Into the Wilderness

Luke 4:1-2

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan an was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil."

As I said, this story helped me get to know Jesus more than any other. This may be a small part, but it opens up so many questions for me. But lets start with what we "know".

By this time, we have read the Christmas story, gotten to know Zachariah, his wife Elizabeth, and his son, John the Baptist, had a scene from Jesus' boyhood where he 'almost' got in trouble for not checking in with his parents, and seen Jesus baptized by His cousin (good ol' John B.), and learned of his heritage. Man, Jesus was definitely in a holy family: liniage going through King David, father Abraham, Noah, Adam...God. And let's not forget that John B. was his cousin, too.

Now, Jesus has been filled with the Holy Spirit and led into the wilderness. He didn't start doing miracles fresh out of the Jordan, He followed the Spirit into a wild, dangerous, unforgiving place. Sounds like the place you'd find the devil, huh?

A few thoughts went through my mind when reading these lines. What did it feel like to be filled with the Spirit? I know that the Holy Spirit dwells in us as well, but Jesus is the first human to house the Holy Spirit. Could so much power have been overwhelming to His mortal side? Being filled with a Spirit that knows all and can do all, I imagine that the physical and limited body would feel restricting and constricting. Many of the great leaders of the Bible have needed to first spend some alone time with God before they can fulfill their missions. It didn't start and didn't end with Jesus. Look at Abraham: he had to move away from his home entirely. Moses, ran into a living bush on fire but also had to repeatedly get alone with God. Paul, spent years out alone with God learning the message. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by what you must do? Jesus knew full well what ahead of Him, so He ran to God.

He also ran straight into trouble. I find it interesting that so far, the places God is aren't where He is expected, which is the Temple in Jerusalam. Now, yes, God can be in more than one place at one time, but right now, the places that matter are out in the wilderness. Jesus is having to go outside of where He is comfortable. He doesn't have any of the civilization or community that He has grown up with around Him. Whatever happens, it is truly between Him and God.

Sometimes, getting away from it all seems really nice, but we always intend to return from our vacation. When I am surrounded by familular people and places, it is so easy for me to rely on myself and others to get through a trial. Imagining going through what Jesus went through isn't pleasant. What I am getting from this part is that the Holy Spirit will lead me out of my comfort zone, and I will have to rely on God (not my strength) to get back home. I definitely have room for improvement on that point.

Enter the antagonist...Why did the devil tempt Jesus? At this point, the Holy Spirit dwelling in Jesus has been referenced twice in one sentence; Jesus is fully in the power of God. What did the devil hope to achieve?

I will stop here today. Believe me, the story is just getting started. Please feel free to share your revelations as well, and I will be back next Wednesday (hopefully not at such a late hour).

God bless!