Basic HTML Version
Appendix B Typical Temperance Addresses By Ellen G. White
277
be heard in heaven, as God answered the petition of our Surety, our
Substitute, the Son of the infinite God.
Christ Tested on the Three Leading Temptations
—Christ en-
tered into the wilderness with the Spirit of God upon Him, to be
tempted of the devil. The enemy was to tempt the Son of God. Christ
was tempted with the three leading temptations wherewith man is
beset.
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan,
and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days
tempted of the devil. And in those days He did eat nothing: and
when they were ended, He afterward hungered. And the devil said
unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it
be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Here
was the Son of the infinite God, and Satan came as an angel of light
to Him. Here he tempted Him on the point of appetite. Christ was
hungry and in need of food. Why did He not work this miracle? It
was not in God’s plan, for Christ was to work no miracle on His own
account. What was His position? He was passing over the ground
where Adam fell. Adam had everything that his wants required. But
fierce hunger was upon Christ, and what He wanted was food. The
devil was foiled in this temptation.
“Then the devil taketh Him up into the Holy City, and setteth
Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, If Thou be the
Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His
[286]
angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear
Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.” What
did he leave out the other part for, which says, “to keep thee in all
thy ways”? While Christ was in the ways of God, no harm could
come to Him. Jesus said of Satan, he found “nothing in Me.” This
temptation of Satan to Christ was a dare. Satan said, “If” Thou be
the Son of God. What would have been gained if Christ did as Satan
asked Him to do? Nothing. Christ meets him with “It is written.”
Satan saw he could do nothing there.
Now he tempts Him on another point. He has all the world pass
before Him in its grandeur, and Satan wants Christ to bow down
before him. Satan had power over the human family. “Again, the
devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth