The Gospel of Mark 1:12-13 - Temptation of Jesus
Get the accompanied 5 day study devotional by clicking here
Get the discussion guide by click here
After being anointed as the King of Israel with the Holy Spirit and being baptized, Jesus is immediately led into the wilderness to face Satan. Before Jesus went throughout Israel healing, casting out demons, and demonstrating His power He first had to go to the wilderness alone and face temptation.
Text
“The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 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 1:12-13 (ESV)
Discussion
The Holy Spirit, who had just anointed Jesus now drove Him out into the wilderness. Mark uses the Greek word for drove (ekballei) however, Matthew and Luke use the Greek word for led (ago). Why the different words and why does Mark use such a forceful word? I believe that Mark is trying to paint a very broad picture here with just a few words. The use of the Greek word ekballei would immediately remind any Greek speaking Jews of Adam and Eve, because it is the same word that the Septuagint uses to describe Adam and Eve being driven out of the garden (and into the wilderness). Jesus came as the second, and final, Adam in order to redeem humanity and set right what Adam had so badly failed in doing, that is, He came to restore humanity to the garden. Jesus, being driven into the wilderness points to this. However, the parallels do not end here!
In Matthew Jesus was driven into the wilderness where He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. This parallels the fasting of Moses. When Moses went up on the Mountain to make covenant and receive the 10 commandments He went without food and water for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18, Deuteronomy 9:9). After this great fast (Matthew 4:2) Jesus gives a law on a mountain (Matthew 5:1) just as Moses received a law. It is clear to me that Matthew is drawing a connection between Moses and Jesus.
Why then is Mark silent on this connection? Because Mark seems to be using the theme of Adam. We will return shortly to this theme.
The wilderness also represented a liminal space, a space that serves as a transition to another. When Israel was going from Egypt to the Promised Land they first had to go into the wilderness. So too Jesus, after His anointing had to first go into the wilderness before He started His ministry. The wilderness was a transitional place.
In 1 Kings 18:20-40 Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal and then in 1 Kings 19:4-8 Elijah is fed by an angel twice and then lives off of that strength as he travels in the wilderness to mount Horeb for 40 days and nights (thus he fasted 40 days). Jesus does the opposite, going into the wilderness and fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, He defeats Satan, and then eats food prepared by angels. Thus, we can see another connection, Elijah facing the prophets of Baal and Jesus facing Satan.
However, Mark doesn’t focus on the temptation of Satan as much as Matthew and Luke, but instead, places the emphasis on the wilderness and the wild animals. Why does he do this? I believe that once again Mark is trying to draw a connection between Jesus and Adam. Just as Adam lived in the garden with the wild animals (that he named) so too Jesus was in the wilderness with the wild animals (Marcus 2008, 168; Guelich 1989, 39). Other scholars argue that the reference to wild animals is in fact pointing to the danger of them (Strauss 2014, 74; France 2002, 86). With the previous connection to Adam I believe the argument is strong that Mark is drawing a connection to Adam here.
There is another meaning to the wild animals though. Adela Yarbro Collins and Harold W. Attridge explain that the connection of the wild animals and the angels that ministered to Jesus points to Psalm 91 and protection from evil spirits (Collins and Attridge 2007, 151).
“The narrative constellation of Satan, wild animals (θηρία), and ministering angels in v. 13* is analogous to the reception of Psalm 91 at Qumran.
The portion of Psalm 91 most similar to Mark 1:13* reads as follows:
For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. (Ps 91:11–13* RSV)
In the tractate on oaths in the Babylonian Talmud, Psalm 91 is called the “song against evil occurrences” or “the song against plagues,” that is, the psalm that protects against evil spirits or demons. Those who call it a song against plagues do so because of the line “no plague shall come near your tent” (v. 10*), and those who call it a song against evil occurrences do so because of the line “a thousand may fall at your side” (v. 7*); that is, the evil spirits will depart. It is stated further that Rabbi Joshua ben Levi recited these verses (Ps 91:1–9*) when retiring to sleep, in order to protect himself (from evil spirits) (b. Šebu. 15b).”
It is significant that Mark doesn’t focus on the temptation of Satan, but instead focuses on the wild animals. As I have pointed out, this points back to Adam but it also points to Jesus work to overturn the work of the evil ones that have invaded this world. Jesus did not just come to set humanity free from sin, He came to set us free from the work of the enemy! We are no longer subject to the enemy, we do not serve them nor do they rule over us.
Although Mark does not mention the temptation of Jesus specifically, Matthew and Luke both mention the temptation that Satan attacks Jesus with.
