Mark 1:13

Mark 1:13
"and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him".

Today we'll take a break from Luke to Look at what Mark says about the temptations of Jesus and His time in the wilderness. Mark's account is much shorter than Luke's. The entire 40 days and temptations are summed up in just two verses. There is no mention of how Jesus is tempted, or again what he did there, but it does add that "He was with the wild animals".

In 'Word Biblical Commentary' Guelich writes about "wild animals" that they are "in league with the forces of evil" and it adds to the fear of the wilderness. Indeed, there were dangerous wild animals out in the desert of the Jordan. Think of snakes, scorpions and even the odd bear or lion. Despite these dangers, Jesus is coexisting with those untamed animals. He is living out with them peaceably, and though there is danger, chooses the wilderness to be His place of solitude before he starts his ministry. My sister used to be unable to sleep (when she was younger) if there was a spider in the room, we had to search the beastie out and let him outside or else she would be too scared that it would get her in the night. Would we be able to find peace, and hear from God in a place that is not considered safe? Could we lay down our comfort and knowledge that all will be OK, and rest in the wild. 

The wild animals are beyond our control, they are untamed and will exist however we feel about them. The thought for today is to carry on in our lent. To continue doing whatever you do, though your surroundings are untamed. Are you taking up an exercise routine? How is that when many those people around you (those who you cannot control) do not inspire you to work out. Are you looking for solitude over lent, keep working at it though those around you are busy. We cannot control those around us, and taming them to our ideas will burn us out. But we can live peaceably with them, and perhaps as we find our place of rest in the wilderness, those animals might grow used to it.
God guide
xSx

Update:

Since starting this blog I became a Counsellor. You can read more on blog on subjects like Therapy at:

 www.simonslistening.co.uk