Image Courtesy of Rev. Mary John Dye
Special to United Methodist Insight | March 2, 2026
The Gospel of the first Sunday of Lent was about choices. Perfect for Lent. When Jesus had the opportunity to put himself and his needs first (along with cunning Scripture quoted by Satan), Jesus said NO. When we are tempted as individuals, churches or nations to put ourselves and our needs first, Jesus showed the God-pleasing choice.
When Jesus had the option to make a spectacular impressive show of His chosenness (along with carefully selected Scripture), Jesus said NO. When we are tempted to the show of religion, Jesus has shown the answer that pleases God.
When Jesus had a chance to establish an earthly kingdom and dominance over the world (again buttressed with Scripture), Jesus said NO. And when we hear people urging us to take over the governance of the nation with “Christian” people/principles, Jesus shows us the response that pleases God: NO.
Choices matter. Some people around us are pursuing choices that Jesus said “No” to. Kinda odd that people would pursue those options and claim they are doing so on behalf of Jesus, don’t you think?
Choices never leave us. But the second Sunday of Lent reminds us of the context for every choice/every temptation that faces us: John 3:16,17. God so loved the world…. God’s gift of Christ was not a reprimand or retribution. Not vengeance. Not to insult or belittle or condemn. Jesus came to show God’s love for the world.
Those who know God’s heart then know if God loves the world, those who follow God will love the world. The whole world. “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight…” is the only and obvious answer for any question about who God loves. There are no “garbage” people or nations.
John 3:17 reinforces that God specifically rejected condemnation as His approach. We should stop here and say that condemnation would certainly have been justified. Hard-hearted, rigid, sinful people were right here. God could have easily, justifiably chosen condemnation to set this world straight. He deliberately did not choose the path of condemnation.
In our condemnation- saturated atmosphere now, this fundamental truth gives us a clear, shining light of God’s intention. Insults, belittling, degrading others is an approach God specifically rejected. Those who love and follow God should be followers of the life-giving choices that God has plainly laid out for us.
Throughout His life, we see that there are many examples where Jesus calls His disciples to account. The only name-calling, denouncing of others from Jesus was to self-righteous, judgmental, hard-hearted religious leaders. Again, the essence of being a CHRISTian is following Christ.
The temptations and life-giving responses are laid out for us this Lent. God’s love for all the world and God’s rejection of condemnation gives us the foundation to follow Him in our falsehood saturated environment where daily people are not following the life-giving path Jesus has set for us.
Mary John Doe
The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye
The Rev. Dr. Mary John Dye is a retired clergy member of the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. This post is republished with permission from her Facebook page.