Temptations
And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Mark 1:13 - ESV
This weekend's Gospel reading from Mark 1:9-15 focuses on Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River and His temptation by the devil in the wilderness. Saint Mark describes these temptations in one verse: “And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.” While not being as specific as Saint Matthew or Saint Luke, the idea that the Son of God was tempted by the devil for 40 days is important. The devil tries his best to pull Jesus away from His Father, but he’s rebuffed at every attempt. Jesus shows us that while temptations are great (imagine not eating for days and someone tempting you with changing rocks into bread), our fight against sin in this life is real. All of us are tempted and sometimes we fail. Heck, most of the time we fail. Try to deny yourself chocolate for this Lenten season if you are a chocoholic. It will be hard. Yet our knowledge of Jesus shows us that He fought the temptations and won! The devil lost. The evil one could not turn Jesus against His Father or His mission to save us from sin. I look forward to seeing you in church this weekend.
PRAYERS
Collect for this Weekend:
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash