Knowing in the ‘now’

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.

It’s so easy to assume that Jesus knew who He was, and so read these words from God the Father and think, ‘why did God tell His son what He already knew.’ But I all too easily forget that Jesus was fully human (as well as God). And so he would have experienced the same challenges and temptations to be discouraged, fear and doubt like we do. He needed to be reminded of who He was, especially considering He was about to undergo some serious temptation in the wilderness. It’s powerful to realise that the greatest provision God could supply His Son with for the wilderness temptation was an assurance of His identity and security before His Father.

This passage highlights for me the difference between having known, and knowing in the now. I often can have known who I am in the past, and forget. But I can’t afford to forget who I am. God knows this, and so endeavours to remind me every day of who I am. So that I can know now, today. The most important supply for the greatest hours of testing is the assurance of who I am. And God our father is the only one who can supply this in complete and unbiased truthfulness and revelation.

Today, right now Lord, remind me of who I am in you, of who you’ve called me to be, of what you’ve supplied me with for the day ahead. In knowing who I am, I can face even the darkest challenges today.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh