This is My Beloved Son

Mark 1:12-13 Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals.

You know how it goes. We know that life has its ups and downs, its bumps and bruises, the occasional body blow. And yet still, deep down, we hope, we expect actually, that it’ll go much easier for us. After all, we’re special, right? Of course we each think we’re special. Those bad things shouldn’t happen to us! And yet, they do.

It’s hard to imagine anyone more special than Jesus, God’s beloved Son. Just look at His baptism.

Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were being baptised, Jesus came and was baptised too. And while he was praying, the sky opened, and the Holy Spirit came down on him. The Spirit looked like a real dove. Then a voice came from heaven and said, “You are my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with you.”

That certainly didn’t happen at my baptism. You? No, I thought not. But immediately after that …

Mark 1:12-13 … the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals.

Actually, that translation is quite an understatement. In the original Greek it says that the Holy Spirit threw Jesus out into the desert. Imagine, Jesus thrown out there to starve for forty days; to be tempted by the devil to throw in the towel.

If it happened to Jesus, it’ll happen to us. God will test our faith in Him … and, if we’ll let Him, He’ll bring us through it all stronger and more reliant on Him than we ever thought possible.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.