At Christian Assembly during the Lent and Easter seasons, we are reading chronologically through the four Gospels with a desire to attain the LIFE that Jesus in John 10:10 promised to us: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. With everyday’s reading we will seek to see what the Word has to say about the FULLER LIFE we can have in Christ.
Daily Reading: Saturday, March 8
Satan Tempts Jesus in the Desert
Satan Tempts Jesus in the Desert
Mark 1:12-13, Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13
The First Disciples Follow Jesus
John 1:35-51
Four Fishermen Follow Jesus
Mark 1:16-20, Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11
A major focus of our 40 Days to a Fuller Life is fasting. These 40 days purposefully coincide with the 40 days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding on the Saturday before Easter. Remember, we are not fasting on the Sundays in Lent because every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
Fasting during Lent is a centuries-long tradition of the church. The 40 days/years motif is prevalent in Scripture, but the 40 days of fasting during Lent is mostly associated with Jesus’ 40-day fast found in our reading today. If you need a reason to fast – a reason to give up something of value and physical comfort for a greater spiritual good – it is this: we fast because Jesus fasted. Those 40 days in the wilderness were important for Jesus, so important that Mark tells us the Spirit “immediately drove him out” into this period of fasting (Mark 1:12 NRSV).
The First Disciples Follow Jesus
John 1:35-51
Four Fishermen Follow Jesus
Mark 1:16-20, Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11
A major focus of our 40 Days to a Fuller Life is fasting. These 40 days purposefully coincide with the 40 days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding on the Saturday before Easter. Remember, we are not fasting on the Sundays in Lent because every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
Fasting during Lent is a centuries-long tradition of the church. The 40 days/years motif is prevalent in Scripture, but the 40 days of fasting during Lent is mostly associated with Jesus’ 40-day fast found in our reading today. If you need a reason to fast – a reason to give up something of value and physical comfort for a greater spiritual good – it is this: we fast because Jesus fasted. Those 40 days in the wilderness were important for Jesus, so important that Mark tells us the Spirit “immediately drove him out” into this period of fasting (Mark 1:12 NRSV).
I can give you all kinds of Scriptural evidence for its value and purpose, but the greatest argument for why fasting is important can be found in Luke 4. As Jesus made his way out of the desert, having endured the 40 days of fasting and having overcome the temptations of Satan, Luke tells us he was “filled with the power of the Spirit” (verse 14).
THAT is the FULLER LIFE. The abundant, full life that Jesus has for us is one that is found as the power of the Holy Spirit fills our lives to overflowing. The Spirit rested upon Jesus at his water baptism; the Spirit led him to the temptation/wilderness experience; but now, Jesus begins in earnest his earthly ministry “filled with the power” of that same Spirit. His fasting played a major part of that – it can for you and me as well!
Is there a lesson for Sunday, March 9? I don't want to get behind.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I just saw you had commented. You may have read this by now on Facebook, or I might have already told you...but we don't have readings or blog entries on Sundays. It's a day to catch up, and of course to attend church.
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