Beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016, many Christians around the world have entered upon 40 days of disciplined devotion in preparation for Easter. We call this 40-day observance the Lenten Season. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, leads up to a special focus for Holy Week (which this year begins March 20), and concludes with the celebration of Easter Sunday, March 27. Usually those who observe Lent focus their Scripture readings and devotions on major events in the life and ministry of Jesus, from his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, through his preaching and healing ministries in Galilee and Judea, and finally his entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the temple, his last supper with the disciples, and other events leading up to his arrest and trial, and to his crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
The beginning of Jesus's public ministry of teaching, preaching and healing was immediately preceded by his baptism by John, and by a 40-day retreat into the wilderness where he endured temptations and trials. It is that time of wilderness temptations which serves as a model for our Lenten devotions, and which indeed inspired the church to initiate this 40-day Lenten season. Jesus's time in the wilderness is described in the New Testament in three of the gospels, Matthew 4:1-10, Luke 4:1-13, and Mark 1:12-13. Mark's two-verse version is very brief, as is often the case with Mark's compact and fast-moving rendition, describing in a few words how the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, where he remained for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. There he was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
In Matthew and in Luke, the wilderness temptations are described in greater detail.
In Matthew 4:1-2, we read that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, where he was to be tempted by the devil, and while there he fasted, going without food for 40 days and 40 nights, and how afterwards he was hungry. Possibly many new Christians share a similar experience to that of Jesus in the wilderness. They begin with a high and joyful experience of faith and insight, they are baptized, and then soon after they find themselves going through a time of uncertainty and trial, even being tempted to return to old patterns of life from which they turned in order to follow Christ Jesus. The fact that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness indicates that life in the Spirit is not just about the pursuit of high, emotionally-thrilling experiences, with everything always expected to feel glorious in our lives, but life in the Spirit may at times lead us into self-confrontation, with challenging reflections about purpose and direction in our life, and wrestlings with our human frailties and our immature and wavering wills. Life in the Spirit is about growing and maturing in relationship with God, not about breezing through life with no challenging problems.
To be continued next week.
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Editor's note: Jerry Nichols, a native of Pea Ridge, is an award-winning columnist, a retired Methodist minister with a passion for history. He is vice president of the Pea Ridge Historical Society. He can be contacted by e-mail at [email protected], or call 621-1621.
Religion on 02/17/2016