Day Sixteen
In the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, there are characters who are sometimes overlooked. Obviously the whole event centers on the interaction between Jesus and the tempter, but when the drama of their clash is concluded, we find in Mark’s and Matthew’s accounts an interesting detail. Matthew records it in verse 11 of chapter 4:
“Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”—Matthew 4:11 (NIV)
A handful of words that can easily be missed—”angels came and attended him”—but when we focus on them, these words provide an image of refreshing and restoration that are worth noting. Having emerged from his wilderness journey, Jesus finds comfort in the presence of angels sent to take care of his needs.
As he begins his public ministry, Jesus is not alone in the wilderness.
A similar occurrence is found at the other end of the gospel story, as Jesus finds himself praying to God the Father in the hours before his arrest and crucifixion. Luke tells us about it in chapter 22 of his gospel:
“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”—Luke 22:39-43 (NIV)
As he has before, God sends to Jesus a divine messenger to attend to his needs. It is Christ’s darkest hour, one so fraught with despair that Luke (ever the physician) mentions in the next verse how his sweat was “like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44, NIV). Yet even in this darkness, there is comfort to be found in angelic presence.
As his public ministry draws to a close, once again Jesus is not alone.
As we follow Jesus on this road to Jerusalem and beyond, there are moments of temptation, and there are also moments of despair. In those times, we need to remember the promise of Christ that even in our wilderness we are not alone. We, too, have been given a gift of divine presence in the person of the Holy Spirit. But unlike the angels Jesus encounters, the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is not limited to specific circumstances. It is a fixed reality for those who love and trust in Jesus. That is the promise Jesus shared with his disciples the night before he was killed:
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”—John 14:15-17
The Spirit ministers to us in many ways: he guides, he strengthens, he intercedes, he advocates, to name a few. The King James translation captures his role in a rich and meaningful way in its rendering of verse 16:
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever…”—John 14:16 (KJV)
The Holy Spirit is our comfort. As the angels attended to Jesus, the Spirit attends to us. What a glorious and amazing gift! And it’s important to remember that it’s a gift only made possible because of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He made this clear to his disciples:
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”—John 16:7 (NIV)
As we journey to the cross, we become more and more aware of our brokenness and our need for Jesus, but we are not left to wander by ourselves in the wilderness of despair. Thank God for the gift we’ve received in the strengthening, comforting presence of the Spirit.
If ye love me,
keep my commandments,
and I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may 'bide with you forever,
e'en the spirit of truth.
You can read more about this beautiful choral piece here.
Questions for Reflection
1) “Comforter…Advocate…Helper…Guide…” What other words come to your mind when you consider the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? Is there one that has been particularly meaningful for you?
2) Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of truth” in John 14:17. In what ways has the Holy Spirit revealed truth to you? In what ways is he still revealing truth to you?
3) The Holy Spirit is also referred to as the “Spirit of Christ” (1 Peter 1:11, Galatians 4:6). What does it mean for us as followers of Jesus to know that we have his very life within us? Spend some time meditating on this astounding truth, and offer to God your desire to know Jesus better by yielding more to his Spirit.
4) Jesus prefaces his promise of the Spirit by saying “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) How do you understand the relationship between obedience to Christ and fellowship with Christ? Is there any imbalance in your life that might lead to an unhealthy understanding of that relationship? How might you offer that to God in prayer?
5) Read and reflect on this verse. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”—Romans 8:11 (ESV)