Preparation
READ
Imagine preparing for the biggest moment of your life. Maybe it's a wedding, a job interview, or a major presentation. You get ready, take a deep breath, and step forward. That's where we find Jesus at the beginning of Mark's gospel – but on an infinitely more momentous scale. Mark wastes no time with lengthy introductions. Instead, he dives straight into the action with John the Baptist preparing the way, Jesus' baptism, and His immediate testing in the wilderness.
Let’s take a moment to read Mark 1:1-13:
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
REFLECT
What's fascinating is how this sequence unfolds: First, Jesus receives divine affirmation ("You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased"), then He immediately faces intense spiritual testing. This pattern often plays out in our own lives – moments of spiritual clarity or blessing are frequently followed by challenges that test our faith. But notice something crucial: Jesus doesn't face the wilderness alone. Mark tells us angels ministered to Him, and the Spirit was present throughout.
The passage reminds us that even Jesus, the Son of God, went through a process of preparation and testing before beginning his public ministry. It's a comfort to know that when we face our own "wilderness moments" – times of testing, doubt, or spiritual dryness – we're actually following in Jesus' footsteps. His experience shows us that testing isn't punishment; it's preparation.
Consider the contrasting environments: the public affirmation at the Jordan River versus the solitary testing in the wilderness. Both were essential. Our spiritual lives often need both public expression and private testing to mature. Just as Jesus emerged from the wilderness ready for ministry, our challenging seasons often prepare us for what God has next.
Consider your own life: When have you experienced moments of affirmation followed by testing? How did those experiences prepare you for what came next? The next time you face a wilderness season, remember Jesus' experience. Like Him, you have the Spirit's presence and support, even when you feel alone.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect is how this passage reveals God's pattern of working: He affirms before He tests, provides support during trials, and uses every experience to prepare us for our next step of faith. Following God's call doesn't mean avoiding difficulties – it means facing them with the confidence that we're beloved children of God, just as Jesus was.
God invites us to embrace both the mountaintop moments of affirmation and the wilderness seasons of testing, knowing that both are part of His preparation in our lives. It challenges us to find courage in knowing that Jesus walked this path before us, and encourages us by showing that God never leaves us to face our trials alone.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness immediately after His baptism. What "wilderness experiences" are you facing right now, and how might God be using them to prepare and shape you?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:
Heavenly Father, thank you for being present in both our moments of spiritual affirmation and our seasons of testing. Help us remember that we are Your beloved children, even in the wilderness. Give us strength to trust your preparation process in our lives, knowing that you never leave us alone in our trials. In Jesus' name, Amen.