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Sound & Season is a daily audio devotional designed to connect the routine moments of life to the rhythms of the Church seasons.
This is sound and season. It's Thursday, the 2nd day of Lent. Our passage today comes from the gospel of Mark chapter 1 verses 12 through 20. The spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness 40 days being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
Jeffrey Heine:Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. Passing along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Jeffrey Heine:And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were in their boat mending their nets, and immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Like the 40 years Israel spent wandering in the desert, the Spirit of God drives Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days. Like Eve, Jesus is alone and is tempted by the enemy to distrust the commands of the Father, but Jesus perseveres.
Jeffrey Heine:He refuses the lies and rejects the schemes of the enemy. After John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus begins his public ministry in full. The first recorded words of Jesus in Mark's gospel summarize both the message and mission of Jesus. The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.
Jeffrey Heine:Jesus then sets about calling disciples from an unimpressive cadre of fishermen. In the words of Origen of Alexandria, this decision of Jesus to call simple fishermen immediately displays that there can be no doubt that it is not by human strength or resources that the word of Christ comes to prevail with all authority and convincing power in the minds and hearts of humanity. The great forerunner, John the Baptist is in prison. The first disciples are poor day laborers, and that is how Jesus' ministry of redemption begins, wholly dependent upon the power of God. Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you.
Jeffrey Heine:Let us pray. Lord God, whose son our savior, Jesus Christ, triumphed over the powers of death and prepares for us our place in his kingdom, Grant that we who have this day given thanks for his resurrection may praise you in your kingdom forever, O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the holy spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.