either way the temptation story does bear vivid witness to
the impression made by Jesus on his disciples: that he was remembered as firmly
rejecting populist or merely eye-catching options and as resolutely refusing to
compromise on the whole-hearted devotion which God alone could demand.
This final thought on the sovereign demand of God, expressed so powerfully
in the third temptation in Matthew's version, is a fitting preface to the principal
emphasis of Jesus' own teaching.
198. The theme of temptation, peirasmos ('Pray that you might not enter into temptation'),
is an integral part of the Gethsemane story (Mark 14.38/Matt. 26.41/Luke 22.46). Luke
gives it particular emphasis (Luke 22.40), and two paragraphs earlier records Jesus as saying to
his disciples, 'You are those who have continued with me in my temptations' (22.28). This correlates
also with Luke's conclusion to the temptation narrative: 'When the devil had ended every
temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time (achri kairou)' (Luke 4.13). In
Luke's account Satan (presumably = 'the devil') does not re-enter the story till just before
Gethsemane (Luke 22.3, 31).
199. Similarly Hebrews seems to think of Jesus enduring a fuller testing (4.15 — 'in every
respect as we are'), but focused particularly in his Gethsemane ordeal (5.7-8). There is no
indication that Hebrews has been directly influenced by the Synoptic tradition of Q 4.1-13.
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