What would retrospection of your actions in the year 2024 look like? Were they based on convenience or morality? In the choice between ethical dilemma and survival, our leaning is always towards survival. John Maxwell in his book “Ethics 10” states, “An ethical dilemma can be defined as an undesirable or unpleasant choice relating to a moral principle or practice.”. As humans we tend to do wrong than right. We cheat, cut corners, use treachery believing we will not be found out.
The common cause in our wrong doings is pressures of life. In our urgency to mitigate the crisis we take quick unethical decisions, which we regret in leisure. The good news is there is a way out of all this guilt and shame we go through for the messed-up decisions we make. This is the Christmas story of God born as a man, crucified on the cross, died and rose again, so that you and I can have forgiveness of sins because of wrong decisions. Jesus modelled His life where He showed how to take ethically sound decisions in deep crisis and vulnerability. In the Bible it states that Jesus, before starting His miracles and healing He fasted 40 days with no water and food. The devil chose this opportune moment to derail His mission by tempting Him when He was at His weakest.
According to Dostoyevsky’s view, devil offered three easy means of inciting belief. Miracle, mystery and authority and Christ refused all three. Listed below are the three temptations Jesus had to face:
1. Instant gratification: The devil appears to Jesus’ physical appetite and offers instant gratification to use His miraculous power, whether to use it for selfish reasons or to help others. Jesus denied Himself the opportunity to satisfy His hunger, even though He had been fasting for forty days and nights.
2. Attention seeking: Devil puts a challenge to Jesus to throw Himself off the highest point of the temple. This is a temptation to do something dramatic (though not productive) to attract attention. Again, the challenge to Jesus was to misuse His power.
3. Selfish ambition: The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. He said to him, “I will give you authority and splendor… if you worship me. It will be yours.”. This temptation tested Jesus’ devotion to God and desire for political power. However, Jesus showed that His idea of a Messiah was not one who had political power but one who put God’s kingdom first.
Jesus was an all-powerful God who raised people from the dead. He could have always defeated his enemies like the myths and stories we read in few religions. However, He was humble enough to go through the humiliation and pain of the cross to save you and me from eternal damnation. Even during the temptation, Jesus did not waver from His destiny because there was a larger purpose for His incarnation as God. I urge you to change the course of your life by deciding to follow Jesus who is both holy and perfect. May God bless you and all your decision to be right and do right in this coming new year 2025!
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