Testing the King. Mark 1:12-13.
The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 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.
Dear Saints,
Of the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), Mark’s account of the temptation of Jesus is the shortest. But in it, he wants to communicate the role of the Holy Spirit who is guiding Jesus and the presence of ministering angels in the face of adversity.
Spirit (v. 12). The word “immediately” occurs here the second time (it first appears in verse 10). It is a common word in this gospel and indicates urgency. When Jesus goes into the wilderness, it is the Spirit of God who drives him there. Mark is keen to show us that Jesus is not just living life as it comes – he is guided by the Spirit.
Satan (v. 13a). God did not plan the temptation of Jesus “for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13). Yet aware of Satan’s plan to tempt Jesus, the Spirit led him into the wilderness. The picture here is of both spiritual danger presented by Satan, and physical danger presented by wild animals. Satan often uses natural circumstances to make the lives of believers difficult, in the hope that they will yield to fear and despair.
Servants (v. 13b). But Jesus was not left alone at the hands of the tempter. The angels were there to serve him. Even when it appears that God’s people have been abandoned to the mercy of the devil, we should remember that God will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5) and that “He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11). Jesus is gone out into the hostile wilderness but he is not alone and neither are we.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.