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| The Temptation of Christ, 1854 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Most of the time, when Jesus goes in response to the Spirit, he is going to minister to the crowds that followed him. Sometimes, he goes to the city streets or to the marketplace, but this time he goes to be alone in a wilderness where no crowds follow and he has yet to choose disciples.
He was going to be alone. The Spirit knew he would be tempted by the devil. This was a test of his resolve, of his personal discipline; it would seal, in his experience, the person of the enemy he faced, Satan. He had just been baptized by John and heard the words of God proclaiming his Father's satisfaction with him. Was that enough to sustain him in the face of this challenge?
He had no disciples yet to talk to him, no crowds seeking healing, no one here required his council. He was hungry and alone, and his mind, tormented with Satan's suggestions, could only rely on the words that echoed from the banks of the Jordan--This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.
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