Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.
Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”
Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their handsso you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
Luke 4: 1-13
After John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, Jesus retreated to the wilderness for forty days and nights. Every year during Lent we are reminded of the forty days that Jesus fasted and was tempted by the devil. During this many of us fast from things in our lives that distract or tempt us.
Months in advance of our trip we were given an itinerary of the place we would experience. I remember reading about the wilderness, but it wasn’t something I was by any means excited about or looking forward to.
It is incredible how you can grow up reading scripture and learning the stories in the Bible and not really know anything.
Jesus’ forty days in wilderness were nothing close to what I had imagined.
NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE.
wilderness ≠ trees, grass, forest, anything green
I did not know this. Apparently I did not pay attention in world geography nor did I ever bother to look up the definition of wilderness. So let me help you out here:
wil·der·ness /ˈwildərnəs/
noun: wilderness; plural noun: wildernesses
an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.
It is rocky, and dusty, and mountainous. It is hot, and vast, and so overwhelming.
Our time in the Wadi Qelt (wilderness) was so overwhelming. We stood in this vast space, together yet alone. We dispersed across the area, spending time in quiet reflection.
WOW. This is so overwhelming and surreal. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
The Judean wilderness is not at all what I expected. It’s vast and beautiful and absolutely terrifying.
I can’t imagine how it must have been for Jesus to spend 40 days here in the wilderness. For the devil to tempt Him to turn these stones to bread when everything all around Him is stone. How tempting and difficult.
When left alone, this place is so emotional. I can’t even imagine what Jesus must have felt.
October 22, 2019
Jesus’ temptations were real. To be hungry for forty days and nights and the devil to tell you that you could turn all these stones around you into bread. Can you imagine?
To be so alone. In an inhospitable land. No one in sight. In a rough terrain. On an empty stomach. Y’all I can’t even fathom what it would be like.
For me the Wadi Qelt was this unexpectingly overwhelmingly emotional place. I wasn’t prepared for it. I sat on top of a bunch of uncomfortable rocks with dust only my clothes, tears streaming down my face as I took it all in. Trying to journal. Trying to capture that moment.
It was raw. Difficult. Eye opening. Being there in the wilderness was a defining moment for me. In some ways I felt so alone, yet so incredibly close to God – it was overwhelming.
During this season of Lent we’re called to remember Jesus’ time in the wilderness, and experience it for ourselves. We must face our temptations, rely on our faith, and seek to be closer to God.
God, today as we experience the temptations in our lives, draw us to lean on You. Let our faith guide us and keep us from giving in. Guard our hearts, our minds and our souls. God as we are in wilderness, draw us closer to You. Amen.
Abbey Jo
Adventures with Abbey Jo 
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