No wonder Jesus needed that time of preparation in the wilderness. He needed to get his mission clear in his own heart so that he wouldn’t be captivated by the expectations of adoring fans or intimidated by the threats of furious critics. If we dare to follow Jesus and proclaim the radical dimensions of god’s good news as he did, we will face the same twin dangers of domestication and intimidation.

p. 94, chapter 20, we make the road by walking, Brian D.!McLaren.