In The Wilderness-2

The Temptation of Jesus ©
Second time the devil went over to Jesus without so much as ‘by your leave.’
For the tempter knew he was famished after having fasted for 40 days and nights. He knew he had an offer that he could not have refused. He had water to drink: to the wilderness he came riding a donkey and carried along two jugs of clearest water.
“ Here you drink this water,” Satan says casually to which Jesus queries,” what is your angle this time?”
“While you retreated to this wilderness these forty days, do you know how many died out there because of a famine? Wars kill and foul streams; plagues also do their bit. I could recite the names of millions who die for want of water. ”
“In such a case why take all the trouble to seek me out? You could have done some service to those in need?”
“Ho, Ho,” the tempter laughs, “ You have already come for them. Why must I enter into your labor or steal your thunder?”
Jesus falls silent. He is famished and he knows the tempter wouldn’t make a move to offer a cup or loosen the water jug that still lay secure. It is merely a ploy; meant for drawing him into a dialogue. The same ole Satan. At that moment the tempter begins, “ Before the worlds began I know you; and you dare not repudiate me that I was anything less than you in grace or glory.”
“Let us not rake over the past.”
The tempter explains as to the ‘war among the angels’ and of his fall while Jesus strains his every nerve to distract himself from the wolf that gnaws at his vitals. “Yes I come to you as an equal; those riff-raff and the little people out there. Why should I feed them or give them drink?” A pause.
“In your case I know who you are,” Jesus didn’t change his expression or move one step to greet him. “and I hold hand of friendship out to you. Can you not accept me as one and slake your thirst?”
Jesus asks, “You have always conditions before you do anything. Haven’t you?”
“ Why not? ” Your Father has his conditions. So have I.” Jesus shakes his head and turns away.
The tempter asks, “You look pretty gaunt and your breath hard. You must be really hungry.” Jesus ignores the remark. His interlocutor persists, “ You could have turned these stones into bread and fed the hungry.”
Again silence. The tempter asks,“ Why not try it now? After you have sated your hunger you can help yourself to the water I have.”
“ Bread for the poor.” Jesus muses loudly, “ Well it is a thought. Isn’ t it? If I did that it might give wrong notions at some quarters.” Satan is puzzled and he asks him to explain. Jesus obliges him, “ Law of Moses will have the woman taken in adultery to be stoned. Those who are most keen to carry out the law to the letter might use the example as an excuse.”
Satan is still perplexed.
“ Excuse for what?”
“For more vigor in administering the punishment.” Jesus realizes his tempter is still confounded. He asks, “ Will not these judges of law palliate their conscience with an excuse that they have merely given away bread? If one were to correct them that the ‘guilty’ died just the same, do you think they will simply accept the fact? It is more likely that they are apt to say, clever foxes they are, thus, “ If they died it is because Lord is a Just God. We merely served them bread.”
After a pause Jesus adds,” Why must I let the name of my Father be associated with a lie or give the unjust an easy way out?”
The tempter realizes the drift of and quickly changes the topic.
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