Time in the Desert

Mark 1:10-12 NIV

¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

¹² At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, ¹³ and he was in the wilderness forty days,being tempted^[a] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

This account was written probably around 60-70 AD, and many feel it was the earliest gospel on record. Mark's method of describing the events is specifically geared to the past, as his references are meant to show parallels that remind his readers how significant Jesus is in the story from the beginning.

The passage is of Jesus's baptism by John the Baptist, and describes the spirit of God coming out of heaven like a dove. This in itself is unusual, as usually the spirit of God is depicted as wind or air. However, there is one other reference of the spirit as a dove which comes from the Targum, which was the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew scriptures that Mark's audience would have read. The Targum translated the creation story from Genesis 1:2 as "the spirit of God fluttered above the face of the waters like a dove".  Thus using this description would have referenced all the way back to creation, the first time the trinity appeared together (God, spirit, word of God) and now all three again (God, spirit, and Jesus (word of God).

Vs 12 then says at once, or immediately, the spirit sent him out. This is a mild translation for the Greek word Ekballo really means to eject or drive out. This was a forceful kicking into the wilderness. The Greek for wilderness is Eremos which means lonesome, desert, solitary. It is the isolation that makes this important.

Mark mentions there were wild animals there, which other gospels leave out. Many think this reference is meant for Mark's audience, as the persecution of early Christians by being fed to wild animals was a reality of that time. It also symbolizes true danger, as Christ was not just isolated but surrounded by potential harm as well.

Then Jesus is tempted or tested, and although Mark doesn't recount the details, Matthew's gospel does. We know that the three temptations centered around refuting God's authority; The first being about bread, the second about testing God and the third about worshiping self over God.

The parallels are many, for in Genesis, after creation comes immediate testing of Adam and Eve, and what three things were at issue? 1) the fruit (bread), 2) testing God "Did God really say...?"Gen 3:1 and 3) self worship, "and you will be like God" Gen 3:5  There is another parallel with Israel, who after being rescued from Egypt was sent to be tested in the desert. They too were tempted with issues of 1)bread (mana ordeal Ex 16), 2) testing God and 3)worshiping others/self with their golden idols (Ex. 32).

To Mark's readers these parallels would have been proof of Jesus's credibility as the Son of God. To us, there is much to heed. We will have times of testing, at times ejected into something we never chose for ourselves. These times are fraught with the same issues Christ had - times of isolation, times when danger is near, and times when we are tempted to distrust God and rely on our own self reliance.

Like Christ, in these times, there are often angels ready to serve us. Sometimes just opening our eyes to see the friends, neighbors and even strangers ministering to us, helps us persevere through the desert times.

Double Minded

James 1:5-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

This passage comes just after James has told us to be joyful in trials, as troubles ultimately make us more complete humans. However, James doesn't expect us to go through these trials in the dark, for now in vs 5, he recommends that we ask God for wisdom. The Greek word Sophia used for wisdom means clarity. In other words, if you don't get it and something isn't making sense - then ask! 

The visual for the next part is nice - this giving of wisdom is done generously - the Greek word Haplos literally means without folds, meaning nothing held back or hidden.  Clarity then unfolds around us, simple and frank without wrinkles.  Sounds refreshing, so how to get this wisdom?  Three things: We must ask, we must believe, we must not doubt. 

The first part is asking. This word is not a brief inquiry like other times the word ask is used in the Bible, this is Aiteo which also means to beg or demand. The tone is of a pleading nature. The request cannot be flippant, we must be sincere. 

The second part is equally important, to have faith or belief when we ask. The Greek word Pistis more literally means that you've been persuaded. It is something foundational to this pursuit, and we must be persuaded that what we seek is truth. 

The third part is the challenge for me. I've always read this as "doubt" being the opposite of faith, so basically not believing  But it is actually more complicated, the Greek word is Diakrino, broken down to dia meaning back and forth and Krino meaning to judge.  James is adding another dimension then by suggesting that those who waver back and forth in their decision making won't get wisdom.  The following visual explains doubt as being like a wave in a violently agitated sea, with the wind driving and tossing them back and forth. He adds more, saying someone who can't make a decision, going back and forth is really a double minded person. In Greek this is Dipsuchos literally someone with 2 souls. It is possible then to have faith and yet be still wresting with another belief. I think the easiest example of having two souls is our desire to follow God and at the same time still following self. 

Until we put to death our self will, self interests, etc then even when we plead for answers in faith, we probably won't get the wisdom we seek.  Is it because God won't grant it? No... remember he gives to ALL. It's because of us, as vs 7 uses the word "receive".  This Greek word is Lambano, which means receive and to take, with the emphasis on the assertiveness of the receiver. In other words, in our double minded state, although wisdom may be offered, we don't take hold or accept it. 

What's the ultimate consequence of not having clarity when troubles come? Being unsettled. This section ends with the words, "unstable in all they do". Turning to the Greek, Akatastatos literally is unsettled, and Hodos is a journey or path.  

Are you unsettled in your journey? Need clarity and wisdom to the nature of the events around you? Then ask sincerely, believing completely, without any back and forth internally. If there is internal wavering, where is the double mindedness? Most often it's our selfish nature struggling with the divine.