My son and I saw the movie, The Grey a couple weeks ago. It tells the story of a group of roughneck oil workers whose plane crashes in the remote Alaskan wilderness. Liam Neeson plays the man who leads the group trying to help them survive the brutal conditions before their time runs out. They find themselves surrounded by a pack of wolves who seems extremely territorial, unwelcoming and hungry and who have a terrifying growl. The men battle injuries and attacks by the wolves, until a final tense standoff with the alpha male that the film leaves unresolved.
In our Gospel for today, we have the familiar story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness by the devil. Other Gospel writers tell us about the three temptations Jesus experienced during his 40 day fast. But Mark only gives us this information:
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Mark is the only Gospel writer that mentions the wild animals. Were there really wild animals in thePalestinewilderness? Today you might find hyenas or foxes. In Jesus’ day leopards and lions were also native to the area. I can’t help but think of the ferocious wolves in The Grey. Jesus made himself vulnerable to the very wild animals he had created. Add in the satanic tempter and you have the makings of the darkest, most dangerous spot for a man to be alone.
All we are told is that Jesus was “with” the wild animals. Did he subdue them with a word? Did he send them running off with their tails between their legs with a look of authority? Did he actually wrestle them to the ground? We don’t know. But being attacked from the physical world of nature and the spiritual realm of Satan was the most difficult task a man could take on. 40 days probably seemed like an eternity, but Jesus was not afraid to go there and take on the natural and supernatural beasts of the wild.
Have you ever stepped into the ring with some wild beasts? I don’t mean lions and bears or wolves, but the kind of attacks that come from within us and outside of us. Attacks from the devil. Attacks that challenge who we are and what we’re made of. Inner conflicts that undermine our confidence and haunt our sleep. Conflicts and temptations that leave us breathless, defenseless, and vulnerable. Do you feel threatened by guilt you can’t let go or problems that seem too big to solve?
Is there a battle raging in your mind, in your heart where the wild things are clawing at you? eager to devour? Drawing blood? You know the feeling, don’t you? All alone – wrestling with the wild things that chew us up and spit us out — dangerously close to the edge. . . . staring down monsters that want to destroy us?
Jesus stepped into that ring. Jesus walked in that wilderness. That very place where it’s darkest and most sinister. He’s with you. He will protect you. He will guard you. He will help you to stand. Because Jesus didn’t stop fighting for us when his 40 days were over in the wilderness with the wild animals. He took on every punch – every bite — every smack the devil, the world and our sinful self could send his way. He was injured, yes. Bruised, yes. Bleeding, yes. Crucified, yes. And by his wounds we are healed. Jesus didn’t stop at the cross either. He lives to intervene in the wilderness of our lives even today – to give us nourishment here at this sacramental oasis in the desert. He is ready to step in and help us resist any attack or temptation that comes our way. He will give you the strength to take them on.
Christians traditionally talk of giving up things for Lent. A good and worthy practice if it helps direct you to prayer and Scripture. But on the other hand, I think we have been giving up enough. We have been giving up victory and accepting defeat. We have been giving up peace and continuing to worry. We have been giving up joy and wallowing in despair. We have been giving up confidence and cowering in fear. We have been living like there is no hope. We have been believing so tenuously as if there were no promises. We have so loving so tightfistedly as if we were unloved. We have been struggling so long in the wilderness like Jesus had never been here before us. We have been bracing for battle like there were no cross, no empty tomb – like the score was unsettled – as if the victory were in doubt.
Yes, we’ve been doing a lot of giving up, I think. We’ve been doing without long enough. We’ve been giving up too much – it’s time to take it on.
So what will you take on for Lent?
I don’t recommend growling wolves, but how about some growly fears? Will you take on your unbelief? Your doubts? Your hesitating witness for Christ? Your tentative trust in His Word? Will you take on your laziness, your stinginess? Is there a problem in your relationships? A habit you are struggling with? Take it on!
Jesus was ministered to by angels in the wilderness. Mark mentions these messengers too. They were Jesus’ companions who served him and waited on him. We might like to think of these same angels helping us survive in our wilderness of temptation and suffering. But we have even more.
We have Jesus himself. We’ve got our own man left out here in the wilderness with us. “He was with the wild animals.” He took ‘em on. And he won. And he comes among us today to serve us. To wait on us at this table. And to give us the victory.
Thanks for providing this spiritual inspiration!