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How To Survive The Wilderness
Brian Mashburn
November 1, 2009
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Man vs. Wild
Right after he was baptized, and the Father's voice spoke out loud that Jesus was His son, that He loved him, and that He takes great pleasure in him, the Spirit led Jesus out into what I will call a "wilderness experience".
Jesus was pulled right out of the watery grave surrounded by people and then shoved right into a dry landscape isolated and alone.
Why?
Mark says he was sent by the Holy Spirit. Matthew and Luke say he was led by Him. Mark notes that Jesus was with the wild animals. They all say that he was out there to be tempted by Satan, and that angels would attend him. They say that he had no food for 40 days.
Why? Why the wilderness? We don't have to go to the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, do we? Satan seems to be able to do that wherever he wants. I don't need to make a special trip anywhere.
And what are we to make of God's involvement in this? He just said He loves Jesus, and then He quite purposely puts Jesus in an environment that sure doesn't seem like a good gift from a loving, approving, pleased dad.
Why? Why did God lead, send, or at the very least, allow Jesus to experience the suffering, loneliness, and temptation of the wilderness.
It's a good question, isn't it? If we could answer it, perhaps we could interpret our times of suffering, loneliness, and temptation. Perhaps, by looking at this perplexing scene with a little more attentiveness, we could get some answers to the hauntingly frustrating question of "why"?
Since we all have wilderness experiences, would it not be great if we could be protected from thinking that God is disowning us as sons and daughters, or that He's not loving us, or that He is not pleased with us?
And beyond that, what if we could glean not just the "why," but the "how"? What if, by looking at this scene with a little more inquisitiveness, we could learn from Jesus how to guard our hearts against despair in the midst of the wilderness?