Mark 1:12–13 (ESV)
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 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, in his characteristic brevity, wastes no time in moving to the next scene. Immediately he is driven into the wilderness. This is on the heels of the mountain top moment of God telling Jesus that he is his beloved Son and the Spirit of God coming over him anointing him for his ministry. The Spirit’s first work in Jesus life is to drive him into the wilderness where he will be tempted by God’s adversary, Satan. Satan simply means, “adversary”. Mark prefers the term Satan to devil but the two are synonymous in referring to the personal, spiritual agent who is against God and his work in the world.
As noted on Tuesday the wilderness in Israel’s history was a place of testing and failure leading to repentance followed by God’s favor and provision. The 40 days more firmly solidifies this connection. Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and nights. Elijah journeyed 40 days to Mt. Horeb. Here we see those same themes minus the failure. Instead, when tested Jesus remains faithful. Where Israel failed, Jesus succeeded. Jesus as the Messiah and representative of this new covenant community remains faithful under similar temptations in the desert. The angels ministering to him is then similar to God’s provision for the people of Israel in the wilderness wandering. God provided manna and quail for their journey as well as direction through the wilderness to the promised land.
The reference to the wild animals is perplexing. It is the only reference to this in the gospel, and in any gospel. This is not mentioned in the parallel passages from Matthew and Luke. There are two convincing explanations for this phrase. First, this could be a picture of the new covenant community that Jesus is bringing leading to a restoration of all of creation. Jesus being among the wild animals and not being devoured by them could be a reference to the new creation spoken of in Isaiah 11:6-9 where the wolf will dwell with the lamb in peace and the cow with the bear. This new kingdom Jesus is bringing will culminate in all of creation returning to harmony as was the case in the original creation of Eden.
The second possible meaning of this is related directly to Mark’s readers. This letter was intended for the Christians in Rome during the reign of Nero. The Roman historian, Tacitus, said of Nero’s savagery against the Christians, “They were covered with the hides of wild beasts and torn to pieces by dogs.” Therefore, this could’ve been a subtle encouragement to the Christians of Rome to bear under the persecution of Nero. Christ also was thrown to wild beasts and remained faithful and God ultimately provided.
If this was a reference to the new creation, it seems unlikely that Luke and Matthew would have eliminated it in their gospels. However, if it were meant to be a message directly to Mark’s readers in Rome it makes more sense for them not to include it. Therefore, the second option is favorable but either is possible and does little to affect the meaning of the event.