First Temptation of Christ
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Victory Through Christ
Because man fallen could not overcome Satan with his human
strength, Christ came from the royal courts of heaven to help him
with His human and divine strength combined. Christ knew that
Adam in Eden, with his superior advantages, might have withstood
the temptations of Satan, and conquered him. He also knew that it was
not possible for man, out of Eden, separated from the light and love
of God since the Fall, to resist the temptations of Satan in his own
strength. In order to bring hope to man, and save him from complete
ruin, He humbled Himself to take man’s nature, that, with His divine
power combined with the human, He might reach man where he is. He
obtains for the fallen sons and daughters of Adam that strength which
it is impossible for them to gain for themselves, that in His name they
may overcome the temptations of Satan.
The exalted Son of God in assuming humanity draws Himself
nearer to man by standing as the sinner’s substitute. He identifies
Himself with the sufferings and afflictions of men. He was tempted in
all points as man is tempted, that He might know how to succor those
who should be tempted. Christ overcame on the sinner’s behalf.
Jacob, in the night vision, saw earth connected with heaven by
a ladder reaching to the throne of God. He saw the angels of God,
clothed with garments of heavenly brightness, passing down from
heaven and up to heaven upon this shining ladder. The bottom of this
ladder rested upon the earth, while the top of it reached to the highest
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heavens, and rested upon the throne of Jehovah. The brightness from
the throne of God beamed down upon this ladder, and reflected a light
of inexpressible glory upon the earth.
This ladder represented Christ, who had opened the communication
between earth and heaven. In Christ’s humiliation He descended to
the very depth of human woe in sympathy and pity for fallen man,
which was represented to Jacob by one end of the ladder resting upon
the earth, while the top of the ladder, reaching unto heaven, represents
the divine power of Christ, who grasps the Infinite, and thus links
earth to heaven and finite man to the infinite God. Through Christ
the communication is opened between God and man. Angels may
pass from heaven to earth with messages of love to fallen man, and to