Basic HTML Version
The Test of Appetite, July 6
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by
any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.
1 Corinthians 9:27
.
After His baptism the Son of God entered the dreary wilderness, there
to be tempted by the devil. For nearly six weeks He endured the agonies
of hunger.... He realized the power of appetite upon man; and in behalf
of sinful man, He bore the closest test possible upon that point. Here
a victory was gained which few can appreciate. The controlling power
of depraved appetite and the grievous sin of indulging it can only be
understood by the length of the fast which our Saviour endured that He
might break its power....
Intemperance lies at the foundation of all the moral evils known to
man. Christ began the work of redemption just where the ruin began.
The fall of our first parents was caused by the indulgence of appetite. In
redemption, the denial of appetite is the first work of Christ.
The Son of God saw that man could not of himself overcome this
powerful temptation.... He came to earth to unite His divine power with
our human efforts, that through the strength and moral power which He
imparts, we might overcome in our own behalf. Oh! what matchless
condescension for the King of glory to come down to this world to endure
the pangs of hunger and the fierce temptations of a wily foe, that He might
gain an infinite victory for man. Here is love without a parallel. Yet this
great condescension is but dimly comprehended by those for whom it was
made.
It was not the gnawing pangs of hunger alone which made the suffer-
ings of our Redeemer so inexpressibly severe. It was the sense of guilt
which had resulted from the indulgence of appetite that had brought such
terrible woe into the world, which pressed so heavily upon His divine
soul....
With man’s nature, and the terrible weight of his sins pressing upon
Him, our Redeemer withstood the power of Satan upon this great leading
temptation, which imperils the souls of men. If man should overcome this
temptation, he could conquer on every other point.
[195]
201