Jesus In The Wilderness
We are once again in our fifth day of Lent, the first Sunday. We journey once more with Jesus and each other into the wilderness. We have no idea where this journey will take us, but by God’s grace we hope to end up closer to our Lord, living for and loving and serving him more in and through each other.
The gospel reading for today though quite short (four verses) is packed with points on which we could ponder. The Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.. It is not easy to hear Jesus being “driven out” by the Spirit to be tested. The term has a connotation of violent compulsion used in John 2:15 to describe Jesus’ act of driving the sheep and oxen out of the temple area. Zeal it was for his Father’s house that caused Jesus to act in this manner. Now He is being driven by the Holy Spirit to be tempted.
We should look at the interaction between Jesus and the Holy Spirit which occurred just prior to this event. The Holy Spirit had been sent by the Father to descend on Jesus like a dove. The Father told Jesus that he was His beloved, Favoured Son. (Mk 1:11) Before the Spirit threw Jesus out into the desert, He rested upon Jesus and assured Him of the Father’s special love.
If the Holy Spirit, who is Lord (2 Cor 3: 17-18) can drive Jesus into the dessert to battle Satan, He will certainly drive us into battle, for we are disciples of Jesus. During the heat of the spiritual battles, temptations, and testing of Lent, we must always remember that first the Holy Spirit is poured out in our hearts so we will know God’s love and be confirmed in it. If Jesus goes into the Lenten desert, so do we. We follow in His steps toward every test God has for us. No test has been sent to us that haven’t come to Jesus or others. The Spirit will not let us be tested beyond our strength.
Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. Does our wilderness experience seem longer than forty days or forty years? Regardless of the duration of our trials, regardless of the “wild beasts, poisonous snakes and scorpions” that we encounter, we must remember and never doubt that God is with us. His “angels” also minister to us.
During those days of temptation and wandering in the wilderness, Jesus experienced an intimacy with his Father that no temptation of the devil could shake. We too can experience that intimacy. When Jesus came out of the wilderness, his confidence, peace and even excitement over what God was about to do was contagious. His words rang out with the conviction and joy of someone who knew firsthand that a new kingdom was about to break into the world, and it caused the same sense of expectancy to rise up in those who heard him.
Jesus reminds us that “This is the time of fulfillment, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1: 15). We are now living in this time of fulfillment. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus has established the kingdom of God. Sin has been overcome, because good has triumphed over evil. We don’t have to be slaves to unruly desires or patterns of sin anymore. Instead Jesus has brought pardon, healing and divine grace to all who turn to him.
May this Lenten season for you be like none other. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and direct you, to provide all the strength needed to conquer all temptations. Allow God’s Holy Spirit to totally consume you as you journey through this Lent, then march into Easter knowing that we are more than conquerors through Christ.
We ask our heavenly Father to give us a new springtime in the Holy Spirit, as we thank Jesus for taking us into the desert with Him to speak to our hearts and transform us.
Today’s Gospel – Mark 1:12-15
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
