A 40-DAY JOURNEY WITH THE KING: Lenten reflections from Mark’s Gospel (1)

“…the Spirit immediately drove [Jesus] out into the wilderness. 

He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan…” (Mk. 1.12-13)

     Jesus’ 40-day sojourn in the wilderness followed immediately upon his baptism by John in the Jordan River (cf. Mk. 1.9-11).  This is reminiscent of Israel’s 40-year trek through the wilderness after having passed through the Red Sea (cf. Exodus chapters 14-15).  Jesus’ baptism is the first of two moments in Mark’s narrative where God declares Jesus to be his “Son” (Mk. 1.11; 9.7; cf. 1.1; 3.11; 5.7; 8.29; 12.6; 15.39).  As the nation of Israel – Yahweh’s “son” (cf. Ex. 4.22; Hosea 11.1) – had been “tested” in the desert for 40 years – and had “tested” God! (cf. Ps. 95.8-11) – so Jesus, Israel’s representative king, is also tested and tried (cf. Mt. 4 & Lk. 4 where Jesus is said not to have eaten anything during these 40 days).  Lent – the 40-day penitential season on the church’s calendar – is based on Jesus’ experience in the desert (as well as that of other prophetic figures: cf. Ex. 34.28 & 1 Kings 19.8, where Moses and Elijah are both said to have fasted for a 40-day period; cf. Mk. 9.4).  During Lent, the church is called to fasting, prayer, repentance and almsgiving in preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter.

     The Gospel of Mark is a handbook for the disciple of Jesus.  It reiterates who Jesus is, and the repercussions of that for the one who would follow Jesus.  That is to say, Jesus is the Messiah/King of Israel (= “Son of God”); not only that, Jesus is a suffering servant King, who gives his life away as a ransom for many (cf. Mk. 10.45).  This is a painful point to grasp – as Mark’s narrative demonstrates time and time again, each of the characters “sees” Jesus through their own lens, according to what they think it means to be a “king” (cf. Mk. 10.35-45).  However, the fact that Jesus reveals himself to be a king who rules, not with the power of self-imposition and domination but rather with self-giving love, has radical consequences for the life of discipleship – the one who would follow Jesus must “take up their cross” (cf. Mk. 8.34) and follow Jesus to the place of death and God-forsakenness (cf. Mk. 15.21-24, 33-37).  As Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said (and experienced!), “when Christ calls someone to follow him, he calls them to come and die”.  However, there is hope on the far side of suffering – every time that Jesus predicts his death (“passion”), he also foretells his resurrection from the dead (cf. Mk. 8.31; 9.30-31; 10.32-34; 14.26-28).  So, Mark tells us, the life of the disciple consists of a journey of suffering, self-denial, and death…and new life beyond death.

     From the 13th verse of Mark’s Gospel, we witness Jesus encountering opposition and hostility – first by Satan in the wilderness and then from demons who had possessed numerous benighted souls in the villages of Galilee (cf. Mk. 1.13, 21-26, 32-34, 39; 3.7-15, etc.).  Jesus must also face misunderstanding concerning his mission amongst his own family, village, closest friends and ultimately, the vast majority of the people of God and its official representatives (cf. Mk. 3.6, 19-30; 6.1-6; 8.31-33, 12.12; 14.1-2, 53-72).  Jesus must fulfill his mission amongst a people of God who is blind to the purposes of God (cf. Isaiah 6.9-10; Mk. 4.12).  Finally, Jesus must endure the silence/absence of God as he hangs on the cross (Mk. 15.33-37).  Indeed, the shadow of the cross falls backwards across the entire story that Mark is telling – Jesus’ public activity only begins once John has been imprisoned by Herod Antipas (Mk. 1.14; cf. 6.17-29).  Jesus knows which fate awaits him in Jerusalem and nonetheless continues to journey toward the place where his enemies will (attempt to) destroy him (cf. Mk. 10.32).

     This Lent, let us hear once again the call to follow our Lord on the way to Calvary, being fully aware of the dangers and risks, but entrusting ourselves to the One who loved us and gave his life for us (cf. Galatians 2.19-20).  Let us renew our commitment to fully participate in Jesus’ project of making the kingdom of God a reality in the world (cf. Mk. 1.15; 10.41-45).  As we prepare to do this, let us also seek to transform our vision of Jesus and his kingdom, as well as strive to free ourselves from all self-serving illusions.  Let us call to mind that the way of Jesus is the way of the cross and that this path is the only one which leads to true glory.

“You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Mk. 1.11)

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