Lord, Throughout These Forty Days...14

In His wilderness, Jesus redeems the failure of Israel's wilderness wanderings. In His barren place, Jesus restores First Parents' paradise. In both He is more than we have ever been ourselves. In both He becomes the New -- Adam and People of God.

In Christ, a new creation begins. He is the first-fruits. As the Second Adam emerging victorious over temptation, He can now represent all of humanity in His actions. He can lead us in unbroken fellowship with the Father.  The tarnished imago dei can be restored. The wilderness starts to reverse the curse.This Second Adam can die for all of us just as in the first Adam we all died. All born "from above" through faith in Him can live forever. With confidence and hope we can declare, "If anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation."

In Christ, a new people develops. He leads. As the second Called-Out-Of-Egypt Son emerging triumphant from the wilderness, He can now build the New Israel. Through Moses God gave the Law from a mountain. Through Christ God gave Grace from a hill. Once we were not a people but now we are the people of God. Once-wonderers now have a home. We stand as new nation of priests worshipping and declaring the glory of God. He builds His rock-solid church that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against..."

If I go through these 40 days in solitude like Adam and Eve, I will fail. I cannot wish for perfect circumstances, because they failed in Paradise. If I go in community like Israel, I will fail. I cannot hope for perfect companions, because they failed together. If I go with Jesus, I can "walk and not grow weary, I can run and not faint." With Christ, all things are possible and all wildernesses passable.