Revelation & Temptation

But Mark’s Gospel...

Matthew’s Gospel starts with the genealogy of a king

Luke’s Gospel starts with a millenial hope coming to fruition

John’s Gospel starts with the creation of the universe

But Mark’s Gospel starts with a hurricane

John bursts onto the scene - baptising a swathe through the Judean countryside. Jesus is just another boulder tumbled along in the flood. That, is, until the heavens are torn open and a voice comes from heaven, the Spirit descends like a dove.

No sooner is Jesus marked by Heaven itself as the long-promised Holy One of God, than he is thrust out into the wilderness, into temptation. 40 days and 40 nights wrestling with the enemy.

Mark leaves us in no doubt as to who Jesus is, what he has been given. But no sooner does the hope appear, than it is thereatened by the temptation.

What is revealed in Jesus?

Identity:

Son of God / Son of Man

Master/Lord

Christ

The Word

Lamb of God

Emmanuel

What is Jesus’ temptation?

To give up on his identity in the Father, and worship some lesser god. To be less than who he truly is.

What is revealed in us?

Children of God

Brothers & sisters of Christ

Chosen

Temple of the Holy Spirit

Body of Christ

A new creation

What is our temptation?

We think of temptation as being the things that we’d really quite like to do, but know that we shouldn’t.

That last chocolate bar, that extra few minutes online. The temptation to slightly re-shape the truth to make ourselves look better.

These are the petty, and sometimes not so petty, indulgences that we think of when we hear the word “temptation”.

I think that there’s a deeper meaning, a meaning that we can find in the story of Jesus, his baptism & temptation.

Jesus, in his love for us, grants us a new identity.

Straight away, we are tempted to let that identity go. “That’s not really me”. “I’m not good enough”. “People wouldn’t like me if they really knew.”

That’s the heart of all of our temptations.

To believe we need to save ourselves. To see the mess that we’ve made of things, and believe that there is no hope. To believe that we are not loved. To believe that faith on it’s own won’t be enough.

To believe that Jesus is less than he truly is.

Letting go & letting God

Paslm 131

We don’t have to save the world on our own

We don’t have to save ourselves.

How do we get through?

So, how do we get through? How do we rest in the loving arms of God? How can we re-orient ourselves so that our hope and our trust in Him can dsiplace the temptatin that threatens our very identity?

Faith, Hope & love

1 Corinthians 13:12–13 NIV

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Season of Lent. Everything else is stripped away. As we come to fully know Jesus, so we too will be fully known.

Colossians 3:12–17 NIV

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

My prayer for you in this season of Lent...