2024 02 18 Sermon

Mark 1:9-15

Testing, testing

Mark's story-telling style is to move the story along quickly, so it's important to pay attention to what he does say. In 6 short verses, we get Jesus’ baptism, testing, and the purpose of his ministry.

The little we do have is dramatic. At the baptism the heavens are not just opened, they are torn open. At the crucifixion, the curtain in the temple will be torn open, using the same word. Jesus didn't just enter the wilderness, he was driven there. Jesus' ministry starts after John was arrested, which is a sign of foreboding for what will happen to Jesus.

 The word we often translate as temptation also means testing. If we think of scientific methods, we use testing to discover, or determine, what something is made of. How much gold is in a rock, or how much oil is in the ground?  So, when Jesus is in the wilderness, he is being tested to see what he is made of. Is he willing and able to do the ministry ahead of him the way God planned it? Will he resist the temptation to use his divine power for personal gain?

I found it interesting to imagine the scene as described by Mark. In one sentence, we get the whole picture: Jesus is in the wilderness, accompanied by wild beasts, Satan and angels. Mark doesn’t say Jesus fasted as Matthew and Luke do; so he must have survived on whatever he found, some edible vegetation, maybe locusts and honey.

The wild beasts include lions, jackals, bears, wild ox, and lots of smaller, less dangerous critters. How was Jesus kept safe from harm? Maybe the angels protected him, maybe he threw rocks at them. We don't here have a description of any conversation between Jesus and Satan, the Adversary, or in this case, the Tester. We simply know he experienced a time of testing.

Within just a few more verses, Jesus will encounter the first of numerous demons inhabiting persons and making their lives miserable. He already has to tell the demons to be quiet, because he as a different goal in mind than battling them right now. This struggle against the forces of evil continues throughout the Gospel.

The last sentence in our reading describes what Jesus came to do, despite the opposition he will receive from earthly and spirit enemies. Jesus' purpose in being on earth is to declare that the time is now, and the reign of God is at hand. Mark will describe the reign of God through Jesus’ words and deeds.  

For today, let's think about the idea of testing. We have all been tested, time and again, from birth to death. We become who we are because of the testing we have faced and worked our way through.

Being a student, of any age, is a type of testing. By the time we get to college or university, we have learned a lot, hopefully, about taking tests. The greater test in college is the course of study. How will we use what we are learning when we are finished with school? Who are our companions? Our testing can be as simple as: How will we have enough money to pay the rent and eat?

When we are older, we face other tests. My friend Sally – not her name - became a widow a few months ago. She never had to do anything with the family finances until shortly before her husband died. Now, the financial entities that hold their moneys are resisting efforts to get her the money quickly so she can pay her bills. This is a serious time of testing for her.

Another friend, Mark – also, not his name – has been battling lung cancer. The doctors have worked hard to find the right treatments for him. A bigger test has been getting the insurance companies to agree to cover new treatment options. His strong faith has helped him endure the treatments and the isolation required to avoid exposure to other diseases.

I mentioned last Wednesday that is a time for heart work, a time for self examination, for confession and seeking forgiveness. This week’s heart work could be recalling some of the testing you have been through.

What tests have you faced? How have they shaped you into the person you are today? How have they made you stronger? How have they changed you? How has your faith grown because of the testing?  How has your faith in God been shaken? It may be good to share some of that testing with others. We discover, when we share, that are not alone in the struggle to stay faithful in the midst of testing!

Amen