Daily Devotions
Mark
Day 22
Text: Mark 1 "Whom having not seen you love..." 1 Peter 1:8a
A SPECIAL CHARACTERISTIC OF MARCAN STYLE
Mark had a most distinctive style of writing. There is no mistaking the tremendous sense of energy in his Gospel. This power is well expressed in the way he relates one event after another.
1. Introduction of John as the forerunner
With the barest of information, but with great conviction nevertheless, Mark described John as the one who fulfilled Biblical prophecies concerning the forerunner of the Messiah which John had a most effective ministry in.
2. Introduction of Jesus as the Messiah
With great swiftness Mark introduces Jesus. He was baptised, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God as a dove alighted on Him. The pace of movement is almost breathtaking. The energy of the author must be appreciated.
SURVIVING THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE
In the same vein, Mark described how Jesus was tempted by the devil. There was, as may be expected, no attempt to describe the temptations in any detail.
“And He was there in the wilderness forty days,
tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts;
and the angels ministered to Him.”
MARK 1:13
In his usual terse way, Mark noted the following aspects:-
1. Description of the Location to which the Spirit of God had driven Jesus
The wilderness
2. Duration of the stay in the wilderness
Forty days!
3. Dangers that came with being in the wilderness
Wild beasts
4. Deadly temptations
These came from Satan (Cf. Matthew 4; Luke 4)
5. Deliverance (help, protection etc)
Angels ministered to Him (Exactly how, we are not given any information)
The significance of this brief description must not be lost! It would take nothing less than the Person and the Power of the Spirit of God to enable Jesus to survive the wilderness experience.