Scripture: Mark 1:12-13; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 10:13
Theme: Jesus and Temptation
Title: Walking into the Wilderness
INTRO:
Grace and peace in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
When we last saw Jesus, He was coming out of the water with the heavens opened and His Father saying:
“This is My Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
It’s a comforting picture. It is a picture of victory. It is a picture of heaven and earth coming together.
And then we begin to read on.
We don’t see Jesus being ushered into the Temple and worshipped and praised as the Only Son of God. We don’t even see him surrounded by a multitude of disciples who want to listen to his teaching and preaching.
Instead, we see the Holy Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness where for the next 40 days he would live among the wild beasts, the angels and endure being tempted by the Devil.
It’s not quite the wonderful picture that we see in verses 1-11.
But it is a picture of life. Life here on God’s Good Earth. Life here on God’s Good Earth after the fall of Adam and Eve.
Let’s look at what John Mark wants to share with us this morning:
I. Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit
Not the greatest of places to be led by the Holy Spirit.
The wilderness was not a comfortable place. In fact, the word that Mark uses to describe it refers to a place that is lonely and inhospitable. It’s a place that no one wanted to travel through much less live for 40 days. It’s a place where water, food and shelter were sparse at best.
On top of that Mark tells us that there were some wild animals that inhabited the area. The wild animals at that time would have been some lions, bears and perhaps a cheetah or two. And of course, there would have been plenty of spiders, snakes and scorpions.
The wilderness was just not the kind of place that you would have wanted to go just after your baptism.
And yet, that is where we find Jesus.
Was Mark referring to the time right after the Exodus that Israel found itself having to spend time in the wilderness?
Was Mark pointing out the fact that Jesus, the Second Adam, the Messiah found himself not in the Garden of Eden surrounded by all kinds of amazing plants and animals but instead found himself in a place that was harsh and violent. All of this being the result of the Fall of man.
Was Mark who was writing his Gospel in Rome letting his readers know that Jesus also had to face the wild animals like many of the Christians at that time were having to face them in the Colosseum?
We don’t know but given the fact that Mark does use the words wilderness, temptation, 40 days and wild beasts along with the presence of angels it does cause you to go back to both the Garden of Eden and the Wilderness travels of the Children of Israel.
-How will Jesus, the Messiah, God’s Son in human form handle this hostile environment?
-How will Jesus handle going without food for 40 days?
-How will Jesus handle being on edge every night with lions and bears roaming around?
-How will Jesus get a good night sleep knowing that just a few inches from him there could be scorpions and snakes?
II. The Time of Temptations
That Jesus was tempted shouldn’t surprise us.
After all, everyone who has lived on this planet has had to deal with temptations of all sorts.
Temptations like those experienced by Jesus:
+Temptations to put the physical before and above the spiritual.
+Temptations to seek out the spectacular, to seek entertainment and pleasure over sacrifice and hard work.
+Temptations to do whatever is necessary to be #1 regardless of the cost to us or to others.
Jesus’ temptations were on a level and a scale greater than any of us will ever have to face but we will face times when:
+We are tempted to put the body, the physical things of our lives over the spiritual things in our lives.
It’s why some of the most difficult spiritual disciplines to teach and to practice are abstinence, sabbath keeping and fasting.
All of these require a level of self-discipline that is not very common and yet all of them will yield a great measure of personal spiritual, emotional, and intellectual growth and success.
+We are tempted to seek entertainment (pleasure) along with the spectacular over a life of sacrifice and hard work.
How many times are we tempted to focus on our own pleasures and entertainment. To do what we want to do, the way we want to do it and when we want to do it. To have everyone wait on us and everything be focused on us rather than seeking ways we can help others and focus on their needs?
+We are tempted to do what we can to be #1, to be at the top of the mountain in all kind of things – popularity, good looks, riches and glory etc.… .
We are constantly being bombarded with all types of quick help plans and shortcuts that can lead us to becoming rich, better looking and feeling younger and then to brag about that to others. To make sure that they see all our media posts and envy us.
