1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Commentary: When Jesus arrives on the scene, He immediately steps into His mission, beginning with His baptism. He does not delay or hesitate but publicly aligns Himself with God’s purpose. After being baptized, Jesus is immediately led by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days of fasting and testing, embracing discomfort without hesitation. There’s no delay, no time to settle into a routine or seek comfort first. His immediate submission to this challenging period shows His diligence in preparation and His willingness to endure hardship to fulfill God’s plan. By fasting, resisting temptation, and relying on God in the wilderness, Jesus exemplifies the urgency of aligning ourselves with God's Word, even when it involves discomfort.
Application: Don’t avoid or put off doing what is hard or uncomfortable. Begin today, trusting that the challenges you face will prepare you for greater things. Practice diligence by embracing tasks that stretch and refine you, including fasting and exercise, knowing that perseverance through difficulty builds spiritual strength and readiness for your calling.