On the Back Porch
The 1st Sunday of Lent, Year B
What We Celebrate
The Gospel of Mark is noted for its brevity and perhaps no better example exists than the narrative of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Compare these two verses with the far more descriptive versions in Matthew or Luke as they include much details about the temptations. Yet Mark mentions one thing the other writers do not: “He was among wild beasts.” Does that make a difference? Most commentators think it changes the narrative.
There is a lot more to this gospel. Sit with it for a moment on the back porch.
Full Text of the Sunday Readings
Detailed Commentary on the Gospel
Christ in the Wilderness | Moretto da Brescia (Alessandro Bonvicino) Italian ca. 1515–20 | Metropolitan Museum of Art | PD-US
Why God Tests His People
All the gospel accounts use the word peirazo. Translators have to decide if the word means “to test” or “to tempt”. It has both meanings. In a “test” the tester is not trying to fail people, but to determine what they know or to let the one being tested discover what they truly know. In a “temptation” the tempter is hoping for failure. Is Jesus tempted or tested? What about us? Take a moment and watch a video on this question.
Take a moment to watch this 6-minute video on the question.