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I gave a message this weekend that was talking about the Temptation of Christ - premise: In the Wilderness We Find Ourselves.

Jesus goes into the Wilderness to Fast.
Interesting that the notion of going without can enhance oneself… that denying yourself and the giving up of something can lead to fulfillment and be of benefit to you. Subtracting something can add something.

Jesus went into the Wilderness to finish something.
Any other thoughts – any other desires/temptations – to look himself in the eye and swallow from the cup His Father was offering Him. I’ve heard it said that it was in Gethsemene Jesus accepted the Cross – I would say to you it was in the wild places of Galilee that he took it up. Whereas the Israelites spent 40 days in the desert because of disobedience – Jesus spends 40 years and proves his perfection.

Jesus resolved to become who he was meant to be in the midst of difficulty, temptation, and loneliness.

This is the place where we too must weigh our deepest priorities-
struggling between darkness and light as to how significant we’ll live our lives. Whether we’ll recognize the incredible, expansive Story that God is telling in the World around us and realize our place in it – or instead try to cling to self – to ego – to settle for a much smaller story of our own that amounts to much less.

Jesus went in the Wilderness to begin something.
After setting his face towards the desert, and to the deepest inward questions… he sets his face towards his ministry, walking the road of healing, truth, integrity, and moving towards Jerusalem and the Cross.

Where is your Wilderness? Work? Home? The Future? The Past?

Are you where you want to be?
Are you becoming who you want to be?
What is it that stands in the way of your becoming?