Stones to Bread

1999-1-11 11:03:00

In response to my last post Xavier writes:

Obviously The first one is maya: physical hunger overcoming spiritual purpose. The second one, being saved by angels because I am the son of God, is glamour: I am so good and beloved I can do anything and I'll be saved. Glamour: being too good to be responsible?

The third one: rule the world and worship me, would be illusion: "I am the chosen one, I am the ruler of the world ; I must worship the prince of the world to rule it" Illusion: I deserve power whatever the way I handle it, and the ends justify the means.

Xavier, my wife is going to be angry at you. She came up with almost the same thing as you did (quoted above) and wanted me to share her wisdom with the group. Good thing you live in France.

Seriously there is a genuine correspondence here between the three temptations of Christ and maya, glamour and illusion. This correspondence, however, is largely a benefit for students for Jesus was beyond the temptation of both maya and glamour at that time, but there was a real possibility that the Dark Brothers could trick him with illusion for he had not yet been transfigured. (Matt 17:1-9)

Let's look at the first temptation. Satan told him that "IF" he was the Son of God turn the stones into bread.

Jesus was very hungry and for most of us that would have been temptation enough to create bread through special powers, but the hunger is not what tempted Jesus.

Imagine yourself in his situation. Suppose the Spirit of God rested upon you and told you that you were to go forth with the power to do miracles and prove to the world that you are the Messiah. Wouldn't you maybe wonder if you are going crazy? Wouldn't it be comforting to do some miracle for your own benefit just to verify that you heard the voice of God correctly? Wouldn't you feel more confident as you watched stones turn to bread before your very eyes? Now you know for sure God is with you, you would have much greater chance of success, right?

Why would Jesus have been caught in illusion if he had fell for this trap?