Mark 1:9-15 ESV
9 In those days
Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the
Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water,
immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice
came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well
pleased.”
12 The Spirit immediately
drove him out into the wilderness. 13 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.
14 Now after John was
arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and
saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
A Short Journey but A Huge Change
Yes, this was a short journey for Jesus, from Nazareth to John in the
Jordan. But it was a huge change in the life of Jesus and the life of this
world. The will of God was about to unfold in the life of Jesus. The will of
God for all people was about to unfold in Jesus.
Have you ever paused to consider the will of God for Jesus? How about the
will of God for you? What is the “will” of God for you? If you pause, pray and
discern, perhaps God will reveal his “will” for your life. Sometimes God’s “will”
for you will come in a flash, sometimes it will come in a struggle, sometimes
you won’t see God’s “will” for you until life’s end. We receive God’s “will” in
one way, through our baptism. One “will” of God for us, from baptism on, is to
reflect the glory of God to all He gives to you throughout your life. God calls
you in this place and in this time, today, to reflect His glory.
In this passage of scripture, Jesus is called to reflect God’s glory in
his life with all the people God gives to him. Jesus is called to begin his
ministry. Jesus is called to show God in himself to all the world. Jesus is
about to bring about a huge change in this world and in eternity.
But there is a question, for you and I. Will we accept God’s “will” in
our lives? You have a choice. You can turn away from God’s “will” and run
towards the world. You can run to your own devices to serve yourself and those
you love for your own selfish reasons. You can serve your human desires and
leave God to your back.
Or, you can turn to God. Perhaps
this may be the “hard” thing to do. To do God’s “will” may not; probably won’t,
be the easy way. You can turn to God, turn away from your selfish desires, turn
away from the sins of this world, and turn towards God to follow him into
unknown places. You can turn to God and face unknown things, places and actions
in this life. Actions not your own. Actions and places that you don’t choose.
Actions based on the “will” of God.
Will you accept God’s will? Or will you turn away from God?
Jesus comes to baptism as one of us. Jesus, however, does not need to,
nor does he, make confession. We confess our sins, as we must. Jesus, however
made no confession of sin. Jesus was sinless. However, in this passage, at the
Jordan river, Jesus was counted among the same number of all of us. Jesus was
counted in the same number of the sinful; yet he was sinless. Jesus walks with
us in our sin and identifies with you and I… sinners.
Why? Jesus loves us and has compassion for us and has come to save us
from our sin. So, Jesus, walks with us in life, death and soon to be
resurrection.
As Jesus meets John at the Jordan river, the heavens were opened. Not
just a parting of lovely Bob Ross clouds. No, the heavens were torn open. Later,
in the life of Jesus, at his crucifixion, the curtain in the Temple that covers
the Holy of Holies area is torn open. God is exposed to all the people of the
world. Here also, heaven is exposed to all the world.
And the Spirit descends. A dove. The creative power of God is revealed.
It reminds me of another place in Scripture. A place of new beginnings.
Genesis 1:2 ESV
2 The earth was without
form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of
God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Yes, the Holy Spirit is present in new creation. The Holy
Spirit is present in new creation at baptism as well. Baptism for Jesus,
baptism for you, baptism for me.
Acts 19:1-6 ESV
And it happened that while Apollos was at
Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus.
There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to
them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said,
“No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were
you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with
the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who
was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on
them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues
and prophesying.
Yes, the Holy Spirit
follows baptism. Here though, although God is Trinity; we see God first in
Jesus. And a voice from heaven declares just who this Jesus is. From the
beginning, at the beginning, now and forever. Jesus has been and will always be
God’s Son. God the Father’s pleasing Son. And the Holy Spirit drives Jesus, God’s
Son, into the wilderness.
So much takes place in the wilderness, the struggle, the
wandering, the wilderness of lives. In the wilderness are beasts. In the
wilderness where creation has been marred by sin. In the wilderness in which God’s
adversary, Satan dwells.
This is the wilderness in which Jesus is tempted by Satan.
Jesus goes through the great ordeal, here in this wilderness. Why? Why should
Jesus be subject to this? There’s no explanation.
In the wilderness we find that life is not even or flat.
Life is hills and valleys. New Christians begin on a high… they see Jesus… they
come forth from the waters of baptism to the proclamation of Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. They begin as a new creation. They are a new Child of God. But
then, from this high, Christians discover there are valleys in the wilderness.
There are temptations. Satan teases us. We can expect all of this in our
wilderness of life as a Child of God. But… Thanks be to God… Angels will
minister to you. God is there with us in the wilderness and draws us to Himself.
Drawn to God we go forth from the wilderness to preach and teach and proclaim
and give in love.
Yet… from this
wilderness… salvation rises for all. Salvation in the crossing of the Jordan.
Salvation that rises from Jesus as he relives the testing in the wilderness.
But, unlike the Israelites in the crossing of the Jordan, Jesus remains
faithful to God.
And out of the wilderness comes an abrupt change. Our
attention changes from John the Baptist, to Jesus, to the Gospel. For, the time
has come. The time has come in this decisive moment from God. Yes! The time has
come. The Kingdom has come to earth in Jesus.
The Kingdom of God has come today, to rule in our hearts
and to the core of our very beings. It’s time!
Repent! Turn! Believe!
In the beginning is the Word, Jesus! In the ending is the
Word, Jesus!
A short journey to a huge change. The Word, Jesus, present
always and forever. To save you, to save me, to draw us out of the wilderness
to live in glory with him forever.
Jesus was bound up, in my sin, on that cross, for me, for you,
for all. Teach me your salvation. Teach me your ways. Show me your will for my
life… today… tomorrow… and forever. --- Amen
I leave you with a song that reflects the short journey with the huge change and our need to accept God’s will in our lives.
Click on the link below for the YouTube Video
Desert Journey - Casting Crowns
Enjoy and God bless you this week and always.
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