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| Temptation of Christ on the Mountain - Duccio |
Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:12-14).
The way has been prepared by John the Baptist. The one who has come in the spirit and power of Elijah[1] has preached and baptized repentance in the wilderness. The message has been sent and received. All the land, Mark writes, went out to him, confessing their sins and being baptized. Jesus comes to be baptized. But why? John hesitates; Jesus reassures. It is to fulfill all righteousness.[2] John obeys. Jesus, the sinless one, God in human flesh, is baptized by John. He who has no sin identifies with sinful mankind and becomes sin.[3] The Father sends His Spirit to Jesus in the form of a dove. The Father claims and acknowledges His Son, putting His stamp of approval on the work Jesus is doing. The Father is well pleased.
Into the wilderness now; Jesus is driven by the Spirit. Forty days Jesus wanders in the wilderness, fasting and praying. He is in the desolate places among the wild beasts. Satan, the accuser, comes to tempt Him. Jesus is walking the path of God’s people. He is Israel. Jesus is putting right what God’s people have gotten so wrong since that business so long ago in the garden with the forbidden fruit. Jesus wanders but is not lost. He is tempted but does not sin. He rebukes the Devil with the words of Holy Scripture. Satan is driven back by God’s Word; the angels minister to Jesus.[4]
Jesus is God’s people, Israel, reduced down to one. He is the promised Seed over whom Abraham rejoiced.[5] Jesus has entered the covenant through circumcision.[6] He has identified with God’s people and assumed the responsibility for their sins in John’s baptism. He has corrected Israel’s sinful missteps through His own exodus. And, He begins His proclamation of the Good News, a ministry which will ultimately end with Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the devil, by His perfect sacrifice for sin - His crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. We who are baptized into Christ are baptized into His death, and we will also, therefore, take part in His resurrection.[7] Through baptism, we take part in Christ, and are thus made part of Israel. Wild olive shoots, we are grafted into the True Vine by the grace of God, through the gift of faith, created in us through the Word.[8] There is room enough for all in Christ. The time is fulfilled! The Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe the Gospel!
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