Daily Thoughts from Mark: Temptation (Mark 1:12-13)

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (Mark 1:12-13, ESV)

Before Jesus can begin his ministry he must be tested like Adam was.  If he is to be the head and leader of a new humanity, the seed of the woman who bruises the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), he must respond correctly to the temptation Adam had.

And because he is leading Israel in a new Exodus from bondage to the promised land, the kingdom, he must walk through the desert like they did.  Their 40 years is represented by his 40 days.  Moses was on the mountain of Sinai to receive the law of God for 40 days and he fasted that whole time.  Jesus is recapitulating Moses’ experience too so that he becomes Israel’s new Moses.

The Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness and He is the one who enables Jesus to pass this test (though it doesn’t say Jesus passed it we see by what follows that he did).  Jesus will depend on the Spirit for everything, as must we.  He will show us how to live the life God intended for us.

During this wilderness time there is danger from wild animals, a source, no doubt, of continuous fear, but there is also ministry from God’s holy angels much the same way, we may suppose, that God ministered to another of Israel’s great prophets, Elijah.

When we are resisting Satan’s temptations God is there to speak healing to our souls, to minister to us.  He longs to see us pass the test.  God is not tempting Jesus, encouraging him to sin, that is.  That is Satan’s goal.  God is testing Jesus, hoping for him to come through in faith and obedience and being there to offer the way of escape, as Paul so eloquently says:

1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (ESV)

See my book, Temptation, for a dramatic imagining of what Jesus’ temptation might have looked like.