Christ
paid an infinite price to redeem the world. He sacrificed his honor,
his riches, his glorious home in the royal courts, and endured the
fierce assaults of Satan, that man might have strength to overcome as he
overcame. The temptations that Satan brings to bear upon the human race
are severe; but his test for the Son of God was a hundredfold more
severe. It was not merely the gnawing pangs of hunger that made Christ's
sufferings so intense; it was the guilt of the sins of the world, which
pressed so heavily upon him. He who knew no sin was made sin for us.
With this terrible weight of guilt upon him, he withstood the fearful
test upon appetite; upon the love of the world and of honor; and upon
pride of display, which leads to presumption. Christ endured these great
temptations, overcoming in our behalf, and working out for us a
righteous character.
Many
who fall under temptation excuse themselves with the plea that Christ's
divinity helped him overcome, and that man has not this power in his
favor. But this is a mistake. Christ has brought divine power within the
reach of all. The Son of God came to the earth because he saw that
moral power in man is weak. He came to bring finite man in close
connection with God. It is by combining divine power with his human
strength that man becomes an overcomer.
When
we are tempted to question whether Christ resisted temptation as a man,
we must search the Scriptures for the truth. As the substitute and
surety of the human race, Christ was placed in the same position toward
the Father as is the sinner. Christ had the privilege of depending on
the Father for strength, and so have we. Because he laid hold of the
hand of infinite power, and held it fast, he overcame; and we are taught
to do the same. He met every temptation with, “It is written;” and so
must we. The one who resists evil in his strength can say, in the words
of Inspiration: “The Lord God will help me: therefore shall I not be
confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I
shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend
with me? ... Behold, the Lord God will help me: who is he that shall
condemn me?”
The
language of Christ on many occasions shows that he was placed in the
same position that we are. He had to walk by faith, as we walk by faith;
and when temptations came to him with overwhelming power, he used the
language that every child of earth must use. “The Son can do nothing of
himself,” Christ declared, “but what he seeth the Father do: for what
things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” “I can of
mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just;
because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath
sent me.” “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know
that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath
taught me, I speak these things.”...
Christ
is the Captain of our salvation. “It became him, for whom are all
things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to
make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” The
suffering that poured in upon the Son of God is beyond anything that man
will be called to endure; yet Christ overcame, and perfected a spotless
character. By his suffering and resistance he made plain to man that
perfection of character can be obtained and maintained by humanity.
When
Satan fails to lead men into sin by the first two temptations, those of
appetite and presumption, he besets them with the third, the love of
the world; and in almost every case he leads them into apostasy by this
means. It is the glory of this world that attracts and ensnares. But we
have reason to thank God that the Captain of our salvation was made
perfect through suffering, and came off conqueror in our behalf. Every
son and daughter of Adam may have this divine strength. The promise of
the Comforter has been given us. “He that believeth on me,” said Jesus,
“the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” The power that came to Christ
as a representative of the human race will come to every member of the
human family who will make God his strength.
“We
have a great high priest, which is passed into the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God.... We have not an high priest which can not be touched with
the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
need.” We may take courage, and believe that we shall overcome every
imperfection of character. Our Redeemer has taken our nature, fought our
battles, and in his name we shall conquer. Human nature may take hold
of the strength of God, and be victorious. The Youth's Instructor, December 28, 1899