“And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
Matthew 4:2-11 (ESV)
When Israel left Egypt, as they journeyed to the land of Canaan they faced times of trial where they were temped with hunger. Not only this, but Adam and Eve ate of a fruit when they first sinned. Thus, overcoming hunger is seen as a major allegory of overcoming sin. Jesus too was temped with hunger. But when faced with this temptation He overcame by stating that we shall live by the words of God more than bread. In other words, we should hunger for Bread of Life more than we hunger for the bread of this world.
The next temptation was to throw Himself down from the top of the temple. Doing this would force the angels to protect Him and thus prove that He was the Son of God. Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy about the trial of Moses where Israel put God to the test by asking “Is the Lord among us” while Yahweh (Jesus) was standing on the rock!
“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.”
Deuteronomy 6:16 (ESV)
“Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” And the LORD said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”
Exodus 17:2-7 (ESV)
Thus, while Yahweh was stranding right there they were asking is He even among us? Here too Yahweh, Jesus, is standing among Israel and they did not see Him.
Eugene Carpenter explains that there was a very strong irony here with the words of Moses (Carpenter 2016, 588).
“Moses’ response to the people, “Why are you testing Yahweh?” (מַה־תְּנַסּוּן אֶת־יְהוָה), employs the same word (נָסָה) used for Yahweh’s testing of Israel; here it is in the piel emphatic stem (cf. 15:25).”
Israel is trying to test God as if they are above Him! It is God that tests us in order to prove us, yet here Israel is trying to test God. This is a very dangerous thing. Whereas even Moses failed eventually, Jesus would not. Jesus took the long road, one that ended with His death, rather than test God.
In the last temptation Jesus was taken to a very high mountain and shown the kingdoms of the world and offered them, if only He would bow and worship Satan. This mirrors the rebellious sons of God coming down on a high mountain in rebellion. They came down to set up a kingdom and here Satan brings Jesus to a high mountain and offers Him a kingdom. Jesus rejected the kingdom of Satan and instead chose to walk as a servant first, looking to the day when He would be crowned King while dying on the cross.
The kingdom of God does not come with exaltation but with humility. It does not come to glorify self but to destroy self. It does not come to feed our appetite but instead calls us to crucify our flesh and live a life of love and service.
Summary
As we can see Jesus came as a type of Adam, Moses, and Elijah. The event of His temptation has many meanings to it. Just as Adam was with animals and driven into the wilderness, so too Jesus was driven to the wilderness and was with wild beasts. Just as Moses fasted 40 days and then received the law, so too Jesus fasted 40 days and then gave His law. Just as Elijah fasted 40 days and then faced the prophets of Baal, so too Jesus fasted 40 days and then faced Satan. Jesus was tempted with hunger, pride, and idolatry. He did not fail but instead resisted the words of Satan with Scripture.
Life Application
How does this apply to our life today? In a world where so many die of obesity related illnesses it is easy to see how the temptation of hunger can affect us. But we can also apply this to other areas of our lives. Indeed, the world around us is constantly seeking to fill hunger, through food, sex, and entertainment. These things are not bad in themselves, but if given to excess they can lead to destruction. We are not called to live a life that has no appetite, but instead, to a life of self-control that has a firm grasp on our hungers.
Pride is easy to see as well. All too often we are tempted to put ourselves in the best light. In a world that displays only the best online, we are tempted to paint a picture of ourselves in the best light possible.
Lastly we see idolatry all around us. Many do not bow down to false gods, but instead spend their time worshipping themselves and things around them like money and fame. When given the opportunity to receive this money and fame, if only He would bow, Jesus chose instead the cross. We are called to walk as servants who love and to chose to die every day on the cross. The kingdom of God is not about us or our greatness, our ideas, but instead is about how great God is!
Questions to Consider
How do I respond when the Holy Spirit leads me into uncomfortable or challenging situations?
What does this passage teach me about the purpose of spiritual testing or wilderness seasons?
Are there areas of struggle in my life around appetite, pride and idolatry?
Connections
Matthew 4:1-11
Luke 4:1-13
Deuteronomy 8:3
John 4:34
Isaiah 7:12
Deuteronomy 6:13
Outline
The Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.
Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted by the Devil.
Jesus was with the wild animals and the angels ministered to Him.
References-
Joel Marcus, Mark 1–8: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, vol. 27, Anchor Yale Bible (New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 2008), 168.
Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1–8:26, vol. 34A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 39.
Mark L. Strauss, Mark, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 74.
R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press, 2002), 86.
Adela Yarbro Collins and Harold W. Attridge, Mark: A Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, Hermeneia—a Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2007), 151.”
Eugene Carpenter, Exodus, vol. 1, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016), 588.
