You Bring Joy

Mark 1:9-11 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

I love the picture here. Jesus being baptized by his cousin and then the heavens opening up and God validating the life of his son. Today the orchestra would be hitting some amazing note as fireworks preceded the release of thousands of balloons and confetti cannons:) Jesus is joy!

But the very next part of the story is what throws me. Jesus is "led by the Spirit" into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. What? It sounds bizarre doesn't it? As I thought about this, I realized that many times I seem to have wilderness moments on the other side of the celebrations too. Probably because life happens and we are part of the race...the human race. But God always seems to cause me to triumph!

Don't let the wilderness throw you. Because of Jesus, you can resist temptation and come out on the other side full of the Spirit of the Lord too! You are a child of God, a beloved child and YOU bring him great joy!