The temptation of Christ. 40 days in the wilderness. It was brought to my attention last weekend an interesting contrast: the Jews wandered in the dessert (wilderness...same area) for 40 years. The Jews did nothing except mess up. Christ faced his temptations without sin.
From the Internet: The number “40” is another recurring quantity. The Flood of Noah lasted for forty days. Moses ran away to Midian at the age of forty and stayed in Midian for forty years. He spent forty days on Mount Sinai, getting the Commandments. After escaping Egypt, the Israelites spent forty years wandering in the desert. The spies from that Exodus spent forty days in Canaan. Ninevah was allowed forty days to repent (Jonah 3). Elijah and Jesus both fasted for forty days. Jesus spent forty days on earth after the resurrection. Israel’s Judges judged for forty-year terms. Kings Saul, David and Solomon each reigned for forty years. Forty must have been symbolic for a generation or a lifetime.
Chapter 4 starts Jesus' healing ministry. This is kind of a fun side note. Luke records the same miracle of healing Peter's mother-in-law as the other Gospels, but being a physician, he is the only one to tell it was a high fever and in what way she was healed - Jesus stood over her and rebuked the fever.
Monday, February 7, 2011
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