Other Temptations of Jesus

The Christian life is not about giving up, but taking up. The call of Jesus to discipleship is a positive one-love God and your neighbour. It's not about being serious, but happy and loving. It's not a constant battle against small temptations. It's because Jesus didn't spend all his energy fighting the temptations of the world that he was able to withstand genuine temptation. This series of studies of his life takes a look at stories from the gospels which illustrate the way in which temptation came to Jesus in his ministry-the temptation to stay where he was comfortable and known; to divide people into friends and enemies; to avoid confronting problems, and many others. They are the serious temptations we all face, and which Jesus answers. Quotations from the gospels are taken from GOOD AS NEW, the new translation of early Christian scriptures to be published later in the year. "John's presentation of the Christian gospel is of extraordinary power simply because it is so close to the prose and poetry of ordinary life. Instead of being taken into a specialised religious frame of reference-as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations-and being given a gospel addressed to specialised concerns-as happens with even the most careful of modern "devotional books-we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognisably about our humanity." Rowan Williams

John Henson has degrees in history and theology from the universities of Southampton and Oxford, and was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1964. Since 1980 he has been largely freelance, especially acting as pastoral befriender to people in minority groups, including criminal offenders. He continues to assist the ministry in United Reformed and Baptist churches, is a former Chairperson of ONE for Christian renewal. He is happily married with three adult children and one grandchild, and teaches the piano in his spare time. He lives in Cardiff, Wales.