In the Gospel reading for tomorrow, it says that Jesus was driven out into the wilderness where he was "tempted" by Satan.
The actual word in the Greek is 'peirazo', which can be translated either as "tested" or "tempted". Being "tempted" makes it sound as if Satan was trying to make Jesus turn away from his divine mission and fail.
But the word "tested" has a different sense. God "tested" the Hebrew people in the wilderness of Sinai for forty years before they were allowed to come into the promised land. In the same way, Jesus was being tested to prove his resolve and intention.
We're often tested to prove ourselves. For instance, before a doctor is allowed to practice, he or she has to pass many tests to show mastery of the craft of medicine. We might say God tests us in difficult times, not to make us fail, but to strengthen us and deepen our faith.
Was Jesus tempted or tested? I like testing.
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