The better word is “tested” but in Lent congregations expect to hear about the “Temptations of Jesus.” Notice that Mark compresses the episode into a crisp statement, using profusely the continuing imagery of the OT. The Jews were tested “in the wilderness” (Ps 95:7–11; Heb 3:7–19) and “forty days” reminds us of Moses on the mountain (Ex 24:18) and Elijah’s sojourn en route to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8, 15). Interestingly, both OT characters reappear in Mark 9:4, 5 which,