April 13: Wilderness

Read John 12:27-36

God does some of His greatest works in deserts.

When He freed His people from slavery in Egypt, He took them to the desert.

He provided food and water. He even provided the bronze serpent, lifted up on a pole, to heal them from snake bites.

A promise He gave throught the prophet Jeremiah says, “In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks… flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them.”

John the Baptist preached in the desert.

Jesus resisted the tempations of Satan in the desert.

Philip shared the Gospel with the Ethiopian in the desert.

Jesus often sought out the desert as a quiet place to be alone with the Father.

We know that God is at work in the desert places.

Here, at the beginning of His passion, we see that He is troubled. We see that people are not going to understand God’s word. We see that He is going to die a terrible death. We see that the darkness in the desert threatens to choke us.

However, we also see the flickering flame of hope. God is at work in the desert place- He is at work in the desert places of your soul.

Hold on to your seat. The greatest story ever told is about to be told again. Abide.