Baptism of Christ and Lent

When Jesus was about 30 years old he left Nazareth to begin his public Ministry, but first, after being baptised by John the Baptist, he went into the desert for 40 days to get ready.  During that time he fasted, that is, went without food.  He did this because he wanted to be the complete master of his body and its wants.  While Jesus was in the desert the Devil tempted him to sin.  He put ideas into Jesus’ head that he should use his powers wrongly.  Jesus, however, refused to have anything to do with the Devil’s suggestions.

In the desert Jesus was often hungry and cold and tired, and later on he knew only too well what it was to be sad and lonely and in pain.  This shows that he was not only truly God but truly a human being as well.  We think of Jesus in the desert (wilderness) during the season of Lent.  The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday.

Jesus then went round the country teaching the people about God and healing those who were sick.  Great crowds used to follow him about, but the Jewish rulers became jealous of him and saw him as a threat.  They decided to have him killed next time he visited Jerusalem.