Notes:
The Good-News of Jesus-Christ is the Beginning of the New Creation. (See, I like to use lots of capitals!!!)
Elijah & Elisha and John The Baptist & Jesus parallels: except the greater of each pair is reversed. (Much like the New Creation fulfills and surpasses the First Creation ~ ML's comment)
Now that I know Mark's use of the word we have translated as "at once" is actually "straightaway" and is a pun in both Greek and English, I'm thrilled to read (Mark 1:12) "Straightaway the Spirit drove [Jesus] out into the desert..." Yes! Even (especially?) Christ's being tempted (much as each of us are) is part of God's making His Way straight! God can make things right even through temptation! Each temptation can be viewed as a hardship, but even if it is, it can also be received as an invitation to join w/ God in making things right.
When we are initially aware of a temptation, we can think we are being given an invitation or opportunity to sin. It is at least equally true that we are being given an invitation and opportunity to become (w/ the Spirit's help) more Christ-like.
Praise be to Jesus!
Holy are You, Lord-God of all creation!
:)
The Good-News of Jesus-Christ is the Beginning of the New Creation. (See, I like to use lots of capitals!!!)
Elijah & Elisha and John The Baptist & Jesus parallels: except the greater of each pair is reversed. (Much like the New Creation fulfills and surpasses the First Creation ~ ML's comment)
Now that I know Mark's use of the word we have translated as "at once" is actually "straightaway" and is a pun in both Greek and English, I'm thrilled to read (Mark 1:12) "Straightaway the Spirit drove [Jesus] out into the desert..." Yes! Even (especially?) Christ's being tempted (much as each of us are) is part of God's making His Way straight! God can make things right even through temptation! Each temptation can be viewed as a hardship, but even if it is, it can also be received as an invitation to join w/ God in making things right.
When we are initially aware of a temptation, we can think we are being given an invitation or opportunity to sin. It is at least equally true that we are being given an invitation and opportunity to become (w/ the Spirit's help) more Christ-like.
Praise be to Jesus!
Holy are You, Lord-God of all creation!
:)
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