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Humble Hero
fruit-laden vineyards. The traces of evil were hidden. The eyes of
Jesus gazed on a scene of incredible beauty and prosperity. Then He
heard the tempter’s voice: “All these things I will give You.” “If You
will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
Ahead of Christ lay a life of sorrow, hardship, and conflict, and
a shameful death. Christ could deliver Himself from the dreadful
future by acknowledging Satan’s supremacy. But to do this would
be to yield the victory in the great controversy. If Satan succeeded
now, it would be the triumph of rebellion.
Christ Could Not Be Bought
When the tempter offered Christ the kingdom and glory of the
world, he was proposing that Christ would rule subject to Satan.
This was the same rulership on which the Jews had set their hopes.
They desired the kingdom of this world. But Christ declared to
the tempter, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall
worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’% 7D’
Christ would not be bought. He had come to establish a kingdom of
righteousness, and He would not abandon His plan.
Satan approaches people with the same temptation, and here he
has better success than with Christ. He offers them the kingdom of
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this world on condition that they will sacrifice integrity, disregard
conscience, indulge selfishness, and acknowledge his supremacy.
Satan says, “Whatever may be true regarding eternal life, to make
a success in this world, you must serve me. I can give you riches,
pleasures, honor, and happiness. Do not be carried away with notions
of honesty or self-sacrifice.”
So most people agree to live for self, and Satan is satisfied.
But he offers what is not his to give and what is soon to be taken
away from him. In return, he tricks them out of their claim to the
inheritance of the children of God.
Satan Remains a Defeated Enemy
When Jesus dismissed him with such authority, Satan had proof
that He was the Son of God. Divinity flashed through suffering
humanity. Twisting with humiliation and rage, Satan was forced