The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 17

Vcrs. 12, 13.-The temptation of Christ. The portal by which our Lord entered upon his earthly ministry has two pillars-the baptism and the temptation. In his baptism the Saviour was visibly and audibly approved by God the Father. In his temptation he was manifestly put to the test by the power of evil. Consecration and probation were thus the two elements in the Redeemer's inauguration, by which he was dedicated to the earthly ministry of humiliation, obedience, and benevolence. Mark's narrative of the temptation is brief, but snggestive. I. The evangelist notes THE DIVINE lllPULBE which led Jesus to the place appointed for this spiritual encounter. The same Spirit who had just descenc.led upon him like a dove now drove him forth, as with the impulse of a lion, as upon the wings of an eagle, to endure the great probation. The reason of this is to be found in the Divine intention that the Son of man should partake, not only in our human nature, but in our human experience. He did not shrink even from so keen a contest as that which awaited him. Led, driven, by the Spirit, the Divine Christ met his foe at the appointed spot, as the champion of humanity, in single combat, to submit to the fiercest assaults of Satan. II. In the fewest words is described THE SCENE of the temptation. We often encounter the tempter in the crowded streets and in the thronged assembly. Yet those who, like the monks of Egypt, have fled to the desert to escape his assaults and elude his wiles, have ever found their error. No place is secure from spiritual conflict or from sinful suggestion. But our great Leader chose to wrestle with the adversary alone, without the countenance of human virtue or the sympathy of human friendship to assist him. This was challenging the foe to do his worst. They met face to face. The only companions of Christ in the desert solitude were those wild beasts, whose presence emphasizes the awful loneliness of the spot. III. TBE TEJll"RB is mentioned by name. Satan was the foe with whom the Savionr engaged in this spiritual conflict. The tempter was brought into immediate contact with the Holy Being upon whom he exercised all his devices in vain. In ordinary cases the enemy of souls employs his emissaries, perhaps supernatural, cer- tainly in many cases hnman. Scripture teaches us that our adversary is "as a roaring lion, going about seeking whom he may devour." We, as Christians, should not be ignorant of his devices. Sometimes he is transformed, as it were, into an angel of light. But let us not be deceived; the temptation betrays whence it comes, however it may be disguised by subtlety and craft. IV. The evangelist records THE PEBIOD of our Lord's temptation. It lasted for forty days-a period agreeing with the term of very memorable events in the life of our Lord's il1Witrioll8 predecessors, Moses and Elijah. A prolonged probation, repeated assaults, variety of spiritual warfare, and a decitiive iseue,-all were rendered possible by the pro- tracted pe:iod to which this desert seclusion was extended. 'l'he several temptat10D1 c,e, L 1-45.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. MA.UK. 13