Notes of Faith March 5, 2025
Forty Days and Forty Nights
Mark 1:9–13
It was hot and quiet and still in the desert. Jesus was thirsty. He closed His eyes and thought about the day before, when His friend, John, had plunged Him under the cold, clear waters of the River Jordan. How glorious it had felt to be baptized!
Jesus remembered seeing the clouds part above His head, as if the gates of Heaven had opened to let God speak nine wonderful words that Jesus would never, ever forget:
You are My Son. I am pleased with You.
Jesus opened His eyes and smiled. He knew who He was. He was God’s own Son. And God was pleased with Him.
Jesus stayed in the desert for forty long days and forty long nights.
Nothing to eat. Nothing to drink. Listening to God. Trying to think.
Under the blazing hot sun by day and the light of the silver moon by night, Jesus talked to God.
What do you want Me to do?
And whenever He heard a voice that tempted Him to think about Himself, Jesus closed His eyes and thought about God instead.
When the forty days were over, Jesus knew what God wanted Him to do. He stood up, wrapped His cloak around Himself, and set out for the synagogue in Nazareth, leaving a trail of footprints behind Him in the sand.
Prayer
Dear God, during these next forty days, help us find time to listen to You. Help us to think about what You want us to do.
Excerpted with permission from 'Twas the Season of Lent by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova, copyright Glenys Nellist.
There is more to the forty days in the wilderness that Jesus experienced than this writer offered. No doubt there was an intimacy between Jesus, His Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit, but there also were many temptations from Satan. We are tempted every day in much better surroundings and circumstances than our Lord’s experience. Doe we even pray to begin the day or during the day to give thanks, to confess sin, to seek God’s will, to ask on behalf of others God’s abundant mercy and grace? How close are we walking with the Lord? Life is difficult with many tribulations and testings. Therefore, it behooves us to begin each day in prayer and to continue the conversation during the day. May we make our lives more like Jesus in constant prayer and communion with our Father in heaven.
Pastor Dale