1. Mark 1:13 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How does Mark 1:13 tie together the themes of Mark 1?

Mark 1:13 (ESV)

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.

Mark 1:13 appears to show how Jesus, who was driven out to the wilderness by the Spirit for the sins of the people (Mark 1:12), is the mightier One who is unassailable by Satan, and who is Master over creation and Lord of the angels. Thus, Jesus is indeed shown to be the promised Angel of Yahweh, who will prepare a way to God for the people (Mark 1:2, Mark 1:12) and who is himself the Lord (Mark 1:3, Mark 1:13). He goes into the wilderness for the sins of the people and there he is shown to be the mighty One, God’s Son. That is how the gospel of Jesus Christ begins (Mark 1:3 above Mark 1:4–13)!1