Christ’s Temptation Ended
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Although Satan had failed in his strongest efforts and most power-
ful temptations, yet he had not given up all hope that he might at some
future time be successful in his efforts. He looked forward to the pe-
riod of Christ’s ministry, when he should have opportunities to try his
artifices against Him. Satan laid his plans to blind the understanding of
the Jews, God’s chosen people, that they should not discern in Christ
the world’s Redeemer. He thought he could fill their hearts with envy,
jealousy, and hatred against the Son of God, so that they would not
receive Him, but would make His life upon earth as bitter as possible.
Satan held a council with his angels, as to the course they should
pursue to prevent the people from having faith in Christ as the Mes-
siah whom the Jews had so long been anxiously expecting. He was
disappointed and enraged that he had prevailed nothing against Jesus
in the manifold temptations in the wilderness. He thought if he could
inspire in the hearts of Christ’s own people, unbelief as to His being the
promised One, he might discourage Jesus in His mission and secure
the Jews as his agents to carry out his purposes.
Satan comes to man with his temptations as an angel of light, as
he came to Christ. He has been working to bring man into a condition
of physical and moral weakness, that he may easily overcome him and
then triumph over his ruin. And he has been successful in tempting
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man to indulge appetite, regardless of the result. He well knows that it
is impossible for man to discharge his obligations to God and to his
fellowmen while he impairs the faculties which God has given him.
The brain is the capital of the body. If the perceptive faculties become
benumbed through intemperance of any kind, eternal things are not
discerned.