"Purifying ourselves through Confrontation"

Part of an instructor's training is to handle questions that might be asked of him by the trainees after his presentation of the teaching modules. During the training process, each instructor-trainee is required to choose and present another module that is familiar to him regardless of specialization. The trainee should able to defend this teaching when the observers ask difficult and probing questions, in line with the subject matter, which would test the would-be instructor’s patience, teaching ability, and skill in applying the techniques he’s learned on how to deal with difficult questions so as not to be shamed by the inability to answer them. As a result, the more the students confront the instructor the more the instructor becomes purified and proves that he is deserving of the job, as long as he continues to impart the right answer.

In the Gospel reading from Mark 1:9-15, Jesus was confronted by the expert of deception, satan, who wanted Jesus to lose His temper and get angry (as Moses did in Meribah, which resulted in his inability to enter the promised land [Numbers 20:1-13]), which might cause Jesus to lose His identity as the Obedient Son Who pleased the Father (Mark 1:11). In all authority, Jesus spoke the Word of God to satan and stayed focused on His Father's instructions, that the way of the cross is the only the way to man's salvation. The more satan confronted Jesus, the more he was being purified, proving His sonship and His messianic mission. Jesus did not allow His human nature to be deceived by satan and deviate His course away from His suffering mission, but He was in prayer while being tended to by the ministering angels (Mark 1:13), communing with God and holding on to God's promises (Matt. 4:1-11).

We also experience what Jesus experienced, being confronted by many issues of life, and as with Him, the Word of God should always be our comfort and shield. Thanks be to God! He sent His Son Jesus to share in our humanity so that by His death, He might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Hebrew 2:14-15 NIV).

In this season of Lent let us continue to meditate and study, keeping His Word in our hearts and putting it into practice so that through our life’s witness we will be able to share His light to the world. If there be any questions asked concerning our Christian faith we will be bold to deliver the truth, as it is written, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8: 32)