Now, I know none of us have been tempted to turn stones into bread. We have not been tempted to throw ourselves off the top of the Temple to get attention.
But we all have been tempted to do as Adam and Eve did – to listen to the lies of the Devil and bow down to his lies and mistruths. We all have been tempted to put our trust more in ourselves than in God. We all have been tempted to seek our own will rather than to obey God’s will.
Hebrews 4:14-15 tells us
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
III. Jesus shows us the Way to Victory
So, how did Jesus do that?
How did he face all the harsh elements of the wilderness, live among the wild beasts, face the various temptations of Satan and remain pure, holy and victorious?
We could lean on the fact that Jesus was the Son of God.
That because Jesus was a part of the Holy Trinity, He therefore could not sin.
But then we would have to throw out the idea of Jesus being 100% human and 100% God theology.
We would also have to throw out the idea that Jesus was really being tempted.
If it is possible only to walk one way and one life path, then it is also true that you can never be tempted to stray from that walk or life path.
Temptations can only be temptations when you can of course be tempted.
And the Bible makes it plain that Jesus could be tempted. In fact, this was not the only time that Jesus faced temptation. The Bible speaks of other temptations that Jesus faced.
+When Peter tempted Jesus that Calvary was not necessary and should at all cost be avoided – Matthew 16:21-23
+In the Garden of Gethsemane – Luke 22:42
+On the Cross – Matthew 27:39-44
In each case Jesus was victorious. This is the key that the entire New Testament wants us to understand.
Yes – like Jesus we will all face temptations.
And yes – like Jesus it is possible for us to be victorious over temptations.
Listen to these verses:
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
Matthew 6:13 – Jesus tells us to pray for strength and wisdom.
“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”
Mark 14:38
“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
James 4:7
“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
When we look at all those verses along with going back to what Mark shares with us, we see some needed advice and direction:
“Submit to God” “Resist the Devil”
“Watch and Pray” “God has provided a way of Escape”
“The Devil will flee from you”
Added to all of this we know from looking at what the other Gospel writers share with us that in combating the Devil, Jesus
+Leaned heavily on God’s Word – Scripture
+Jesus drew a line so to speak in the sand – “You shall worship the LORD your God and him only shall you serve.”
That last one had to sting the Devil quite a bit.
Jesus was reminding the devil once again that he (the devil) was created to serve the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and not himself or evil. Jesus was reminding him one more time that the most important thing any part of creation can do is to serve the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.
Jesus was looking at the Devil and saying – If anyone is to bow down to someone then it is you who should bow down to me.
I wonder if Jesus was opening the door for the Devil to repent.
I wonder what would have happened had the devil simply taken the knee and reacknowledged that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are Lord of all.
If that had happened, then we would not be talking about the Wilderness Temptations but the Devil’s confession and repentance.
It’s something to wonder about but not dwell on for too long because it didn’t happen. The Devil did not repent. He did not confess at that moment but as the Bible says there is coming a day when everyone and everything will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
There’s one more thing that I think deserves some thought.
Those angels.
Mark didn’t give us a lot of details. Just that Jesus had wild animals around him, was tempted but also was in the presence of some angels.
Angels that were taking care of him. Angels that were watching over him. Angels that were bringing him comfort and peace.
I think there is something very profound in this reality.
You and I are never alone. The Bible talks about guardian angels and we see angels leading the Children of Israel in the wilderness and appearing to many people in both the the Old and New Testament.
I just wonder if when we are going through the toughest of times that we sometimes forget that not only do we have the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit with us, but we are also in the presence of angels that want to help us, provide for us and protect us.
This morning, like Jesus we will face temptations. In fact, we will face many temptations.
But like Jesus, we need to understand that we can resist those temptations.
We can lean into scripture, we can ask for the assistance of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We can pray for insight and power. We can be victorious. And we can pray for one another.
This is the Word of God for the People of God.
Invitation to the LORD SUPPER.
Blessing
