The First Temptation of Christ
Christ had entered the world as Satan’s destroyer and the Redeemer
of the captives bound by his power. He would leave an example in
His own victorious life for man to follow, and thus overcome the
temptations of Satan.
As soon as Christ entered the wilderness of temptation His visage
changed. The glory and splendor which were reflected from the throne
of God and His countenance when the heavens opened before Him,
and the Father’s voice acknowledged Him as His Son in whom He
was well pleased, were now gone. The weight of the sins of the world
was pressing His soul, and His countenance expressed unutterable
sorrow, a depth of anguish that fallen man had never realized. He felt
the overwhelming tide of woe that deluged the world. He realized the
strength of indulged appetite and unholy passion which controlled the
world and had brought upon man inexpressible suffering.
The indulgence of appetite had been increasing and strengthening
with every successive generation since Adam’s transgression, until
the race was so feeble in moral power that they could not overcome
in their own strength. Christ, in behalf of the race, was to overcome
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appetite by standing the most powerful test upon this point. He was
to tread the path of temptation alone, and there must be none to help
Him, none to comfort or uphold Him. Alone He was to wrestle with
the powers of darkness.
As in his human strength man could not resist the power of Satan’s
temptations, Jesus volunteered to undertake the work and to bear the
burden for man, and overcome the power of appetite in his behalf. In
man’s behalf He must show self-denial, perseverance, and firmness of
principle paramount to the gnawing pangs of hunger. He must show a
power of control stronger than hunger and even death.
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