Crossing the Line

Vision questLent
February 21, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 1:9-15

And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. — Mark 1:12-13

The experience described in these two short verses is very much like the Vision Quest practiced by some of the Native tribes of the Americas. I have wondered if Jesus’ experience in the wilderness and the Vision Quest of the Native Americans came from the same ancient source. Young people in search of more definition to their purpose in life pursue the Vision Quest. It is a very serious experience never taken likely, and if entered with a truly searching heart, can be life changing, I understand.

I have no knowledge of Jesus’ days spent in the wilderness being a common practice in the Jewish faith of his day. Fasting certainly was. The story as it is found in Matthew and Luke is extended to include stories of the temptations: enticements for Jesus to use his talents for food, greed, and power. I do think all of us are faced with the temptations of perhaps over indulgence, greed, and power. These temptations can certainly lead us away from our purpose in life.

This wilderness experience seems to have been the point in Jesus’ life when he crossed the line and said nothing in more important for my life than doing God’s will and he did.

Prayer: Lord, I have a tendency to want to compartmentalize you. You get this much of my talent, this much of my money, this much of my time. Help me cross the line and fully understand that no matter how mundane or great anything I am called to be or do is, I need to do it to your glory. From cleaning house to yard work, from earning a living for my family to serving communion at church, show me your will for my life. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.