Daily Journal: 28 December

Purpose in Barren Places

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 EHV)

Luke 4:1-13 describes the interaction between Jesus and Satan after Jesus’ baptism and God the Father’s ordination of His ministry (see also Matthew 3:17 and John 1:33-34). Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to fast and pray, to solidify who He was and prepare Him for ministry. The Holy Spirit led Him into a barren place where only wild animals lived. A place where He was alone and would be tested. The Father sent ministering angels to Him once He had been tested (see also Mark 1:12-13).

Three times Satan came to Jesus and tried to test Him and tempt Him to prove that He was the Son of God. Satan thought Jesus was in a weakened spiritual state because He was in a weakened physical state after fasting 40 days and 40 nights. Even though Satan misjudged the power of the Word, He knew that the Word is where the law begins and ends. When Jesus rebuffed him each time with, ‘It is written’ and testified to the Word, Satan had no response. But he didn’t give up. Luke 4:13 says he left Jesus for another opportune time to tempt Him. He never succeeded.

Jesus’ refusal to defend His title or His position to Satan declared that Satan had no position, no power, and no authority that Jesus needed to speak to. He had made an enemy of Himself to the Godhead when He rebelled and declared He would take the position of God Himself, higher than anyone. Jesus only listened to the Father and only did the Father’s will.

John 5:30 (GWT)

I can’t do anything on my own. As I listen to the Father, I make my judgments. My judgments are right because I don’t try to do what I want but what the one who sent me wants.

Although Jesus was physically on His own in the desert, He was not alone. He had not been abandoned. The Father sent ministering angels. And the Holy Spirit had descended on Him after He was baptised and was with Him, empowering Him. From His testing and endurance, He walked into the purpose of the Father for which He’d been sent.

We can take these lessons and apply them to our lives. We can be encouraged and comforted and taught by them. There is purpose in barren places. There is a greater enemy than what we see but we don't need to listen to him, the people he uses against us or even our own thoughts that he can use against us. There is a greater will than what we perceive. We only need to listen to Him; our Heavenly Father.

Jesus didn’t try and prove Himself to anyone. He took every step with an internal assurance and resolve. He didn’t run two steps ahead. He sought the Father and was called each day. He looked to the Father and relied on Him each day. He listened only to the Father and made His judgments according to Him as He went.