The Beloved Driven Out?

Having spent the greater part of the Epiphany season in the first chapter of Mark, we are back for one more look in the First Sunday of Lent, as the appointed gospel lesson, Mark 1:9-15, would have us ponder the brief account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.  What is striking is the juxtaposition of the voice from heaven which says, "With you I am well pleased," and the Spirit which immediately drives Jesus into the wilderness.  What kind of God drives the beloved into the place of desolation?

(The following questions are not meant to be exhaustive.  They have been developed to unearth some answers to fundamental concerns of Law and Gospel preachers.  For further study of this unique genre of preaching, see my brief guide to Law and Gospel preaching, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)

1.  How does the Word function in the text?  The Word functions here to tell us much about the Beloved Son of God.  He was baptized by John, the Spirit descended upon him, and he was driven into the wilderness in order to undergo the temptations of Satan.  We also learn that he was with the wild beasts and angels served him.  All this works together to tell us the good news that the Beloved Son of God also enters into the wilderness as we do.  This is a gospel function.

2.  How is the Word not functioning in the text?  While there is a call to repentance at the very end of the text, any word of Law is missing here.  There is no place where our need for a Savior is lifted up.

3.  With whom are you identifying in the text?  This is a rare text in that we are invited here, I believe, to identify with Jesus, in that we too are baptized, we too are called children of God by a voice from heaven, and we too are sometimes driven into the wilderness where we encounter the temptations of Satan.  In this text we are disabused of any notion we might have that the children of God do not undergo temptation.

4.  What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text?  The call to obedience  is the text functioning to invite us to live in a certain way in response to the gospel.  There is no such call here.

5.  What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text?  Since the Law is all but absent here, we shall have to imagine the first half of each couplet.  A few ideas:  unbelief/believing; orphaned/called child of God; in the wilderness alone/ministered to by angels.

6.  Exegetical work:  Looking at Aland's helpful synopsis you can readily see that Mark's language is much coarser than the language of either Matthew or Luke.  As we have seen elsewhere, Mark alone uses the word schizo for speaking of opening the heavens in verse 10.  This translates as the heavens were "torn apart" or "ripped wide open" or "split apart", a much stronger description than simply being "opened."  Again in verse 12 Mark uses a much stronger verb.  Matthew and Luke choose the words for being led or led up to describe the action of the Spirit in causing Jesus to enter the wilderness.  Mark uses ekballo, the word for being driven out or cast out or forced out, a word most commonly used for the casting out of demons.  Mark says "The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness."  And finally, Mark is unique in including the detail that Jesus was with the wild beasts.  What is that about?  Do they minister to him or are they another cause for fear?  (Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Kurt Aland)  Donahue and Harrington, in their commentary, remind us of a number of things regarding Jesus' wilderness experience:  1)  The verb ekballo, used frequently for the expulsion of  demons, has overtones of coercion; 2)  In Mark, Satan is the prince of demons (3:23), opposes the word (4:15) and leads disciples astray (8:23); and 3)  wild beasts are often associated in the OT with evil powers (Psalm 22, Ezekiel 34).  (Sacra Pagina, The Gospel of Mark, p. 66)  Lamar Williamson provides a hopeful commentary, reminding us that "Satan's power is real but limited" and Hebrew 12:6 says that "The Lord disciplines the one whom he loves."  He reminds us that we can expect to be driven into the wilderness as Jesus was, caught in the cosmic struggle between Satan and God.  This text is a warning (40 days of testing) and a promise (served by the angels.)  (Interpretation, Mark, pp. 38-39.)

7.  Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic?  Henry Mitchell was big on celebration in the sermon.  How will we celebrate in this text?  There are plenty of opportunities, beginning with the voice that calls us beloved.

Blessings on your proclamation!