First Advent of Christ
25
that this stone be made bread. He tempted Jesus to condescend to him,
and give him proof of his being the Messiah, by exercising his divine
power. Jesus mildly answered him, It is written, Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word of God.
Satan was seeking a dispute with Jesus concerning his being the
Son of God. He referred to his weak, suffering condition, and boast-
ingly affirmed that he was stronger than Jesus. But the word spoken
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from heaven, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased, was
sufficient to sustain Jesus through all his sufferings. I saw that in all
his mission he had nothing to do in convincing Satan of his power, and
of his being the Saviour of the world. Satan had sufficient evidence of
his exalted station and authority. His unwillingness to yield to Jesus’
authority, shut him out of heaven.
Satan, to manifest his strength, carried Jesus to Jerusalem, and
set him upon a pinnacle of the temple, and again tempted him, that if
he was the Son of God, to give him evidence of it by casting himself
down from the dizzy height upon which he had placed him. Satan
came with the words of inspiration. For it is written, He shall give
his angels charge over thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus answering
said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Satan
wished to cause Jesus to presume upon the mercy of his Father, and
risk his life before the fulfillment of his mission. He had hoped that
the plan of salvation would fail; but I saw that the plan was laid too
deep to be thus overthrown, or marred by Satan.
I saw that Christ was the example for all Christians when tempted,
or their rights disputed. They should bear it patiently. They should
not feel that they have a right to call upon God to display his power,
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that they may obtain a victory over their enemies, unless there is a
special object in view, that God can be directly honored and glorified
by it. I saw that if Jesus had cast himself from the pinnacle, it would
not have glorified his Father; for none would witness the act but Satan,
and the angels of God. And it would be tempting the Lord to display
his power to his bitterest foe. It would have been condescending to the
one whom Jesus came to conquer.
“And the Devil taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto
him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the Devil
said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: