12At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him
Jesus' presentation as God's Son and the beginning of His ministry were as much a cause for celebration in first century Judea as they are now. Normally when we celebrate something we throw a party or hold a parade. We hold celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special moments. Parades to honor holidays, winning sports teams and special events. Jesus was not so honored.
The Greek word translated here as "at once", eutheos (yoo-theh'-oce), has also been translated as "immediately", "quickly", "straightaway" and "just then". It appears 47 times in Mark's Gospel.
1.How do these other interpretations of the Greek word eutheos tie these verses to verses 9-11?
They place the temptation shortly following the baptism.
The Spirit who descended like a dove in verse 10 now has a mission for Jesus.
1.What does Mark say the Spirit did next?
Drove or sent Him into the wilderness.
The wilderness was a large area of barren lands around Judah, very much a desert wind swept, rocky and intensely hot.
The wilderness held a special signifiacnce to the Israelites beginning with their journey from Egypt and having crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:22) .
They experienced difficulties ranging from a lack of water (Exodus 15:23-25) and attacks by enemy nations (Exodus 17:8-16) all before reaching Mount Sinai.
At Sinai they received the Law (Exodus 20:2-17) .
They were punished for not trusting God (Numbers 11:32-33).
Moses and Aaron were punished for disobedience by not being allowed to cross into the Promised Land. (Numbers 20:8-12) .
Until, at last they took possession of the promised Land (Joshua 21:43).
God had kept His promise to the people of Israel.
I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they lived as aliens. Exodus 6:4 (NIV) 1.In light of the brief history above, how might the people of Israel view the desert?
As a place of testing and deliverance. Mark tells us that Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit. The Greek word translated in the NIV as "sent him", has also been translated as "drove" in the English Standard Version and "impelled" in the New American Standard. The Greek word ekballo (ek-bal'-lo ) means
to command or cause one to depart in haste ; to lead one forth or away somewhere with a force which he cannot resist
Mark is a little asture in his presentation, Luke and Matthew fill in a few further details for us.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1-2a (ESV)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 (ESV)
1.What are a few things you get from Matthew and Luke that Mark leaves out?
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit . Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit
2.Why is it important that the Holy Spirit was involved in Jesus ministry?
3.What lessons can we learn from the Spirits involvement in Jesus ministry?
4.How can we apply what we have learned from the Spirits involvement in Jesus ministry to our lives?
Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness living with wild animals.
Matthew 4:2 and Luke 4:2 tell us that Jesus abstained from nourishment for the forty days and forty nights. In other words Jesus fasted for forty days and nights. Living in a dangerous environment full of wild beasts some of which no longer exist in the region today, such as the lion.
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matt 4:2 (NIV)
where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. Luke 4:2 (NIV)
Jesus ordeal in the wilderness recalls two other events from the Old Testament such as Moses' ascent up Mount Sinai not once but twice Exodus 24:18, 34:28. Elijah's miraculous meal when fleeing Jezebel 1 Kings 19. A meal that susstained him forty days and nights in his journey to Horeb, also called Sinai.
Even the forty years Israel spent being tested and refined in the desert. Deut 8:2-3.
Adam Clarke wrote about the significangts of 40 days as follows:
It is remarkable that Moses, the great lawgiver of the Jews, previously to his receiving the law from God, fasted forty days in the mount; that Elijah, the chief of the prophets, fasted also forty days; and that Christ, the giver of the New Covenant, should act in the same way. Was not all this intended to show, that God's kingdom on earth was to be spiritual and Divine? - that it should not consist in meat and drink, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost?. Roman 14:17 (NIV).
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Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted. The word translated as tempted is the Greek word peirazo (pi-rad'-zo) which has the following meaning.
to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quantity, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself a.in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments b.to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin c.to solicit to sin, of the temptations of the devil
Mark tells us only that Satan tempted Jesus for forty days . Matthew and Luke add a bit more detail. This study shall use Matthews version to illustrate the Tempation of Christ.
The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Matthew 4:3-10 (NIV)
1.What does Matthew tell us Satan used to try tempting Jesus? 2.How did Jesus respond to Satan's tempting? 3.What can you learn from Jesus' use of Scripture? 4.From Satan's use of Scripture? 5.How can we put these observations to use in our lives when we are tempted?
At the end of which Angels attended him.
About the Author
Clyde Annach is the operator of the Web Log aha! clyde's been thinking again!
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