Confrontation in the Desert
After the baptism of Jesus in Jordan He was led by the Spirit into
the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. When He had come up
out of the water, He bowed upon Jordan’s banks and pleaded with
the great Eternal for strength to endure the conflict with the fallen
foe. The opening of the heavens and the descent of the excellent glory
attested His divine character. The voice from the Father declared the
close relation of Christ to His Infinite Majesty: “This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The mission of Christ was soon to
begin. But He must first withdraw from the busy scenes of life to a
desolate wilderness for the express purpose of bearing the threefold
test of temptation in behalf of those He had come to redeem.
Satan, who was once an honored angel in heaven, had been ambi-
tious for the more exalted honors which God had bestowed upon His
Son. He became envious of Christ, and represented to the angels, who
honored him as covering cherub, that he had not the honor conferred
upon him which his position demanded. He asserted that he should
be exalted equal in honor with Christ. Satan obtained sympathizers.
Angels in heaven joined him in his rebellion, and fell with their leader
from their high and holy estate, and were therefore expelled from
heaven with him.
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