DESERT TIMES

Hello, my fellow pilgrims! Today is day 3 of our Holy Land pilgrimage. As we journey along, I continue to pray the places and scriptures come alive so you personally experience the fifth gospel. A gentle reminder to pause for a few minutes to think about and answer the reflection questions you will find along the way. Enjoy today’s sights, my dear reader~

 

Our first stop today takes us to the Jordan River, where Jesus’ public ministry began when he was 30 years old. Jesus was baptized by His cousin, John the Baptist, whose mission was to call people to repentance in preparation for Jesus’ coming. John baptized people in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins and repented.

 

At the Jordan River, lower right, in Israel

 

Why did Jesus, the only one who never sinned, need to be baptized by John? There are four reasons we can glean from Scripture:

–Jesus stated, “…to fulfill all righteousness.” Righteousness is defined as “the quality of being made morally right or justifiable.” Jesus was baptized to show He was consecrated to and by God.

–It was a public announcement by John that Jesus was the Messiah.

–Jesus identified Himself with man’s sin and that He is our substitute.

–As an example for His followers.

 

Ladies seeking healing in the Jordan River

 

The muddy Jordan River

 

 

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  –Matthew 3:1-6  (NIV)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  –Matthew 3:13-17  (NIV)

Reread that last sentence and reflect on its significance.

Isn’t it encouraging to see how God affirms His great love for Jesus even before Jesus began His public ministry or performed any miracles? How many times do we think we need to DO something to earn God’s love? This proclamation teaches us that we serve God OUT of His unmerited love for us. We cannot earn God’s love. It is a free gift for us all!

Reflection:  Do you live daily knowing you, too, are consecrated to and by God? Have you thanked Jesus for His willingness to be your righteousness or sin substitute through His baptism and death on the cross?

 

As a side note, you might not want to attempt to touch the Jordan River. I warn you from personal experience that it is very slippery and muddy. I stepped down on one of the two stairs to find the mud was too thick as seen here. One muddy sneaker made me decide to not touch the river!  Three weeks later, I finally got the mud removed from my sneaker!

 

One muddy sneaker

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Our next stop is to view the Mount of Temptation, where Jesus was led into the desert for 40 days and nights as Satan tried to tempt Him. This happened right after Jesus was baptized. It is interesting to note that Scripture says “the Spirit” led Jesus into the wilderness or desert.

Could it be Jesus’ temptations were divinely appointed to show us we are not alone when Satan tries to tempt us? We, too, need to follow Jesus’ example using the Word of God to fight Satan! There is power in the Word. Our life mission is to make the Word incarnate real in our lives too. I was overcome with emotion reflecting on that power while hearing this Scripture:

 

Mount of Temptation behind me

 

A monastery at the Mount of Temptation – Jericho, Palestine

 

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (desert), where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.  –Luke 4:1-13  (NIV)

Reflection:  Do you rely on the Word of God to fight Satan in your life?  Can you see how everything in your life is divinely appointed, both the good times and the bad?

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Our last stop today, the vast Judean Desert, is one of my favorites from my first pilgrimage. Naively, I always envisioned the desert as a flat, sandy area. The Judean Desert was quite the opposite! Beautiful huge hills and rocky areas enveloped us from all sides. As I stood there, taking in the vast beauty all around, I was thankful that I did not have to traverse too far in this land. I cannot fathom how John the Baptist and Jesus walked this land!

 

 

 

How interesting it was to read the following verse to realize that John the Baptist grew up in the Judean Desert! We know, like Jesus, John was also about 30 years old when he began public ministry. It reminds me that God’s perfect timing is orchestrated even in the ministries of our lives.

And the child (John the Baptist) grew and became strong in spirit and he lived in the wilderness (desert) until he appeared publicly to Israel.  –Luke 1:80  (NIV)

 

 

As some of us pilgrims were walking the hilly path to get closer to the top of the desert spot where we could then view the St. George Monastery, it was a bit scary. I wanted to go closer to the edge of some cliffs where other people were but was a little unsure of the rocky, uneven ground. It didn’t help that I am afraid of heights either.

Standing near me was a person I talked to a few nights earlier whom I had not known before the pilgrimage. We both felt God’s spirit was present in our conversation. She, too, was a little unsure of going much further in the desert. Her friend, who was in front of her, extended her hand and spoke a word of encouragement to her. That prompted my new friend to be brave and step out further. She, in turn, extended her hand to me, so the three of us were linked. Because of this ripple effect, I was brave enough to journey on to the flatter area and proceed with much caution, closer to the edge where I wanted to go.

 

 

I could not help but think what a perfect lesson I was reminded of in the Judean Desert.

Extending a hand to someone can help that person have more courage and do more than they expected! Great growth can be experienced through a seemingly simple gesture.

 

My favorite picture of the Judean Desert

 

Reflection:  What are some desert experiences you have had? Who or what helped you get through the desert?

 

A treasure from the Judean Desert

 

As you reflect on our pilgrimage stops this week, be encouraged to remember…

…you are consecrated to and by God through your baptism.

…to rely on the Word of God when temptations come your way.

…God will help you through the desert times of your life.

 

 

“I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior. I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land.”  –Hosea 13:4-5  (NLT)