The Sources of the Sayings that Jesus was staying in the Deserted Places in the Wilderness, and the Source of the Saying that John the Baptist was in the Deserts till the day of his Manifestation to Israel

Chapter III

The Sources of the Gospels and the Way of Writing Them

Section VI

The Texts which were quoted from the Old Testament, but they have not been attributed directly to it

In this section will examine the texts which were quoted from the Old Testament, but they have not been attributed directly to it, as is the case in the previous sections, which I call it Storyline or Plot-story or screenplay of the Gospels, where we will review the most of the events and stories and sayings that mentioned in the Gospels, and comparing them with the Old Testament and with Jesus as was portrayed in the Gospels, and his attributes in the laws of the faith of the churches as well.

8 - The Sources of the Sayings that Jesus was staying in the Deserted Places in the Wilderness

In the story of Temptation we read that Jesus has stayed in the wilderness for forty days and was with the wild beasts, as is written in the Gospel of Mark (1:13), and there are some other texts in the Gospels say that Jesus was living in deserted places in the wilderness including the following texts:

Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

Luke 4:42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;

Luke 4:43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."

Luke 5:16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

These texts show that Jesus was staying in deserted places in the wilderness, which raises doubts concerning the divine attributes of Jesus, which they have been developed by the churches for him as a god and the son of God, and one of the three Persons who are one and have the same nature and essence, because if so, what is the need for him to stay in deserted places in the wilderness?!

So what are the sources of these texts?

There are several texts in the Old Testament talking about some people who stayed and lived in the wilderness, especially David, including the following texts:

1 Samuel 23:14 And David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

Psalm 55:1 (To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David.) Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

Psalm 55:2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

Psalm 55:3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me.

Psalm 55:4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Psalm 55:5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me.

Psalm 55:6 So I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

Psalm 55:7 Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah

As we read that David has fled from Saul during the conflict between them, and stayed and lived in the wilderness and calls the Lord to save him from his enemies, as is written in the Psalm, and this is normal in the nature of human beings, but writing this situation concerning Jesus, who is supposed to be a god and the son of God and one of three Persons who are one and have the same nature and essence; this thing is unacceptable and inconceivable, particularly, as is written in the Old Testament that the Lord has saved David from Saul and from other enemies, unlike Jesus who has not been saved by the Lord; forcing him to cry out in a loud voice on the cross "My God' my God, why have you forsaken me" (Matthew 27:46) and (Mark 15:34)!

9 - The Source of the Saying that John the Baptist was in the Deserts till the day of his Manifestation to Israel

Luke 1:80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

In this text Luke tells that John the Baptist was living in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel, and this is one of the texts that give rise to confusion in the heart and mind; how a child lives in the wilderness while his family lives in Jerusalem, and his father well-known among his people, and was a priest who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; and how let his son to live in the deserts, and whom is the one who took care of him?

So what is the source of this story?

Let's read the following text:

Genesis 21:20 So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

Genesis 21:21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

This text talks about Ishmael and how he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran, and lived and grew, and the Lord was with him.

This text is reliable and real, because Ishmael when he went into the wilderness of Paran was with him his mother and was by order of the Lord, while Luke or the other Gospels authors did not tell us why John the Baptist the son of Zechariah the priest lived in the deserts, who are residents of the most beautiful city in the world! All this does not matter from the standpoint of the Gospels authors, but what is an important from their standpoint is writing stories similar to the stories of the Old Testament, as is their method and approach of writing the Gospels away from the historical events and the revelation and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to bestow a state of holiness and credibility and reliability on the Gospels, and this means that the law "do not accept the lying and false" applies to these texts.