#DailyDevotion The Christian Lives In The Wilderness Of Lent His Entire Life
Lent Day 8
Mark 1:12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
We spend 40 days during Lent focusing on being more repentant and hopefully also more faithful because Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. Jesus in his 40 days in the wilderness though stood in the place of Israel. The Lord had brought Israel into the wilderness to test them, to see whether or not they would trust him and do all that he had commanded them. Well, Israel failed and they spent 40 years in the wilderness failing spectacularly one event after another. Jesus stands in Israel’s place to redeem Israel. Through his obedience Israel is redeemed and ransomed. Jesus gains for Israel the inheritance promised through the fathers but lost because of their disobedience.
Now all the promises that the Lord had made Israel are available and are fulfilled through Christ Jesus i.e. through trusting in him, even in his name. Jesus has fulfilled the covenant the Lord made with Israel on Mt. Sinai in their stead. More than that, he has made them available to the world. When we are baptized into Christ and he is our trust, we are united with Jesus, made one with him. We are grafted onto Israel, Jesus, and made heirs and children of Abraham. The Israelites according to the flesh in the same fashion are called to be joined with Christ Jesus, the fulfillment of Israel that they may obtain the fullness of the promises of the Abrahamic covenant. John the Baptist called the Jews to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus told the Jews to be baptized also. Finally the apostles of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed a baptism of salvation into Jesus. This is the blessing to the nations the Lord had promised Abraham.
Now as our Lord Jesus, the Messiah was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, so we too who belong to him and having been joined to him through baptism into his name, we too will be tempted. We will be tried throughout our lives. Jesus did not call us to an easy life when we were made part of Israel in our baptisms. Peter reminds us, 1Pe 4:12-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (13) But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” You see the real trials of Lent are with us our entire lives. But if we keep the faith, that is, condemn our sinful actions and look to Jesus for our salvation1Pe 1:7 “may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Almighty God and Father, as we remain in the wilderness of this life, grant us the faith of your Son Christ Jesus, that being joined with him, we may overcome Satan and receive the fulfillment of promises of the New Covenant in Jesus’ name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.