Temptation of Christ
239
Christ as the Second Adam
In what contrast is the second Adam as He entered the gloomy
wilderness to cope with Satan singlehanded! Since the Fall the race
had been decreasing in size and physical strength, and sinking lower
in the scale of moral worth, up to the period of Christ’s advent to the
earth. And in order to elevate fallen man, Christ must reach him where
he was. He took human nature, and bore the infirmities and degeneracy
of the race. He, who knew no sin, became sin for us. He humiliated
Himself to the lowest depths of human woe, that He might be qualified
to reach man, and bring him up from the degradation in which sin had
plunged him.
“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all
things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their
salvation perfect through sufferings” (
Hebrews 2:10
). [
Hebrews 5:9
;
2:17, 18
quoted.]
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin” (
Hebrews 4:15
).
Satan had been at war with the government of God, since he first
rebelled. His success in tempting Adam and Eve in Eden, and in-
troducing sin into the world, had emboldened this arch foe, and he
had proudly boasted to the heavenly angels that when Christ should
appear, taking man’s nature, He would be weaker than himself, and
[269]
he would overcome Him by his power. He exulted that Adam and
Eve in Eden could not resist his insinuations when he appealed to
their appetite. The inhabitants of the old world he overcame in the
same manner, through the indulgence of lustful appetite and corrupt
passions. Through the gratification of appetite he had overthrown
the Israelites. He boasted that the Son of God Himself who was with
Moses and Joshua was not able to resist his power, and lead the favored
people of His choice to Canaan; for nearly all who left Egypt died in
the wilderness. Also the meek man, Moses, he had tempted to take to
himself glory which God claimed. David and Solomon, who had been
especially favored of God, he had induced, through the indulgence of
appetite and passion, to incur God’s displeasure. And he boasted that
he could yet succeed in thwarting the purpose of God in the salvation
of man through Jesus Christ.