Passage Introduction
The gospel of Mark has sometimes been described as a photojournalist's view of the life of Jesus. Where other gospel writers will spend and extended time discussing different events in Jesus' life, Mark's gospel feels more like a photo with a snapshot. That is what this passage is like. In just a few short verses, Mark hits three different events in Jesus' life. He shares a snapshot of Jesus' baptism, his temptation in the wilderness, and the launch of his ministry.
Another key element of Mark's gospel is its pace. Mark frequently uses the work 'immediately' to convey the connection between these events. He does so twice just in this short passage.
As you read through this passage, spend some time reflecting on the snapshots of Jesus' life that Mark gives us and the connection between these three events.
The gospel of Mark has sometimes been described as a photojournalist's view of the life of Jesus. Where other gospel writers will spend and extended time discussing different events in Jesus' life, Mark's gospel feels more like a photo with a snapshot. That is what this passage is like. In just a few short verses, Mark hits three different events in Jesus' life. He shares a snapshot of Jesus' baptism, his temptation in the wilderness, and the launch of his ministry.
Another key element of Mark's gospel is its pace. Mark frequently uses the work 'immediately' to convey the connection between these events. He does so twice just in this short passage.
As you read through this passage, spend some time reflecting on the snapshots of Jesus' life that Mark gives us and the connection between these three events.
Spiritual Practices: Visio Divina
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
Visio Divina, or sacred seeing, is a type of prayer in which we allow our hearts and imaginations to enter into an image or a scene in silence to see what God might have to say to us. You can find out more about Visio Divina here. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on the images below and listen to what God might say to you through them.
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Holy Baptism
Miller, Mary Jane. Holy Baptism, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59682 [retrieved February 17, 2024]. Original source: Mary Jane Miller, https://www.millericons.com/.
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Christ in the Wilderness
Kramskoĭ, Ivan Nikolaevich, 1837-1887. Christ in the Wilderness, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54297 [retrieved February 17, 2024]. Original source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kramskoi_Christ_dans_le_d%C3%A9sert.jpg.
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Exploring the Text: In the desert places
Immediately after Jesus is baptized, Mark tells us that the Holy Spirit drove him into the wilderness. He stays there for 40 days fasting and being tempted. All the while, angels were ministering to him. I think there are a couple of things that we can take from this. The first is that following God doesn't always lead us to places that are comfortable. The Holy Spirit took Jesus into the desert. This was not the most comfortable place Jesus could have been, He was there fasting and being tempted, not rejoicing and celebrating God. Following God does not always lead us into places that are comfortable and just because we are in a difficult places does not mean that we are not in God's will. I think the second thing this shows us is that even when we are in a difficult place it does not mean that God is not will us. Even on the midst of Jesus' desert experience, the angels ministered to him. In the same way, if we look for it, we can find God ministering to us in the midst of our worst circumstances and experiences.
David W. Dalton
Immediately after Jesus is baptized, Mark tells us that the Holy Spirit drove him into the wilderness. He stays there for 40 days fasting and being tempted. All the while, angels were ministering to him. I think there are a couple of things that we can take from this. The first is that following God doesn't always lead us to places that are comfortable. The Holy Spirit took Jesus into the desert. This was not the most comfortable place Jesus could have been, He was there fasting and being tempted, not rejoicing and celebrating God. Following God does not always lead us into places that are comfortable and just because we are in a difficult places does not mean that we are not in God's will. I think the second thing this shows us is that even when we are in a difficult place it does not mean that God is not will us. Even on the midst of Jesus' desert experience, the angels ministered to him. In the same way, if we look for it, we can find God ministering to us in the midst of our worst circumstances and experiences.
David W. Dalton