The Offering

From Elaine Tindill-Rohr

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 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. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

It seems a bit odd that right after Jesus is acknowledged by God in his baptism, he is driven out into the desert. I would think that God was saying, “Hey, this one. He’s mine, and important to me,” would give Jesus permission to go immediately into the places where he should be preaching. But instead of starting his preaching, he is driven to the wilderness. The Spirit says, “Nuh uh, you still have things you need to learn.”

How often are we told one thing and think that that is all we need to know, and then learn that our understanding needs to be made more whole?