“And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Mark 1:12-13
The gospel writer Mark tells the story of Jesus temptation a little differently than the other gospel writers. Rather than giving specifics as to the nature of the temptations, Mark simply says that during his wilderness time, Jesus was tempted by Satan. It make me wonder if during those forty days, Satan was relentlessly throwing temptation after temptation at Jesus in order to get him to trip up and fall. If that was the case, I can not begin to imagine the stress and distress that placed upon Jesus heart.
The wilderness, isn’t that where the devil does his best work? When we feel alone, separated from God and others, when we are experiencing wilderness moments, then Satan sneaks in and reminds us of our short comings, inadequacies, and attempts to de-value us. he never seems to sneak up on us when we are in the presence of our gracious God and the fellowship of other believers. Indeed, Satan does his best work in the wilderness moments of our lives.
It is immediately after his baptism that the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. Perhaps it is the promise of his baptism which strengthens Jesus to oppose the temptations Satan hurled in the wilderness. Maybe knowing the promise that he was beloved by God the Father was exactly what Jesus needed to resist the temptations that Satan threw at him
In like fashion, we need to remember the power and promise of our baptism as we face the temptations that Satan hurls at us. Named and claimed by God in baptism means that there is nothing that will separate us from God’s love. Satan’s insults, the doubts he plants in in our minds, the fears that he conjures us in our hearts are not as powerful as God’s promise to love us with an endless love.
During this season of Lent, remember the promises of your baptism. For in Christ nothing separates us from God’s love.
See you in worship.
Pastor Todd
