The Gospel of Mark: Immediately #1


And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. ~ Mark 1:12-13


Remember how I said Mark was an active gospel? 

Remember how I said to look for the word "immediately?" Well, here's the first one.

Look at everything that has happened up until now (and we are only on verse 12). In a few dramatic verses, John the Baptist came on the scene, then Jesus did, and then Jesus was baptized and proclaimed God's son by the Holy Spirit.

You can almost hear Mark saying: And THEN a voice came...and THEN he was driven into the wilderness...and THEN he was tempted...

It's something isn't it, that we go from the voice of God saying: You are my Son, to IMMEDIATELY, the Holy Spirit driving him into the wilderness?

Not sending him, but driving him. Forcing him. Pushing him.

There isn't any detail about what happens once he gets to the wilderness - how he was tempted - but we know that he wasn't alone.

Always, always, Mark keeps the story moving along. Even when you get to the good parts!

As quick as this is, we have learned one important fact: THIS is who the good news is about. And clearly, there is more story to tell...


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen



Engagement Question:


What's the difference between the Spirit sending Jesus vs. what we have here: the Spirit driving Jesus into the wilderness?



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