Image from angusday.org Jesus' example for us
From Mark 1:9-15: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 1He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
This is the reading for next Sunday. To better understand it, this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning a forty day journey known as Lent. Most churches will offer the imposition of ashes on one's forehead as a symbol of our readiness for this Lenten Journey. It is very much a spiritual journey, involving discipline and sacrifice. This passage shows Jesus' commitment to this journey for Himself. He presents Himself for baptism, and this faithfulness is marked by a voice from Heaven declaring Jesus to be "My Son, the Beloved; with You I am well pleased." Spirit driven, Spirit rewarded, Jesus' baptism shows the need to identify with humanity and humanity's biggest need is to seek that which delivers us from our sins. Jesus, Whom we know was without sin, identifies with the power of baptism and shows that He is very much in tune with the human condition. And just as the Holy Spirit drove Him to baptism, it leads Him into the wilderness for forty days. Mark's gospel summarizes these days with "tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on Him." Other gospels share longer insights into what happened in the desert, but Mark is content with just sharing the highlights. It was a time of preparation and a difficult time at that; and after it was over, Jesus was ready to move forward obediently to what awaited Him.
Mark shows Jesus coming to Galilee to begin His public ministry by proclaiming the sermon of His cousin John the Baptist: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." Again with that pesky issue of sin. For one to know and enter into God's kingdom, one must repent of one's sins, and have faith in the good news of God's love and deliverance for all people.
Lent is that time when we focus on God's power to free us from our sins. God knows the journey that leads to sin, but God offers that which delivers us from that condition. We enter into the fulfillment of time when we ask that our sins be removed and believe in the message of good news.
PRAYER: Loving God, as I prepare to know You better, help me to know that the sin within me from be removed. I can't do it alone, I need You to remove that sin from me. Take me from this marking of time into the fulness of time and the joy of the good news. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
