The Wilderness of Testing



At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

In Mark's non-stop action gospel, he describes Jesus as being baptized by John in the Jordan. As he came out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice was heard from heaven, saying, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." And then Mark writes that at once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, or as another translation has it, the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. There he was with wild animals. The question that instantly comes to mind is, "Why? Why would the Holy Spirit drive Jesus into the desert?" The short answer: to be tested.

If we are serious in our journey of discipleship, the Holy Spirit will drive us into the wilderness of testing as well. These times of testing can last a few days, or in some cases, a few years. The Israelite's spent forty years in the wilderness. It can be a terrible time, what with being alone amidst wild beasts who threaten to destroy us. Also, like a person might drink anything to quench his thirst in an actual desert, we too might do anything to satisfy our emotional thirsts in the spiritual desert, but Jesus shows us that there are alternatives. When he was hungry — he was 40 days without food, remember? — the tempter came to him knowing that he was vulnerable.

"If you are the Son of God," he told Jesus, "tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' (see Matthew 1:3-4). God will help us get through the temptations and struggles that we will face during our times of testing. There may have been wild beasts in the wilderness where Jesus was driven into. But there were also angels to minister to him. We discover this when we read the words of God contained in the Scriptures. We will discover other words too: words of comfort and consolation, words of hope and encouragement. 

And among the words, we will find these from James: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4). The testing makes us mature in faith. Then, he adds: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12).

Brothers, sisters, if you are being tested now,hang in there. And you will receive the crown of life.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let’s Get Healed - A Reflection on Matthew 18:21-19:1

Image
  Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, an
Read more

Patience - A Reflection on Luke 2:33-35.

Image
  And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”   This is probably the shortest passage that we have reflected upon this year. In it, we find a man named Simeon making a prophecy about three things. One, about Jesus. Two, about the people of Israel. And three, about the pain that Jesus’ mother Mary would go through. We have seen all his prophecies came true. But who is Simeon? And what can we learn from him? Ok. On the 40th day of his birth, Jesus is taken by Mary and Joseph to the temple to be officially inducted into the Jewish faith. When they were there, a man named Simeon came in to see them.   He is described as “righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the H
Read more

Dying and Killing

  The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier,
Read more