“Lent is a spiritual journey and its destination is Easter,
the feasts of feasts.”[1]
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him” (Mark 1:9-13).
As we journey with Christ to resurrection joy, there will be times that we walk with Christ through the wilderness. Jesus has been through it all, and is with us every step of the way. The New Testament Greek for tempted is also translated as to be tested, or to prove by trial.
Holy Spirit Hovering; Angels Attending
In Mark’s gospel, we learn that Christ was with the wild animals in the wilderness, and that angels came to minister to him. Here Mark points to Christ’s fulfillment of Psalm 91, which says:
“For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways…
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent” (Psalm 91:11, 13).
In the left-hand corner of the artwork, an angel reaches down to minister to Christ. God’s love and care, and the Holy Spirit, are also shown by the warm yellow light surrounding Christ. Even as Christ suffered, the Holy Spirit who came upon him at baptism remained with him, and angels attended to him.
Lord of All Creation
This picture of Christ’s testing depicts a sly fox and a raven bowing before him. The serpent represents Satan, whom Christ crushes underfoot (Genesis 3:15). Christ is Lord of all creation, whom even the wild creatures will praise (Revelation 5:13).
Trials and Temptations
Most of us can relate to the feeling of being in the wilderness at times, far away from where we want to be. We may be suffering because of strained relationships, or loss of those we love, or loss of dreams or of health. We also suffer with the suffering of our community and world.
Help for the Journey
There is hope and help for the journey. Christ has suffered and has been tested, yet without sin, so he is able to help us in whatever circumstances we are in (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). As Hebrews 13:5 proclaims: “He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Christ comes to us as daily bread, through prayer, word and sacrament.
When we invite Jesus to be Lord of our lives, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. Even when we can’t find words to pray, the Holy Spirit guides us, and comforts us. In our weakness, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groans too deep for words (Romans 8: 26).
There are angels around us who attend our ways, and we can act like angels—God’s messengers—for each other. Christ gives us a beautiful creation to care for. Each sunrise, each diamond star in the velvet sky, each soaring eagle, is a gift for us to enjoy.
Ethan McCarthy writes,
The sadness of Jesus exemplifies the sadness of Christians everywhere, and through it the whole world is redeemed. For the sadness of Jesus is not an ultimate sadness: the Bible also promises the end of sadness, and the wiping away of all tears: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4). [2]
[1] Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent (S. Vladmir’s Seminary Press, N.Y., 1974), p. 11.
[2] Ethan McCarthy 'Inside Out' and Christian Sadness
The new Pixar film reminds us that sadness is often necessary, in Christianity Today,
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/july-web-only/inside-out-and-christian-sadness.html?share=O3MjZutExciiyQlhWdFcDf4igFA0QfOZ (Last accessed Feb. 20, 2023.)
[1] Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent (S. Vladmir’s Seminary Press, N.Y., 1974), p. 11.
Hebrews 4:15: "For we have not a high priest not able to sympathise with our infirmities, but tempted in all things in like manner, sin apart".
https://dcbverse.blogspot.com/2008/11/temptations.html