When Jesus was baptized, I believe what He experienced was a type/shadow of His death, burial, resurrection and first ascension. In other words, the baptism was a picture of the Passover linked to the Feast of First Fruits, regardless of the actual timing of when His baptism by John took place.
After His baptism (and after this picture of the Passover/Feast of Firstfruits), Jesus then experienced 40 days in the wilderness. I recently watched a movie on Youtube that was focused on these 40 days. You can find that video here:
What struck me while watching the movie is how long 40 days actually were. Jesus did nothing during that time but look to and wait upon His Father. A few months ago I did that for only two days. Those two days felt like such a long time. I was so restless during that. Impulses to snack/eat, to scroll, to watch videos, to do errands, to text/email others, etc were very intense. To think of doing it for 40 days in a wilderness setting? That would feel like many months to me.
I am wondering if, for those of us anticipating and watching for Jesus, that we might be going through a similar time of "40 days" after the high watch time of this recent Passover with First Fruits came and went. I am wondering if we are actually currently in a similar "40 days alone with our Father and Savior" that is being experienced in a heart-level wilderness, with the end point being May 14. Is God going to take us all the way to the last moment of when Israel is 77 years old?
Recently God brought to my mind the experience of Joseph. 13 years from when he was sold as a slave to when he finally was removed from the prison. Such a long time before he was taken, cleaned up, given new clothes, and then stood before the Ruler of that empire. That is truly a picture for us.
Joseph was destined to feed so many people. But not until God's appointed time. Might the same be for us? I have desires growing within me to spiritually feed others on who Jesus truly is. Yet, it seems like I am, at this season, isolated, cut off from heart level relationships, being on such a different wavelength from other brothers and sisters in Christ, seemingly having only Jesus, and being led to simply rest at His feet like He wanted of Martha with Mary. All the while . . . waiting . . . in a wilderness.
As I watch what is unfolding on the world stage, not knowing how much we might experience before we are taken home, i find that I can also relate to something Habakkuk said:
16I heard
, and my [m]inner parts trembled ; At the sound
, my lips quivered . Decay
enters my bones , And in
my place I tremble ; Because
I [n]must wait quietly for the day of distress , [o]For the people
to arise who will attack us. 17Even
if the fig tree does not blossom , And there
is no [p]fruit on the vines , If the yield
of the olive fails , And the fields
produce no food , Even if the flock
disappears from the fold , And there
are no cattle in the stalls , 18Yet I will triumph
in the LORD , I will rejoice
in the God of my salvation . 19The Lord
[q]GOD is my strength , And He has made
my feet like deer’s feet, And has me walk
on my high places .
The Spirit of Jesus is inside us. We are in union with God. He is our High Tower. He is our Peace.
Walking by faith down here is such a rollercoaster.
God bless.