Chapter 5—Tempted on All Points
Christ alone had experience in all the sorrows and temptations that
befall human beings. Never another of woman born was so fiercely
beset by temptation; never another bore so heavy a burden of the
world’s sin and pain. Never was there another whose sympathies were
so broad or so tender. A sharer in all the experiences of humanity,
He could feel not only for, but with, every burdened and tempted and
struggling one.—
Education, 78
.
God was in Christ in human form, and endured all the temptations
wherewith man was beset; in our behalf He participated in the suffering
and trials of sorrowful human nature.—
The Watchman, December 10,
1907
.
He “was in all points tempted like as we are.” Satan stood ready
to assail Him at every step, hurling at Him his fiercest temptations;
yet He “did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” “He ...
suffered being tempted,” suffered in proportion to the perfection of
His holiness. But the prince of darkness found nothing in Him; not a
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single thought or feeling responded to temptation.—
Testimonies for
the Church 5:422
.
Would that we could comprehend the significance of the words,
“Christ suffered, being tempted.” While He was free from the taint of
sin, the refined sensibilities of His holy nature rendered contact with
evil unspeakably painful to him. Yet with human nature upon Him, He
met the arch-apostate face to face, and single-handed withstood the foe
of His throne. Not even by a thought could Christ be brought to yield
to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point
where he can gain a foot-hold; some sinful desire is cherished, by
means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared
of Himself, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in
Me.” The storms of temptation burst upon Him, but they could not
cause Him to swerve from His allegiance to God.—
The Review and
Herald, November 8, 1887
.
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