The spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. Mark 1:12
Wilderness is defined as a “wasteland, desolate tract, or no man’s land”. When I picture a wilderness, I equate it with a desert. It is dry, hot, sandy, and lonely.
The Bible says that the Spirit sent Jesus out into the wilderness right after his baptism for 40 days where he fasted, was tempted by Satan, lived among wild beasts, and was ministered to by angels. It is thought that He endured these things so He could identify with each of us.
There are physical wildernesses, emotional wildernesses, and spiritual wildernesses that we can encounter in this life. These wildernesses can be ones brought on by sickness, grief, emotional instability, unworthiness, bad choices, anger, bitterness, and so many other things. It is at these times, when we realize that we can’t always make it on our own – we need help to find our way out of the wilderness.
If we can be open to the presence and guidance of Jesus, He can lead us through the wilderness to find grace and peace offered through His forgiveness.
I am a visual, hands on learner, and I saw a perfect example of forgiveness and grace lately. People were invited to write the areas of their life that exemplified a wilderness in sand with a nail or their finger. When it was written, they were asked to look at it, pray about it, then with their hand, erase it. As quickly as that word disappeared, is the same way Jesus forgives and grants you grace. The sin is gone. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
When I got home, I got a bag of sand, a tray, and made my own wilderness eraser. Each day of the remaining days of Lent, I will write an area or wilderness of my life which needs attention, pray about it, and erase it. With this act, I will remember that Jesus forgives and cleanses just that quickly. In the name of Jesus Christ, I am forgiven! So are we all!