In a question from day 1 MW asks the following questions:
“Good morning, Pastor :)
I have two questions on our reading.
1. In Mark 1:12 (NKJV), It states that the Spirit "drove" Jesus into the wilderness. I am curious why the word drove is used here. We normally associate that word with driving out demons, or Jesus driving out those who bought and sold in the temple...We know the Spirit leads, directs, tugs, pulls, instills, convicts, etc.
In this verse the Spirit "drove" Jesus...is this significant in this tense?
2. In Mark 1:13 (NKJV), The Angels are "ministering" to Jesus during His 40 days in the wilderness.
How would they minister? In what fashion? We know He fasted, so what needs did the Angels provide?
Thank you for this site, your time, and your love - I look forward to the growth your assignments will provide.
mw”
Great questions! I looked up the Greek word used here for drove. It is the Greek word ekballw. Ekballw is used in scripture about 80 times and in 52 of these instances it is means “to cast out – excommunicate”! I had a New Testament professor who translated it “to hurl or throw”. It is in fact the word used in John 2 when Jesus drives the money changers from the temple and in Mark 16:9 indentifying Mary Magdalene as the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. I wonder if it implies here that the Spirit compelled him to go.
As for the angels ministering to Jesus, I found some interesting information. The Greek word for ministering used here is diakonew. This is where we get our word Deacon. The NRSV says, “…the angels waited on him.” The same word is used in Hebrews 1:14 where it says of the angels “Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” Perhaps the protection and comfort afforded Jesus in his wilderness experience is available to all of us who by his grace inherit salvation!
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I had another take on the word "drove". I saw it as the way a herder might move his herd. It can't be done without the cooperation of the herd. Jesus went because he needed to assert his control over those demons.
As far as ministering goes...I'm not at all sure. I think the angels presence alone would minister to Jesus. It would be a lot easier to accomplish a monumental task with the support of others. Maybe we as believers are actually the angels for someone in our own lives. Since we don't know who, it is necessary to treatall of those we meet as though they are our assignment from God.
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