Temptation of Christ
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of this fast is the strongest evidence of the great sinfulness of debased
appetite, and its power over the human family.
Through appetite, Satan had accomplished the ruin of Adam and
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Eve, and through all succeeding generations, this had been his strongest
weapon in corrupting the human race. As Christ had taken the form of
man, and was subject to his infirmities, Satan hoped to conquer him
through this powerful medium, and laid his plans accordingly. As soon
as Christ’s long fast commenced, he was at hand with this temptations.
He came clothed in light, claiming to be an angel sent from the throne
of God to sympathize with Christ and relieve him from his suffering
condition. He represented to him that God did not desire him to pass
through the pain and self-denial which he had anticipated. He claimed
to bear the message from Heaven that God only designed to prove the
willingness of Christ to endure his test.
Satan told him that he was to set his feet in the blood-stained
path, but not to travel it, that, like Abraham, he was tried to show his
perfect obedience. He claimed to be the angel who stayed the hand of
Abraham, as the knife was raised to slay Isaac, and that he had now
come to save the life of the Son of God, deliver him from a painful
death by starvation, and assist him in the plan of salvation.
Satan is today deceiving many as he attempted to deceive Christ,
claiming that he is Heaven-sent and doing a good work for humanity.
And the masses of the people are so blinded by sophistry that they
cannot discern his true character, and they honor him as a messenger
of God, while he is working their eternal ruin.
But Christ turned from all these artful temptations, and remained
steadfast in his purpose to carry out the divine plan. Foiled at one point,
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Satan now tried another expedient. Believing that the angelic character
he had assumed defied detection, he now feigned to doubt the divin-
ity of Christ, because of his emaciated appearance and uncongenial
surroundings.
In taking the nature of man, Christ was not equal in appearance
with the angels of Heaven, but this was one of the necessary humili-
ations that he willingly accepted when he became man’s Redeemer.
Satan urged that if he was indeed the Son of God he should give him
some evidence of his exalted character. He suggested that God would
not leave his Son in so deplorable a condition. He declared that one
of the heavenly angels had been exiled to earth, and his appearance