Faith without religion.
Facing Temptation in the Wilderness: The Calling of the Disciples
In a recent episode of “Dell and Dad’s Talk Doctrine,” Shawn and Delaney dive into Matthew chapter four, exploring the events following Jesus’ baptism. Shawn, who is reading the Bible for the first time, poses questions to his dad, Delaney, who humorously refers to himself as a “cult leader.” They discuss the significance of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil after fasting for 40 days and nights. Delaney explains that this event mirrors the temptations faced by Adam and Eve, with Jesus succeeding where they did not.
The conversation also touches on the calling of Jesus’ first disciples, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who immediately follow him. Shawn questions why they would do so, and Delaney suggests that they might have been familiar with Jesus or guided by the Holy Spirit. The duo also discusses the potential awareness of Jesus’ identity before his baptism, with Delaney noting that while John the Baptist was tasked with identifying the Messiah, the specifics of Jesus’ early life remain largely unknown.
Throughout the discussion, Shawn and Delaney emphasize the importance of understanding the spirit of the biblical text, even when translations differ. They conclude the episode with a light-hearted acknowledgment of the time constraints, promising to continue their exploration in future episodes.