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. (Mark 1:12-13 NIV)
I hear little of this Jesus who was tempted. This is the son of man. I really like this Jesus. I get this Jesus. And I like to think He gets me.
This story comes around just once a year. The rest of the time, it seems, it's all Son of God stories.
Miraculous birth.
"I was in my Father's house."
Water into wine.
Walking on water.
"Turn the other cheek."
"Blessed are the meek."
Feeding 5000.
Raising he dead.
Healing the leper.
Making the blind to see and the lame to walk.
Casting away demons.
Lamb of God.
Spotless.
Blameless.
Defeating death.
Redeeming.
I love this Jesus too.
But, most of the time, I hold on to the wilderness story. And it's especially true now when I am in my own wilderness time. When it feels like I am constantly being tested, feeling alone, and struggling with a gnawing hunger for something more, this Jesus who was tempted is the one I call out to.
No comments:
Post a Comment