January 3rd, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Tearing Heaven Open

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Opening Prayer

Lord, I don’t want to fade away like a shooting star. Pull me into the pulse of Your strengthening grace today.

Read Mark 1:9-13

[9] At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] 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. [11] And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” [12] At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, [13] and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

We can confuse God’s love with our own desire for comforting and comfortable ways to wholeness. God is not always comfortable; he may be challenging—but he is always loving.

Think Further

“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10) are words that reflect the biblical view that in heaven there is a divine council over which God presides and from which God governs the earth and the heavens. The decisions taken and implemented in the heavenly court will soon influence what happens on earth. Sometimes God sends prophets to announce this news and sometimes an angel. Occasionally the heavens open. Here Jesus sees them torn open as the Spirit descends. The image is violent, suggesting something momentous and earth-shattering. If God tears open the heavens, what news is soon to be broken?
Before Mark gives us this answer, before Jesus begins the ministry to which God commissions him, the Spirit casts Jesus into the desert. Again the image is violent. The words used mean literally “throwing Jesus out” into the wilderness. The same word is used of Jesus casting out demons throughout the Gospel. God is preparing Jesus for his ministry. This preparation is hard—40 days of temptation in the desert. The desert was populated by wild beasts. Jesus was not in a safe place. However, God had not abandoned him, as angels were sent to minister to him.
These events make us pause as we read the words “You are my Son, whom I love” (11). What does it mean for Jesus to be loved by God? Certainly not that he would be coddled by a pampering father. God loves Jesus but clearly expects self-discipline from him. What then does Jesus expect from his disciples? He calls us to carry our crosses (Mark 8:34–38), but this in no way diminishes his love for us or our inclusion in his family (Mark 3:34,35).

“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10) are words that reflect the biblical view that in heaven there is a divine council over which God presides and from which God governs the earth and the heavens. The decisions taken and implemented in the heavenly court will soon influence what happens on earth. Sometimes God sends prophets to announce this news and sometimes an angel. Occasionally the heavens open. Here Jesus sees them torn open as the Spirit descends. The image is violent, suggesting something momentous and earth-shattering. If God tears open the heavens, what news is soon to be broken?

Before Mark gives us this answer, before Jesus begins the ministry to which God commissions him, the Spirit casts Jesus into the desert. Again the image is violent. The words used mean literally “throwing Jesus out” into the wilderness. The same word is used of Jesus casting out demons throughout the Gospel. God is preparing Jesus for his ministry. This preparation is hard—40 days of temptation in the desert. The desert was populated by wild beasts. Jesus was not in a safe place. However, God had not abandoned him, as angels were sent to minister to him.

These events make us pause as we read the words “You are my Son, whom I love” (11). What does it mean for Jesus to be loved by God? Certainly not that he would be coddled by a pampering father. God loves Jesus but clearly expects self-discipline from him. What then does Jesus expect from his disciples? He calls us to carry our crosses (Mark 8:34–38), but this in no way diminishes his love for us or our inclusion in his family (Mark 3:34,35).

Apply

In light of the above last paragraph, what does it mean for you to be loved by God?

Closing prayer

Dear Lord, in the days when I struggle with doubt, disappointment and opposition, may I trust in You and receive Your empowering strength.

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