12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. Mark 1:12 ESV
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1 ESV
1And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness Luke 4:1 ESV
Yesterday, Pastor Chad delivered a sermon about baptism. The why's and why not's. Scriptural support for the practice. Its purpose and nonpurpose. I enjoyed the sermon and found it informative. A verse immediately following Mark's description of Christ's baptism caught my attention.
After Christ was baptized, both Matthew, Mark, and Luke report that Jesus went into the wilderness. Matthew and Luke write Jesus was "led" by the Holy Spirit. However, Mark reported that the Spirit "immediately drove (Jesus) out into the wilderness". While the end result was the same, there is a much different feel based on verb choice.
When I think of led I have a much calmer, laid-back image. The Holy Spirit quietly, calmly invited Christ into the desert for 40 days of no food, 40 days of wild animals, and a direct attack from Satan.
Mark paints a much more aggressive picture of the Holy Spirit's work. Jesus was driven, forced, made to face hunger, loneliness, and temptation. As in all things, Christ could have disobeyed, but woe to him that fights against a forceful, aggressive calling of the Spirit.
It is not uncommon for me to hear, or even utter, a prayer for the Holy Spirit's guidance. In fact that should be a daily, even hourly, prayer, but do we dare pray for the Holy Spirit to "drive" us into action? How aggressive do we want God to be in directing us toward His will, His plan for our lives?
"Please God, show me Your will for my life." Nice, passive, safe.
"Please God, drive me into obedience." Yikes!
Are we ready to be "driven" by God?
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