What would you say about a man who had the power to pick gold lotto numbers 95% of the time, but refused to use the power, because he knew that if he did it would end the whole thing and so spoil fun for everyone else?

What would you say about the woman who was so bewitchingly beautiful that she could turn the head of any man, but who refused to wear any make up and only shopped for clothes at Lifeline?

What would you say about the very clever teenager who turned down a billionaire businessman's offer for her to become his successor, because she wanted to help people, not sell things to them?

When people act like this it's almost as if they're on a different planet. They just can't seem to see the lack of common sense they're exhibiting. I mean what would be wrong with just picking the lotto numbers once and then stopping. What's wrong with enjoying beauty as a wonderful gift from God? If it causes men to go weak in the knees that's there problem! And surely it can't be wrong to accept a secure, well paid job and then use the money and help others!

When people can't seem to use good old common sense, I have real problems.

But this is exactly the sort of thing Jesus does as well. Satan the sensible, says, "Come on Jesus use your power to wipe out human misery, there 's nothing wrong with that. You're the Messiah come to rescue human kind. Producing what they need here and now is the sensible, quick way of getting the job done."

Jesus answers, "No one can live only on food. There's much more to be achieved. These people need every world that God has spoken. More than anything they need to discover a relationship with their creator God and real relationships can't be bought, and they don't grow overnight.

"OK forget the bread bit," says Satan, "but at least make sure they don't miss who you are. Most of 'em are pretty dense, you'll have to hit 'em with a 4 x 2 to get their attention. Why not jump from the temple and when God rescues you as he must, you can even show them how God's kept his promise in Psalm 91. They'll be impressed and they'll follow. It's just silly to hide who you really are, Messiah of God.

"Don't try to test the Lord your God!" Jesus says quietly.

"Well fair enough, O great Messiah of God, if you reckon reminding you of a pretty good OT prophecy to fulfill is a test, I'd better stop waiting my time and remind you of the key purpose of your mission.. It's a long and difficult road that stretches out before you. Why don't we work together. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Join up with me and I promise, your path will become a bed of roses. You've got to admit it simply makes sense to do things the easy way."

"Look," Jesus says, "won't it sink into your thick skull, we're on different sides, we think differently, you'll never understand how I think. Just go will you!"

Amazingly Jesus eventually does all the things the devil suggests. But it's all done in his time and in his own amazing way. He turns a few loaves and fish into a picnic for 5,000 people. But check it out the motivation is not to impress, it's to care for people in need.

Rather than being spectacularly saved from death at the last moment by angels, an action that would give us absolutely nothing, Jesus plunges into death and then rises to show us and give us all the way to new life.

Finally he achieves his goal and takes up rulership of this world, but it's not based on Satan's strong-arm tactics, but with the gentle and humble power of love.

Common sense still says to us that the easiest, quickest, most spectacular way is always the best. But our common sense has been tainted by selfishness that says if it means more for you, do it, self centredness that says if it impresses others and encourages them to like you more, don't hesitate; and a desire for power that says don't worry about what it might do to others, if it suits you, do it.

When we have been touched by the amazing love of God who always acts for our good, life can never quite be the same again. We can even begin to act in similar ways that just can't be understood by those who apply the test of good human common sense.

Our crazy Lord calls us to love the unloveable, to treat money as a tool not a treasure, to include those society pushes to the margins, to focus on the person as we lend rather than what we've just lend, to welcome people just because they are people, to look past the outward presentations, and to cling to God with a childlike faith.

Satan will still come with his sensible sounding temptations, reject him and focus on the crazy love that motivated God to give his all just for you on that cross.

© Copyright Rev. K.W. Stiller.