THE TEMPTATION

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. Then Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where He was tempted by the devil. The Holy Spirit had prepared Jesus for that special time of strong temptations. Jesus was tempted by Satan for forty days. During the forty days Jesus did not eat anything. Everything around Him was unpleasant. Jesus was surrounded by the kinds of things most people do not like to be near. Only wild animals and the devil were with Jesus in that lonely place. Jesus, the Son of God, was pale and thin because of no food and suffering. The plan for Jesus' life had been made in heaven. Jesus must do the work that He came to do.SRme 1.867

Satan took advantage of the sufferings of the Son of God. He was ready to trouble Jesus with many temptations. Satan hoped to gain the victory over Jesus because Jesus had humbled Himself to become human.SRme 1.868

Satan came with this temptation: "'If You are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread'" (Luke 4:3). Satan was tempting Jesus to lower Himself to prove that He was the Messiah. Satan wanted Jesus to use His [Jesus'] divine power for Himself.SRme 1.869

Jesus answered calmly, "'The scripture says, "Man cannot live on bread alone, but needs every word that God speaks"'" (Matt. 4:4, TEV).SRme 1.870

Satan was trying to start an argument with Jesus about Jesus' being the Son of God. Satan spoke about Jesus' weak and suffering condition. Satan boasted that he was stronger than Jesus. But God had spoken from heaven saying, "This is My own dear Son, with whom I am pleased." These words were enough to keep Jesus strong through all His sufferings.SRme 1.871

I [Ellen White] saw that Christ did not have to prove His power to Satan. Christ did not have to prove that He was the Saviour of the world. Satan already had enough proof of Jesus' high position and authority. Satan was not willing to yield to Christ's authority, so Satan was shut out of heaven.SRme 1.872

Satan carried Jesus to Jerusalem to show his [Satan's] power. Satan put Jesus upon the highest point of the temple. There Satan tempted Jesus to prove He was God's Son by throwing Himself down. Satan added, "'The scripture says, "God will order His angels to take good care of You." It also says, "They will hold You up with their hands, so that not even Your feet will be hurt on the stones."'SRme 1.873

"But Jesus answered, 'The scripture says, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test"'" (Luke 4:10-12).SRme 1.874

Satan tried to get Jesus to take advantage of God's mercy. Satan wanted Jesus to risk His life before He had finished the work He had come to earth to do. Satan hoped the plan of salvation would fail. Satan could not ruin God's plan.SRme 1.875

Christ is the example for all Christians. Sometimes Christians are tempted to think their rights are in danger. But they should remain patient. They should not feel they have a right to ask God to show His power just so they can win a victory over their enemies. They should ask that God be directly honored and glorified through their victory.SRme 1.876

If Christ had thrown Himself down from the highest point of the temple, this act would not have honored His Father. No person would have seen the act--only Satan and the angels of God. If Jesus had thrown Himself down, this would have been tempting God to show His power to His worst enemy. God would have lowered Himself in front of Satan. Jesus had come to conquer Satan.SRme 1.877

Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain "and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. 'I will give You all this power and all this wealth,' the Devil told Him, . . . 'if You worship me.'SRme 1.878

"Jesus answered, 'The scripture says, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him!"'" (Luke 4:5-7).SRme 1.879

Satan showed Jesus the nations of the world in the most attractive way possible. Satan offered to give up his claims to the possessions of earth if Jesus would worship him. Satan knew that if Jesus' plan to save people succeeded, Satan's own power would be limited. Satan's power finally would be taken away. Satan would be destroyed. Satan's plan was to stop the work of saving people that Jesus already had started. If the plan for saving people should fail, Satan would keep the world that he already said was his. Satan made himself believe that if he succeeded he would continue to rule the world against the wishes of the God of heaven .SRme 1.880