40 Days Of Jesus In The Desert

Watch the above Lent Video showing the 40 Days of Jesus in The Desert.

40 illustrations drawn on Lent by illustrator Si Smith are put into a Lent Movie following Jesus’ journey into the wilderness – Forty days with Jesus in the desert. The soundtrack is Revive’s hug. This video also shows the temptations of Jesus in His last days in the desert. Watch it!

You can download the above video from Proost website.

The Story of Jesus in the Desert

The story of Jesus in the desert meets us in many different ways. It is an amazing account of God taking on the feeble form of a created being and experiencing the utter humility of unprotected isolation in barren wilderness. This story has also become our story – part of the glorious history of our family of faith, celebrated each year in the season of Lent. But it is also the very human story of one man carrying the huge burden of his calling, seeking strength to come to terms with the task that lay before him, and refusing to accept the short cuts and compromises offered by the enemy.

40 Days of Jesus in The Desert – Illustrations Explained

1. In a room scented by the smell of sawn timber, a man hears a voice in his inner ear calling him
It is time -
your time, and mine
enough of the mending and making and shaping of wood
time to put aside the tools
the sharp nails…
can wait.

2. While the village still slept, he set his face to the low morning light and followed this beautiful voice
calling him
leading him
drawing him
into wilderness.

3. He did not look back to the comforts of home, but walked on…
into the desert – the place of suffering and desolation, where each rock hid its own danger
every stone could strike at the heel
he walked onwards
alone.

4. As he walked he left something of himself behind.
the skin of civilisation was being burnt away by the hot sun
driven away by the wild animals
But in the rhythm of every step was the music of his voice – singing to his soul
It’s your time… and mine.

5. After a time, the desert seemed so big, and he -
so small
A panic rose in him.
It clutched him like a hand at his throat
Who am I?
What am I?
What terrible road lies before me?
Father, my body is weak
I am a drop of water
On a rock
Under the hot desert sun
Soon I will be gone.
still he walked
still he followed
That voice.

6. Dust devils plucked specks from the sand and spat them at his face.
Walk on my Son
This is your time… and mine.

7. He followed the voice into dark canyons carved by raging streams now long dry
and he was grateful to leave behind the dark places
to climb towards light.

8. And from a high place he watched in wonder as the sun sank into the desert sea
He watched as it stained the sand like wine spreading on a table
like blood.

9. As evening fell He looked for a place to rest
The dry desert skies sucked back the warmth from the ground as he lay down his head
And the night creatures were set loose
hungry and wild.

10. A weak morning light filtered into the ravine where he slept and he woke
That restlessness was there still
gnawing at him
calling him on
Now is your time…and mine
Now is your time…and mine

11. Find me O my father
Make me
Take me back to you
My throat is cracked
But thirst is more
For you
My stomach craves
A food that feeds only this -
My soul.
So I walk
Desperate
Close to falling
Stumbling…
To you.

12. At his lowest point, a blessing fell at his feet.
A sound brought him to some rocks, and he peered over into the shade and saw foxes at play.
The cubs left their lair and tripped over each other, nibbling ears and licking fur, oblivious to his presence, at one with all things.
the pure joy of the moment found its way into the very centre of him.
It lit up his soul.
Desert became paradise.
Father came to Son.

13. The joy in his heart could not stay still.
It found its way to his feet
and made a dance!
what a dance!
His sandals beat the dust
and his clothes cracked the air about him.

14. He danced down valleys and over stream beds.
He danced the day long…..
A dance for the hungry and the thirsty
A dance for the broken and hurting
A dance for the widows and the fatherless children
A dance for the lonely and the betrayed
A dance for the poor in spirit and those captives to the night
A dance for those downcast and robbed of hope
A dance for the dying and those left in grief
A dance for those who suffer and need relief
A dance of for grace and love and mercy
A freedom dance…
For all mankind
And as he danced, he drove away the black birds of death and hate and war,
and profiteering and slavery -
evil took to flight.
This day belonged to the dancer -
And the Dance.

15. Exhausted now. Burned up.
The responsibilities of this journey.
The burdens to carry on the way
The foolishness of the dance
And his dreams lay like bleached bones at his feet.

16. The terrible black birds drew near again.
drawn to the sweet smell of carrion
Blown in on the breeze.

17. That night, he stood alone before the moon.
Listening again for the voice
Straining for its music
His face shone with the reflected light.
Sun to moon.
Moon to face.
And he started to hope again.
Now is your time my son.
In you are my hopes – my dreams
In you is everything I am.
In you is all my love, all my mercy, all my grace
Now is your time… and mine.

Lent illustrations from 18-40 also have detailed explanations.
Find the remaining illustrations explained in the 40 Days of Jesus in the Desert PDF