Sunday, March 5, 2006

 

Synopsis of the Armenian Message

Mark 1:9-13

“Yield Not To Temptation”

 

 

It is Lent.  In the coming five weeks we will prepare to go with our Lord Jesus through His journey to Jerusalem, to Calvary and finally to the Resurrection.   Today we will look at the experience of Jesus in the desert.  The story happens after His baptism and is narrated by three Gospel writers.  Mark tells us that after being baptized, the Spirit sends Jesus to the desert for forty days.

 

1. Wear your Helmet

When we were kids, we all learnt how to ride a bike.  We started with tricycles and eventually ended up with bicycles.  In those years, helmets were not known to us.  We didn’t even think about them!  Today there are bike helmets, motorcycle helmets, football helmets, ski helmets, even Rodeo helmets.  What happened?  Why did helmets become so important?  It is obvious that it is safety equipment to prevent possible damage to the head in case of accidents.  These days, people are more safety-conscious.  If you are prepared, you will be protected.

 

When Jesus went to the desert, filled with the Holy Spirit, he had worn his “spiritual helmet.”  He went to the battlefield with a helmet on.  He went there just after being baptized.  He had just heard the Father’s voice saying:  “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).  What a wonderful affirmation of Divine love!

 

Paul writes to the Ephesians, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12).  Wearing “the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17) is part of the spiritual armor described by Paul.  Let us not go to the battle unprepared. Our battle is not an easy one.  Jesus did not go to the desert unprepared.

 

Authorities are so concerned about the safety of our heads that they make us use helmets.  The day is coming when children will wear helmets in the car!  How about the spiritual helmets?  We need to wear them if we want to go to the battle.  The Holy Spirit prepares Jesus and sends him to the desert.  The Father equips the Son with His love:   “You are my Son, whom I love.” 

 

Jesus begins his ministry equipped and protected with nothing less that the full love of a divine parent.¹

 

¹Brown, Douglas.  “Brain Buckets” Homiletics online

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 5, 2006

 

Synopsis of the Armenian Message

Mark 1:9-13

“Yield Not To Temptation”

 

 

It is Lent.  In the coming five weeks we will prepare to go with our Lord Jesus through His journey to Jerusalem, to Calvary and finally to the Resurrection.   Today we will look at the experience of Jesus in the desert.  The story happens after His baptism and is narrated by three Gospel writers.  Mark tells us that after being baptized, the Spirit sends Jesus to the desert for forty days.

 

1. Wear your Helmet

When we were kids, we all learnt how to ride a bike.  We started with tricycles and eventually ended up with bicycles.  In those years, helmets were not known to us.  We didn’t even think about them!  Today there are bike helmets, motorcycle helmets, football helmets, ski helmets, even Rodeo helmets.  What happened?  Why did helmets become so important?  It is obvious that it is safety equipment to prevent possible damage to the head in case of accidents.  These days, people are more safety-conscious.  If you are prepared, you will be protected.

 

When Jesus went to the desert, filled with the Holy Spirit, he had worn his “spiritual helmet.”  He went to the battlefield with a helmet on.  He went there just after being baptized.  He had just heard the Father’s voice saying:  “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).  What a wonderful affirmation of Divine love!

 

Paul writes to the Ephesians, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12).  Wearing “the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17) is part of the spiritual armor described by Paul.  Let us not go to the battle unprepared. Our battle is not an easy one.  Jesus did not go to the desert unprepared.

 

Authorities are so concerned about the safety of our heads that they make us use helmets.  The day is coming when children will wear helmets in the car!  How about the spiritual helmets?  We need to wear them if we want to go to the battle.  The Holy Spirit prepares Jesus and sends him to the desert.  The Father equips the Son with His love:   “You are my Son, whom I love.” 

 

Jesus begins his ministry equipped and protected with nothing less that the full love of a divine parent.¹

 

¹Brown, Douglas.  “Brain Buckets” Homiletics online