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Victory
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on templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, and fruit-laden vine-
yards. The traces of evil were hidden. The eyes of Jesus gazed on a
scene of unsurpassed loveliness and prosperity. Then the tempter’s
voice was heard: “All this will I give Thee... . If Thou therefore wilt
worship me, all shall be Thine.”
Before Christ was a life of sorrow, hardship, and conflict, and an
ignominious death. Christ might deliver Himself from the dreadful
future by acknowledging the supremacy of Satan. But to do this
would be to yield the victory in the great controversy. Should Satan
prevail now, it would be the triumph of rebellion.
Christ Could Not Be Bought
When the tempter offered to Christ the kingdom and glory of the
world, he was proposing that Christ hold dominion subject to Satan.
This was the same dominion on which the hopes of the Jews were
set. They desired the kingdom of this world. But Christ declared
to the tempter, “Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”
Christ would not be bought. He had come to establish a kingdom of
righteousness, and He would not abandon His purpose.
With the same temptation Satan approaches men, 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 in regard to life eternal, 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.
Thus multitudes consent to live for self, and Satan is satisfied.
But he offers that which is not his to bestow and which is soon to
be wrested from him. In return he beguiles them of their title to the
inheritance of the sons of God.
Satan Remains a Defeated Foe
In his summary dismissal Satan had proof that Jesus was the
Son of God. Divinity flashed through suffering humanity. Writhing