Mark 1:4-9
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Today’s Gospel text is not a typo. Hopefully, you noticed that we just read this passage not too long ago. We have already heard this gospel reading at the beginning of Epiphany. Now we hear it again at the beginning of Lent. This time we zero in on the temptation of Jesus. As our text reads, after the baptism the “Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.” As we shift gears to enter into the season of Lent, we change our attention from the person of Christ to the work of Christ.
As soon as Jesus is declared to be the Son of God, He is put to the test by the devil. Take note that when we read of the temptation account in the Gospel According to St. Matthew and the one According to St. Luke, we told about the specific temptations. There are three. Not so in Mark’s Gospel account. St. Mark doesn’t focus on the temptations in particular; rather, he focuses on the testing of the devil in general.
Here the devil is sizing Jesus up. He is putting Him to the test. This opens the conflict between good and evil throughout Mark’s Gospel. Here the battle lines are drawn. Here the reign of God confronts the tyranny of Satan. At this point we see the coming kingdom of God as Jesus brings it through His actions which are His deeds and His words which form our creeds. Jesus preaches the kingdom into existence. He wills there to be light where there is darkness. The Holy One has come to crush the head of the Evil one.
Just follow the flow of Mark’s gospel as presented in the first chapter. Jesus is baptized and then tempted. Jesus preaches the gospel and calls the first disciples. Jesus enters into a synagogue and throws an unclean spirit out. Jesus restores the health of Peter’s mother-in-law, heals others, and casts out many demons. He leaves and goes throughout Galilee preaching in their synagogues and throws out more demons. Demon after demon bites the dust. One little word can fail them.
It’s like one of those old western movies. There’s a new sheriff in town and He is going to clean up the territory kicking all the scum out. Just image the newly installed sheriff bringing peace by entering into the saloon grabbing the outlaws by the shirt and throwing them out into the street. One is tossed through a window and another is kicked out the front door.
Chapter one of St. Mark’s Gospel sets the stage for the cosmic battle between the LORD of Hosts and Beelzebul the prince of demons. Satan sizes Jesus up. He tempts Him. Jesus is not fazed. In response, Jesus preaches. He proclaims, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15, ESV) He picks off one soldier of the devil after another. Where demons are trying to hinder God’s will, Jesus removes them from their seat of power. God’s kingdom has come in Christ and it is here to stay.
Later in chapter three of St. Mark’s Gospel we learn that “whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”” (Mark 3:11, ESV) And further we learn in chapter three that Jesus appointed the twelve apostles to preach and gave them authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:14–15, ESV). They know that the Holy One has come to overthrow the Evil one. Yet, the scribes accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul that is the prince of the demons. The scribes falsely claim that Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul. It is at this point that Jesus declares that He has come to bind the devil and plunder his house.
Jesus has come to bring the reign of God and His kingdom comes when the Father gives hearers the Holy Spirit so that they believe the word of Jesus and live lives according to it. The apostles and the successors to the apostles in our day are appointed to preach the gospel in order to bring the kingdom. In chapter four of St. Mark’s gospel Jesus teaches us that when the word is like a seed that is sown. However, it is Satan who immediately comes to try and take the word away (Mark 4:15, ESV). The devil does not want God’s kingdom to come to the individual. Satan does not want the kingdom to come to you.
Thus, Satan likes to size you up as a child of God. You claim the name of the Blessed Trinity and he wants you to prove it. In your hour of testing and tempting, he wants you to fail and fall into unbelief. He is called Beelzebul that is the lord of the flies. Like a fly, he is a pest. He brings a swarm of flies who love to dwell in garbage, refuse, and trash. He wants nothing more to come and make his home with you inviting you to live in his stink. Like Job’s wife, he advises you to curse God and just die. Like Job’s friends, he accuses you of your sins.
Yet, one little word from God can fail him. As a baptized believer, you are like Job to whom God gives His word to strengthen you. In First Corinthians chapter ten, St. Paul teaches us, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12–13, ESV) The word of God is given to you to bring you comfort and strength in the midst of your own trials and tribulations. It is sown into your ears so that it may take root in your heart.
In the season of Lent, we meditate upon the deeds of Jesus who was tested and tempted just like us. But understand that Lent is not about us being stronger than the devil. Christ is the One who came to bind the strong man and plunder his house. That is Christ’s job. He won the victory over Satan. Lent is about us being aware of the fight. The devil is a liar and a deceiver. He pretends that you still belong to him. He is extremely tricky. He wants you to come out and play. One minute, he tries to persuade you that you don’t really want to live like a child of God. Instead, you should be your own god deciding what is good and what is evil. He misleads you into thinking that you have a license for licentiousness. The next minute, he tries to convince you that you can bring the kingdom of God by your own actions. He leads you to be mesmerized by such slogans as deeds not creeds. As if it doesn’t matter what you believe just as long as you do the right thing.
In Lent, we are called to repent from such bumper sticker theology peddled by the devil. Like they say, “The best offense is a good defense.” When the devil attacks, run to Christ for refuge. He is a Mighty Fortress. Jesus is the Valiant One who comes to defeat the devil for you. You belong to Christ. Because of your own sinful flesh, you can’t do the right thing. You can’t decide what is right and wrong. You can’t bring the kingdom by your actions. You can’t take on the devil by yourself. Thus, Jesus teaches you to pray so that you do not enter into temptation for your spirit is indeed willing, but your flesh is weak (Mark 14:37–38, ESV).
Through Christ, we have access to the Father in the Eternal Spirit. We are learning to pray that God’s kingdom will come to us. He is the One who rescues us from the tyranny of the devil. He reveals to us His will in the person and work of Christ for us. God’s good and gracious will is to break and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God's name or let His kingdom come to us. Thus, we pray that the Father would forgive us for all the times in which we have followed the devil in rebellion against Him. We pray that He would not lead us into temptation meaning that we would fall into it like a trap or snare and stay there. No. We ask that He would free us from our sin by delivering us from the Evil one.
Our prayers as believers are tied to the deeds of Christ which bring the kingdom. All of this we confess in the creeds of the church which teach that which is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. In Lent, we continue to acknowledge that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:23–25, ESV) Trust in the deeds of Christ and you shall be delivered from the Evil one. “In [Christ] him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…” (Ephesians 1:7, ESV) By His blood we have been sanctified, that is, we are His holy ones. Amen.
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