Christ did no Miracle for Himself
He then called the attention of Christ to his own attractive ap-
pearance, clothed with light and strong in power. He claimed to be a
messenger direct from the throne of heaven, and asserted that he had
a right to demand of Christ evidences of His being the Son of God.
Satan would fain disbelieve, if he could, the words that came from
heaven to the Son of God at His baptism. He determined to overcome
Christ and if possible make his own kingdom and life secure. His
first temptation to Christ was upon appetite. He had, upon this point,
almost entire control of the world, and his temptations were so adapted
to the circumstances and surroundings of Christ that his temptations
upon appetite were almost overpowering.
Christ could have worked a miracle in His own behalf; but this
would not have been in accordance with the plan of salvation. The
many miracles in the life of Christ show His power to work miracles
for the benefit of suffering humanity. By a miracle of mercy He fed
five thousand at once with five loaves and two small fishes. Therefore
He had the power to work a miracle and satisfy His own hunger. Satan
flattered himself that he could lead Christ to doubt the words spoken
from heaven at His baptism. If he could tempt Him to question His
sonship, and doubt the truth of the word spoken by His Father, he
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would gain a great victory.
He found Christ in the desolate wilderness without companions,
without food, and in actual suffering. His surroundings were most
melancholy and repulsive. Satan suggested to Christ that God would
not leave His Son in this condition of want and suffering. He hoped to
shake the confidence of Christ in His Father, who had permitted Him to
be brought into this condition of extreme suffering in the desert, where
the feet of man had never trod. Satan hoped that he could insinuate
doubts as to His Father’s love, which would find a lodgment in the
mind of Christ, and that under the force of despondency and extreme
hunger He would exert His miraculous power in His own behalf and
take Himself out of the hands of His heavenly Father. This was indeed
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