Mark 1:13-2013And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 16Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 19And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. (Mark 1:13‑20)
“AND HE was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts.” Here was another most important step for the Lord, the perfect Servant, to allow Himself to be tempted of Satan forty days. There was never any question, of course, that He would withstand the attack of this strong enemy, but what a satisfying proof of His triumph is found in submitting Himself thereto! “Forty” in Scripture always refers to full testing, so we can see the Lord’s perfection again wonderfully manifested.
Does it not humble us to think of that wonderful Person being out alone in the wilderness that long time, with only Satan and the wild beasts for company? “And the angels ministered unto Him.” What thoughts must have gone through the minds of these heavenly beings to find their Creator under these circumstances!
The perfection of Jesus is beautiful to contemplate, but we must remember that this alone would only show up our own sinfulness and condemn us to hell. In 1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18) we read: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” Reader, have you truly made Him your own personal Saviour?
“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
John the Baptist had been a faithful witness for God before the coming of Jesus and large numbers had accepted his preaching. But God allows the heart of man to further display itself in John’s imprisonment and soon after in his martyrdom.
It is important to note what is said in connection with the preaching of Jesus. It is not the keeping of the law that He brings, but the gospel of the kingdom of God, which ever since has been the channel of grace and love through which sinful men are brought to God. No one can enter into the kingdom of God except he who is born again (John 3:55Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)). The Lord Jesus was bringing something far greater than John had been able to offer; so John’s ministry, faithful as it was, must end when that of Jesus began.
“Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him.” The companions whom the Lord selected for His work would surely seem strange to a modern-day leader of any worldly undertaking! But He well knew what divine power could do in the simple fisher folk whom He called in our chapter. They, along with the other eight disciples not named here, were to have lessons and experiences that they could not at that moment have sensed at all.
It is nice for us all to know when the Lord calls, and to be quick to respond in faith, even though we can’t see all that lies ahead. It seems amazing that these four men would so promptly give up their means of livelihood to follow this blessed Man of Galilee, but there was a drawing power they could not resist, as also an affection they were to prove and share in their own devotions to Him. Many rewards were theirs in later days, but in heaven their rewards will be greater still. We too, if faithful, will prove God’s delight in rewarding all that is done for Him.
ML-04/21/1963