Osler's Razor

 Luke 4 tells a great story.

 Before his ministry, Jesus set out into the wilderness for forty days. The devil tempted him three times, and Jesus responded to each in a way that prepared him for what he was to do.

 First (because Jesus ate nothing for that period), the devil used his hunger against him. "If you are the son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread," he taunted.  Jesus refuses, saying "Man does not live by bread alone."

Second, the devil tempts Jesus with power over "all the Kingdoms of the world." And Jesus refuses that.

Third, the devil takes him to the pinnacle of the Temple, and challenges him to leap off. Jesus refuses again.

Interesting. Jesus is telling the devil what he won't do in his ministry, preparing for a path that would make him something wonderful and unique:

1) He wouldn't impress people with tricks-- the way people do with a flashy talent, or a degree, or a title. He would instead draw them inward and outward.

2) He would exercise power, not influence. Instead of making people do something, as the powerful can, he would convince them that an action was right. 

3) And here is the important one, perhaps-- he showed that he would not destroy himself. How many times have we seen people with talent do that?  

# posted by Mark Osler @ 1:00 AM