Fully Loved Fully Tried

'At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. '

Mark 1:9-13

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.1.9-13

The Baptism of Jesus is one of the events that pictures the trinity. The Father speaking from Heaven; The Son being baptized and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove.

Jesus underwent John's baptism to identify with man and man's sin. -Dr Constable's Notes on Mark, p. 21

The Father expressed his love and pleasure for the Son, even though the Son hasn't done anything yet.

God loves us and is pleased with us for who we are in Him not by what we do. 

In a world where, achievement and work has become that standard of love and pleasure and acceptance and belongingness and approval - everyone looks good on social media. Everyone is achieving in social media. We want reactions, hearts, likes, views, shares, etc. 

plot twist - God loves the Son and is pleased with Him but was immediately sent to the wilderness to fast and to be tempted by the enemy.

The same Holy Spirit who descended on Him like a dove is a the same Holy Spirit who led Jesus to the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by Satan. (Wild animals adds to the intensity of the temptation, angels adds to grace given in times of need)

God allowed Satan to tempt Jesus for two reasons: to show that He would not draw away from the Father's will, and to demonstrate His qualification for the mission.

Jesus came to overthrow the Kingdom of Darkness, and the Testing in the wilderness is an inevitable encounter.

*Adam was tempted in the perfect place and failed. Jesus was tempted in the worst environment, and he succeeded.

It's not about the environment.

God in his love send his people to trials and testing. Trials and testing helps in perfecting our faith. Suffering expands our emotional capacities and our spirituality and faith. It exposes what we know and what we really believe about God our Father. Temptations will be fierce, but the same Holy Spirit who dwelt in Jesus and overcame temptation from Satan is with us in our temptations.

Our suffering with the enemy is also God's way of initiating our own personal ministries.