“Faithfulness in the Forty”
“Faithfulness in the Forty”
Mark 1.9-15
Mark 1.9-15
In the name of the living God and the Christ who has appeared to us. Amen.
The Spirit comes upon Jesus at his baptism and then immediately throws him out into the wilderness. The voice of God declares him “beloved” and then Satan’s voice is heard. Christ is baptized, marked, and appointed, but then immediately tested and tormented and seemingly abandoned.
This is a hard word. It was a hard word for the Children of Israel, who had their forty years in the wilderness after having passed through the Red Sea’s waters, their old enemy drowned. In the wilderness, they needed to trust only in God. In this way, their “forty” was both punishment and purging, a consequence of their sin and a consequence of God’s love. He would have them have only Him in the end, and so they are cast out into the wilderness.
It’s a hard word for us too. In some circles we think that being a Christians is going to make everything better. You know: more peace, more love, more fellowship in the body of Christ, wholeness and completeness, joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! And of course, we know these gifts are given, but so is the wilderness, and so is the cross. Usually, things get harder after becoming a Christian, not easier. “Oh, that’s what it means to follow Jesus!” God’s Spirit tosses us into a time and place of trial in order to both punish and purge us, test us and strengthen us, empty us so that only He can fill us.
The people of Israel got their “forty,” so did Jesus, and so will you and me. What’s your “forty”? No, it’s not actually the things we give up or take on for Lent—as helpful as this might be. These are burdens we’ve chosen ourselves, and they can have their useful place. Your real “forty” however is when and where the Spirit has driven you in order to punish you and purge you, refine you and revive you, test you and teach you that there is only one God, and his word alone must be your only strength and sustenance. It might be a time of particular spiritual struggle, a time when you feel so weak and vulnerable to sin, a time when the darkness seems too deep, when that rain keeps falling on the roof of that ark, when you’re uncertain about the future or ashamed about the past, when you’re wandering or meandering aimlessly with no direction or destination, when you’re alone or afraid. It will come (if it hasn’t yet), and it will be hard. The tempter will be there; the wild beasts harassing and haranguing you.
But in St. Mark’s rather short account of Christ’s temptation, the Lord gives us three promises for our “Forty”—His “faithfulness in the Forty”, as it were. They’re subtle, almost hidden in the text, but precious and important, and I really need you to hear them and take them away with you this morning. The time in the wilderness is 1) Spirit-Driven, 2) Divinely Limited, and 3) Angelically Ministered.
1. Spirit-driven
St. Luke and St. Matthew’s account of this same story, though longer, take it easy on us a bit. They say the Spirit “led” Christ into the wilderness. (“Led.” That’s rather nice, isn’t it?) St. Mark lets us have it. The Spirit drives, casts, throws him into the wilderness. Just like when Christ himself casts the demons out later in chapter 1 (same word), or when the Lord drives the money changers out of the temple. The Spirit’s work here is a deliberate, almost violent act, casting Christ into his “Forty”.
Now, Martin Luther in his catechism reminds us, echoing the book of James, that God indeed tempts no one (James 1.13). God is not the author of evil. But here the Bible clearly tells us that the Spirit drives out, casts out Jesus into the wilderness. Satan was doing the tempting, but the Spirit drove him there.
Now, I know there’s a great mystery here. What’s God up to, right? You’ve probably asked that question, too. It’s about the biggest and hardest question there is. But I want you to understand an even greater promise: God’s ultimately in charge, not Satan. God’s driving the wilderness bus, and although we can’t always understand the “whys”, we can trust the “who.”
Just like with Jesus, our “Forties” are Spirit-driven. This means we have to trust that God’s good and gracious purposes are ultimately at work, and that the Lord will strengthen and sustain us during the time of testing. He uses these times to shape us, mold us, purge us, draw us closer to him… and only him.
2. Divinely Limited
The Forty Days of Christ’s testing in the wilderness were not endless. A divinely appointed limit was placed upon them. Our “Forties” are for a reason for season, too. The suffering will not be endless. The temptations will not always remain with the same intensity. Although we know temptation will always come, the particularly intense season of trial and testing has a divinely marked end point. As the Psalmist says, “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30.5) This was a season—a fixed set of time for trial and testing.
This knowledge—that God has appointed an end to our times of intense testing—this enables us to fight on in strength, doesn’t it? There’s a finish line—although you can’t see it, He has set it. This inspires us to resist the devil and all his works and all his ways. To “keep on keeping-on” so to speak. Noah would see that dove and get out of the boat. Israel would reach the promised land. Jesus’ time in the wilderness would be over, and he’d get back to work. And your “Forty” will not be endless, either.
Be comforted by the fact that there is a divinely appointed limit placed upon our seasons in the wilderness. Persevere in faith, struggle, and wrestle. Know that it will have an end. Trust God’s providence and grace to get you through.
So, the time in the wilderness is 1) Spirit-Driven and 2) Divinely Limited and 30 Angelically Ministered.
3. Angelically ministered
The scriptures tell us that Christ received “angels” or “messengers” who kept on ministering to him. I said at the beginning of this sermon that the Lord was “seemingly abandoned.” Only “seemingly” because here we see that in fact messengers to minister to his spiritual and physical needs amid the trial were provided.
Now a little Christology here. Remember that Christ is both divine and human, son of God and son of man. But here we see that the human Jesus needed continual support, on-going care during his “Forty”. We see this also in St. Luke’s account of the Passion, where at Christ’s greatest time of distress, sweating drops of blood, we’re told: “Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him” (Luke 22.43). Jesus the fully human man needed the comfort and aid of ministers for strength.
Now, if Jesus Christ needed support and ministry, how much more do you and I need the same during our times of testing!? God’s “Faithfulness in the Forty” is a promise to send his ministers, human or angelic, to support us. He provides a brother or sister to hold you accountable, someone to pray with you, another to bring you his word, maybe just give you a hug or send a note of encouragement or remind you that God hasn’t abandoned you.
The Father will send them for you—like He did for Jesus. Pray for them. In fact, if you reflect on your life and times of trial you’ve been through, you can probably think back and name them now. Remember that friend, that brother or sister who, when you look back on it, you say, “Lord, I couldn’t have made it without them. They were like an angel to me.”?
But here’s the twist: God also uses us in the lives of others. I imagine that, right now, you might be able to identify someone in your life going through their “Forty.” Perhaps the Lord is calling you to be an angelic messenger, a minister to the spiritual or physical needs of someone in the wilderness. Pray for this opportunity. Ask the Lord to open your eyes and heart to be an extension of His providential care.
Israel had its “Forty,” we have ours, and Christ had his. Our Lord succeeded where we have failed, and in this we have the great comfort of the gospel: he has won the victory against the devil—a victory which had its full culmination at the cross, where our forgiveness and grace was won.
But God also does not abandon us in our seasons of testing. He’s in charge, He will limit them, and He will provide support and strength along the way.
May God bless us with this knowledge during every time of trial in the wilderness.
Come soon Lord Jesus. Amen.