Mark 1:9-13
Okay, I know we already read verses 9-11 last week but this week we will read them again along with verses 12-13 because the whole Gospel could be summed up in the words we find in verse 11. “You are my [child], whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” These words not only describe God’s love and attitude toward Jesus Christ but also toward us. The living God looks at us, every baptized and believing Christian, and says to us the very same thing.
The verses that follow, verses 12-13, describe the trials of temptation Jesus faced. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke give greater detail of the temptation and the Gospel of John makes no mention of it. Mark however does not provide much in terms of details, but does make clear that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted and that the angels took care of him.
A good portion of our Christian faith is learning to live with the understanding that temptation will always be a struggle for us, but God will not abandon us in it. Christian perfection is the aim of our lives but being perfectly immune from temptation is not possible, it wasn’t even possible for Jesus Christ. As a father, I often worry that my boys think that I will be angry or upset with them if they were to fail or lack perfection in the things they do. The truth is that I want to see them succeed but more importantly I want them to know that my love for them is there even if they fail. I will be there with them no matter what. I find my happiness in their happiness and well-being. I believe that God sees us the same way. God wants us to succeed at being righteous but more important God wants us to know that we are dearly loved.
This week, I hope you will remember that God says to you, “You are my child, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” Whatever struggles you might endure know that God will not abandon you!
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
If you are reading the Gospel of Mark with Pastor Chuck this year, below is a short and simple guide to doing so for this week:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your words expose my innermost thoughts and desires. I am an open book before you when I read your book. May your truths work as I read of your holiness, truth, and love. May the power of your word be known in my life so that I might genuinely have the abundant life you came to give. Amen.
Read: Mark 1:9-13
Questions to guide your thinking:
What do you think the words “You are my [child], whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”, meant to Jesus Christ when he heard them? What do you think it meant to the people who were there? What do they mean to you?
Was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted in the wilderness? Why?
What do you believe is the significance of the 4 agents (the Spirit, Satan, wild animals, and angels) Mark mentions in the temptation of Christ?
What significance do you believe these agents have in the temptation of our own lives?
