“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” -Hebrews 4:15, ESV
“Mother said, ‘Straight ahead,’ Not to delay Or be misled I should have heeded Her advice... But he seemed so nice. And he showed me things Many beautiful things That I hadn't thought to explore.” -Into the Woods
Little Red Riding Hood is naïve about the world around her. She has instructions from her mother to journey directly to her grandmother’s house, but as with many young people, she has a ferocious streak of curiosity. Like the proverbial cat, Little Red allows herself to be taken in by all The Wolf has to offer and almost pays the ultimate price. We think that we would never be taken in as Little Red was, but temptation comes at times for all of us.
Returning to the Garden of Eden, in a situation eerily like Little Red and The Wolf, the serpent craftily wraps the sin of disobeying God in a veneer of beauty for Eve and Adam. The serpent focuses Adam and Eve’s attention on what God was withholding from them and not on what God had commanded them: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5, ESV). The Wolf knows he must make what Little Red is missing seem extremely appealing despite what her mother said about heading straight to her grandmother’s house. Into the Woods shows The Wolf not haphazardly hunting after Little Red but sweetly beguiling her with his promises of “many beautiful things.” The serpent does the same to Adam and Eve. He downplays the consequences and upsells what God is seemingly withholding from the couple. Unfortunately for all of humanity, Adam and Eve succumb to the serpent’s reasoning, and sin enters the world.
We don’t often consider the consequences of giving in to temptation because there is an allure to sin’s promises that never quite pays off. Sin appears to offer us all the things we so desperately desire, such as security, love, and community; however, ultimately, sin leaves us feeling guilty and ashamed rather than fulfilled and confident. Little Red’s journey through Act I of Into the Woods displays the consequences of following our own heart with no regard for the boundaries set up to protect us from that which will destroy us. Little Red could enjoy the company of her grandmother by following the directions of her mother, or she could indulge in the delights that The Wolf offers.
Thankfully, according to I Corinthians 10:13, there is no temptation from which God hasn’t graciously offered a way of escape. Being fully human, Jesus understands all the temptations that are presented to us. Being fully God, Jesus withstands all the temptations we face. That is one significance of Jesus’ incarnation: he who was without sin became sin for us so that we might have Jesus’ full righteousness and avoid the penalty of sin (II Corinthians 5:21). Praise the Lord for His ultimate provision through the Savior Jesus Christ!
Comments