The Baptism and Temptation of the Servant-King

This declaration of the Father’s love for His Son cannot be overstated and must not be overlooked. No prophet ever heard words like these! Abraham was a friend (Isa 41:8). Moses was a servant (Deut 34:5). Aaron was a chosen one (Ps 105:26). David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:4). But only Israel (Exod 4:23) and the king of Israel (as their representative; Ps 2:7) were called God’s sons. Now they are united in the person of the Servant King, Jesus of Nazareth! James Edwards says, “Jesus is Israel reduced to one” (Mark, 37). As the Messiah and Son of God, Jesus is a second Adam, a new Israel, and a perfect King who will succeed where they each failed!

That we must accept “Son of God” as a declaration of deity is easily demonstrated by the actions of this Son: He forgives sins (2:5), heals the14 sick (1:40), casts out demons (1:24; 5:1-20), is Lord of the Sabbath (2:28), raises the dead (6:35-43), and ultimately rises from the dead Himself (16:1-8). This declaration coupled with Jesus’ life, ministry, miracles, and resurrection make His deity undeniable.

So the Father has attested, “You are the promised Messiah-King—My Son and My delight. But You will realize Your kingdom by being a faithful Servant to Your Father even to the point of a crushing, painful, and humiliating death.” Would Jesus accept such an assignment? In light of this lingering question, it is no coincidence that “immediately” Satan came to tempt Him, trying to divert the Savior from His mission.

Mark 1:12-13

A commissioning by God is often followed by a time of testing. In this time of testing, will Jesus continue to “trust and obey” the will of the Father now that the course of His life is made clear? The Gospel of Mark gives us a brief summation of the “war in the wilderness” (cf. Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). The battle begins here, but it will rage all the way to a Roman cross and an empty tomb. Here is Christ in deadly combat for the eternal souls of men. If He loses, we are lost!

Jesus acted “immediately,” this time going further into the wilderness to be tempted. But He didn’t just decide to go—“the Spirit drove Him” out. He was “impelled” or “cast out.” Mark will use the same word to describe Jesus casting out demons! Jesus’ temptation was no accidental encounter, no chance meeting. It was a divine appointment scheduled by the Father and implemented by the Spirit. It is not what we would expect to happen after the baptism and the voice from heaven. We would expect a reception or some kind of celebration, but instead we see an expulsion further into the wilderness. The same Spirit that descended is now casting Him into the wilderness.

Thankfully, Jesus yields to the Spirit and embraces this test. The Servant King has a job to do, and the Spirit immediately compels Him. Rather than shrinking back, as Israel was so prone to do, our King, our Commander in Chief, the true Israel goes out to fight in the trenches with us and for us. In so doing He turns back the enemy and provides hope and a pattern for us to do the same.

Now we see a snapshot of what this battle looked like. “He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan.” This was the deep wilderness. This was no vacation spot. The conditions were grueling, and Jesus was undoubtedly tired and weak. To grumble, complain, or give in would have been easy.

This reminds us of Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, where they grumbled, complained, and failed to trust their God. This also reminds us of Moses’ 40 days on Mount Sinai (Exod 34:28) and Elijah’s 40 days at Mount Horeb (1 Kgs 19:8). Jesus is not only a new Adam and a second Israel, but He is also a better Moses and a superior prophet!

Jesus said in John 8:44, “[The Devil] was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars.” Satan (meaning “adversary”), the Devil (meaning “accuser”), meets our King in the desert.

A few things about this meeting in the desert would have made it especially difficult. (1) Satan meets Jesus in the wilderness, not a garden. (2) Jesus has been fasting 40 days (Matt 4:2). (3) Jesus is alone. (4) The wilderness is filled with wild animals. The wild beasts are mentioned immediately following the mention of Satan, suggesting they are in partnership with him. Further, remember Mark’s Roman audience, especially during the Neronian persecution of ad 64-68. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote in his Annals, “[Christians] were covered with the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs” (Annals, 15:44). People associated wild animals with adversity and persecution, so including that detail would undoubtedly heighten the horror and danger of our Lord’s 40 days in the desolate and untamed Judean wilderness. It appears from all of these conditions that Jesus does battle with Satan on Satan’s home field. It is a divine invasion of enemy territory.

Christian, be encouraged. Christ knows what you are going through. Even more, His angels came to His aid. They may be sent by God to serve us as well (Ps 34:7; Heb 1:14)! First John 3:8 reminds us, “The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works.” In this text we see a wonderful picture of that happening. It is a preview of coming attractions.

What was Satan’s goal? He wanted to defeat the Son! But how? Ultimately it seems that Satan’s goal was to get Jesus not to suffer! Satan was at the baptism I am sure! He saw and he heard it all! The suffering and death of Jesus meant Satan’s doom and destruction, and it meant salvation for you and me. This is what was at stake in the war in the wilderness!

16Mark does not record our Lord’s victory with the same detail as do Matthew and Luke. This is just round one of a 15-round bout. The Servant King won this round. The war in the wilderness was not the end. It was just the beginning, or more precisely it was the resumption of a war begun long ago in Genesis 3:15.

God’s ways are not our ways, are they? His ways are often full of unexpected twists and turns we do not see coming. But aren’t you glad His ways are good, acceptable, and perfect? If you doubt this, just look at the baptism and the temptation of the Servant King! God’s will is not always safe, but it is always best!