Mark 1:9-13

The sequence of events is hard to ignore. Because Jesus is baptized by John, he receives approval from the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and approval from the Father in the form of a heavenly voice. (Notice the trinitarian passage if you're big into them.) The gospels, or the Bible in general, doesn't note the voice of God very often, so when it happens, we should probably take special notice. Jesus gets special encouragement here from his Father, as he begins his public ministry and moves his way toward the cross.

From the baptism, Jesus taken immediately into wilderness by Spirit. In the wild, Mark sets up a scene with Jesus, Satan, wild beasts, and angels. We know that Satan is there to tempt Jesus. And although the purpose of the wild beasts isn't revealed, I doubt that their presence is pleasant. Add the angels to the mix, and there seems to be some type of spiritual battle happening.

Although many commentators might disagree, the connection of wilderness and the number 40 seems too much of a coincidence to me. After leaving Egypt, Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. They were not ready, as a people, to enter the promised land, so the wandering gave them an opportunity to get prepared and learn dependance on God. Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness as a time of preparation as well. He prepares for three years of homelessness, conflict with people, conflict with evil, healings, suffering, and ending with execution. Both Jesus and Israel underwent temptation and preparation. Where Israel fails repeatedly, Jesus succeeds. The forty days are probably not pleasant for him, but they are necessary in order to get ready for tougher times ahead.

Jesus goes immediately from hearing the direct approval of God to surviving temptation in the desert.

The sequence reminds me of how our lives can go from high to low on a dime. Most of the greatest Christian people I have known have gone through some really tough times. I remember a friend losing his job, not once but twice in a short time. A preacher that I respected and admired being rejected by his church. A woman who was kind and showed great energy for God being deserted by her husband. Someone I respected getting cancer multiple times.

Maybe these people are my heroes in faith because they went through these things, not in spite of them. Our faith and character are not usually built by the easy and simple times of our lives. Difficult lives make for more maturity. Or as my friend George said, “No one's life ever got easier because they became a Christian.” We are formed during the hard times.