Mark 1:12-13
• Mark mentions four things…
Jesus was drove into the wilderness for 40days.
Jesus was tempted by Satan.
Jesus was among wild animals.
Jesus had angels ministering to Him.
• This is a significant event in the life ofJesus and allows for us to see the human side of Jesus.
• But there is more to this story.
• Mark only gives us some of what happened.
• It’s the cliff notes version, there is a lotthat happened though.
• Mark doesn’t dive into the details. This iswhy it’s important to read all the Bible, not just some.
• Jesus not only was driven into the wildernessfor 40 days, but he fasted the entire time.
• Fastingfor Jesus was real fasting…not what we do today.
• Jesusdid not eat or drink.
• That’swhy in Matthew and Luke 4:2 (for both) it says “he was hungry”.
• While fasting for 40 days in the wildernesshe was also being tempted by Satan (the Devil).
• Remember that Jesus went immediately into thewilderness (which in Hebrew also translates as desert).
• Jesusdidn’t prepare by going home and packing a bag.
• He wasdriven into the wilderness with just what He had on His back.
• RememberJesus sent His disciples out the same way, with just what they had.
• Jesuswas exposed to the elements around Him.
• Hotduring the day (highs of 85°)
• Cold atnight (lows of 65°)
• WildAnimals:
• Hippopotamus(Water areas)
• Crocodiles(Water areas)
• Venomoussnakes
• Scorpions
• Lions
• Bears
• Leopards
• Hyenas
• Jackyls
• Wolves
• WildBoar
• As if not eating or drinking, facing theelements and wild animals weren’t enough.
• Jesus had to contend directly with the devilhimself.
• We don’t face the devil to his face likeJesus did.
• We areaffected by the devil and his demons but not like Jesus was.
• We hear of three temptations Jesus faced.
• “If you are the Son of God,command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But heanswered, “It is written, “‘Manshall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouthof God.’”
• “If you are the Son of God, throw yourselfdown, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘Ontheir hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against astone.’ 7 Jesus said to him, “Again itis written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
• 8 Again, the devil took him to a veryhigh mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and theirglory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you willfall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it iswritten, “‘You shall worship theLord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
• Jesus speaks from the book of Deuteronomywhen responding to Satan.
• Satanattempt to lure Jesus into sin didn’t work.
• I feel like I would have respondeddifferently, which is why I’m not Jesus.
• I would have said “If I’m the Son of God,I’ll show you who is the Son of God”.
• And then I would have sinned and the devilwould have won.
• Payattention to this though…
• When Jesus said “Be gone, Satan! For it iswritten, “‘You shall worship theLord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, andbehold, angels came and were ministering to him.
• Jesus said Be Gone and Satan had to leave.
Temptation is defeated because…
• There is power in the voice of Jesus Christ.
• There is mercy in the sacrifice of JesusChrist.
• There is Salvation in the Blood of JesusChrist.