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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 4, 2006 The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, March 4, 2006 by Gary Shaffer
Scripture for the Day - Mark:1:9 -13
When I first began serving as the youth coordinator at the church I still call my home congregation, it was a period when there was a significant amount of interest in sponsoring a "revival" service or series of services at our church. There had been a number of evangelists and revival services in the community and a number of our members were strongly suggesting that our congregation and the community would benefit from holding one at our church. One of the reasons that I was and am still not very receptive to "tent meeting" type revivals is that in their worst form: an evangelist delivers a very powerful message of sin and guilt and the power of God's redeeming love; many are moved to make a decision and accept this great redemption offered through God's great love; and a new brother or sister in Christ begins their journey in faith empowered by this emotional mountaintop experience. This is all well and good. However, it does not take long before the "temptations" and the testing begin. There are obstacles encountered on this journey. The decision was sincere. The journey begun in earnest. But the path is difficult. The evangelist has moved on and if the sojourner has not become part of a faith community there may seem to be little help. That is one of the reasons we would schedule these "revival" services at our church - there was a community of support already in place for those who chose to become part of it.
The story of Jesus' baptism and temptation contains many themes of theological importance. I considered focusing on a couple that I have heard meaningfully addressed at various times. But in reading Mark's account I was struck by its basic simplicity. The important themes are all there but the story remains powerfully simple. As you read the verses, it seems that the key components are these:
Jesus is baptized.
He is embraced and empowered by the Spirit.
The temptation begins, immediately.
He is helped by angels.
To me the power in Mark's story is in its basic simplicity. These are events that we can all relate to. The call. The decision to follow. The temptations that constantly undermine that decision. And the fact that we, like Jesus, are not left to fight the battle alone. I recently read somewhere the wisdom that a good and meaningful life is built simply, one day at a time. And for many of us, this basic struggle in which we find ourselves so involved - between God and God's adversary - goes on day by day. And each day we struggle to renew that decision. And each day we struggle to build that good and meaningful life. And each day we need not fight the battle alone, for God is with us. " I am baptized."
Heavenly Father, empower me this day with your spirit and strengthen me for the battles in which I may find myself. Lord, please be patient with me when I falter and pick me up when I fail. And, never let me forget that I am not alone. Remind me where I started and also where I will end and help me fill the in between with a meaningful life serving you, built one day at a time. Amen
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