Getting Ready to Go (Mark 1:9-15) - a podcast by Don Shoemaker, Steve Williams, and Bob Wriedt
from 2022-12-11T16:00
The last time I was at Disneyland with my kids, I noticed a popular t-shirt among other parents: it read, "Today is a Core Memory Day."
What a comforting thought for a parent: I can control the core memories for my kids, and today's (exceptionally expensive) day at Disneyland will be one of them.
Now, I'm skeptical that we have such control of what memories our kids internalize (not that I told any Disneyland stressed-out, t-shirt-wearing parents that), but I do agree that we all have experiences that play a major role in our lives going forward.
This week at Grace, we're looking at two foundational events of Jesus' identity - his baptism and temptation in the wilderness. Both were necessary, but they couldn't have been on further ends of the emotional spectrum. In the first instance, Jesus hears the voice of God declaring His love and approval over him. In the second, it is the voice of Satan who attempts to persuade Jesus of God's neglect toward him.
Both of these events were essential in establishing Jesus' ministry, and both give us a profound reason to trust Jesus' goodness in our lives today.
Looking forward to talking with you about it this Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
- Mark 1:9-15
Further episodes of Grace Community Church of Seal Beach
Further podcasts by Don Shoemaker, Steve Williams, and Bob Wriedt