Mark 1:11-12 (KJV) 

"And there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.  And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness."

Reflection by Kenneth L. Samuel

There could not be a more stark contrast between verses 11 and 12 in the first chapter of Mark.  In verse eleven the heavens declare the divine affirmation of Jesus as God's beloved son.  In verse 12, the God of Jesus' affirmation drives him into the wilderness for forty days of agonizing trial and temptation.  Verse 11: celestial confirmation.  Verse 12: spiritual and physical tribulation.

The only constant between the affirmation and the tribulation of Jesus is the Spirit of God.  The same God who confirms us in love is the same God who drives us into difficulty.  In this life, there is something about the need for everyone to be tested that is as compelling and as necessary as a mother's love.

In my 9th grade year, I received a scholarship to attend a private Catholic high school in the hills of northern New Jersey.  Being completely at peace and feeling completely confirmed with my family and friends in New York City, I decided I would not accept the scholarship.  But when my mother and my teacher agreed that the move and the educational opportunity would be best for me, my refusal was overruled.

My mother and brother drove me from the familiar streets of the city to the unfamiliar, uncomfortable terrain of Morris County, New Jersey, where I would be tested intellectually, culturally and personally.  As I reluctantly said goodbye to my family on that first night of my arrival, my mother hugged and kissed me.  It was as if she was saying, "My love for you compels me now to release you to the devices necessary for your own self-development.  And should you ever feel discouraged or inadequate along the difficult paths you must journey, just remember,  'You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.'"

Prayer

Dear God, help us to face each test and trial of our lives with the assurance of your steadfast love and the confirmation of your eternal acceptance.  Amen.

About the Author Kenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

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