The Wilderness Temptation

[Thompson, Darryl]

The Wilderness Temptation 

     Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted of the devil. Matt. 4:1. 

     Why was it that at the beginning of His public ministry Christ was
led into the wilderness to be tempted? . . . He went, not in His own
behalf, but in our behalf; to overcome for us. . . . He was to be tried
and tested as a representative of the race. He was to meet the foe in
personal encounter, to overthrow him who claimed to be the head of the
kingdoms of the world. 

     Satan met Him and tempted Him on the very points where man will be
tempted. Our Substitute and Surety passed over the ground where Adam
stumbled and fell. And the question was, Will He stumble and fall as
Adam did over God's commandments? He met Satan's attacks again and again
with "It is written," and Satan left the field of conflict a conquered
foe. Christ has redeemed Adam's disgraceful fall, and has perfected a
character of perfect obedience, and left an example for the human
family. . . . Had He failed on one point in reference to the law of God,
He would not have been a perfect offering, for it was on one point only
that Adam failed. . . . 

     Our Saviour withstood on every point the test of temptation, and in
this way He has made it possible for man to overcome. Now, there is
enough in this idea, in this thought, to fill our hearts with gratitude
every day of our lives. As Jesus was accepted as our substitute and
surety, every one of us will be accepted if we stand the test and trial
for ourselves. He took our nature that He might become acquainted with
the trials wherewith man should be beset, and He is our mediator and
intercessor before the Father.  

     Those who would overcome must put to the tax every power of their
being. They must agonize on their knees before God for divine power. . .
. Men may have a power to resist evil--a power that neither earth, nor
death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may
overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in
them. 


>From That I May Know Him - Page 32