XVIII

WRITTEN AGAIN

66

'Again it is written."

Matt. 4:7

The union of the divine and the human natures in the person of Christ involves many difficulties. So does the union of body and soul in man. We are akin on the one side to God and on the other to the brute. If we cannot understand ourselves, why should we wonder if we cannot understand him? The Bible was not given us to clear up all mysteries. If it should undertake to explain everything from the dawn of creation, we should never get to Christ. The world would still be reading the opening chapter of Genesis, for after all these centuries we are just beginning to gain some insight into God's works of creation and providence. There are spots on the sun, but it illumines our path. There are mysteries in the Scripture, but it teaches us how to live. And even the hard passages of the Word, smitten by the hand of faith, have often, like the rock in the wilderness, yielded the water of life to the thirsty soul.

We shall not stop to ask, Because we cannot hope to answer, the question, How could Christ be tempted? This we must believe, it was a real temptation. He was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Those words indicate at once the range, the reality, and the result of his

temptation. It was no sham battle that Christ fought in the wilderness. Temptation is not sin, yielding is sin. Temptation is a necessary part of life's discipline, and even the assaults of Satan are embraced within the purpose of God. It is a strange conjunction of terms, "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." Led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil. Satan, too, is God's servant. Before temptation turns to sin the outward suggestion of evil must be followed by the inward response. When we pray, "Lead us not into temptation," we ask that we may be kept from the solicitations and seductions of evil; or, if that may not be, if temptations are needful to strengthen and refine the character, that we may be armed with strength to overcome. If we rush into temptation of our own free will, we have no promise. But if, like our Master, we are led of the Spirit, and following his guidance are brought face to face with temptation, the assurance is ours, that God will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able, but with the temptation will make also the way of escape, that we may be able to bear it. "Then was he led up to be tempted," immediately after his baptism. The Spirit that descended in the form of a dove is still upon him, the voice that spake from the opened heavens, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," is still ringing in his ears. Satan is very bold. He attacks us in our highest moods, and it is a common experience of God's people that the most exalted spiritual states are followed by

moods of reaction and depression, so that sometimes we seem to be lifted high only that our fall may be the greater. Satan redoubles his efforts when he sees that we are about to escape him. He loves a shining mark, lays hold of the most eminent of God's saints in the hour when their triumph seems assured. Jesus said to Peter, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven," because Peter confessed in him the Christ. And almost in the same day as the promise came the stern rebuke, " Get thee behind. me, Satan," because Peter sought to turn him from the way of the cross. What hope have we then! Christ has conquered, and we may conquer in him. "I have overcome," he said. "This is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith," because faith unites us to him. It was a battle royal that was fought there in the desert. For thousands of years Satan had been ravaging the earth, destroying the souls of men, until he seemed to hold possession of the field. Then God came to earth in person and took command. God and Satan met face to face, Satan was defeated, his power broken, and every man who will put his trust in Christ may have a part in Christ's victory.

Let us inquire how this story bears upon our lives, how we may draw from the example of our Lord wisdom and strength for our conflict with the Tempter.

First Satan sought to lead Christ to distrust God, to make use of his divine power to relieve his hunger. "Command that these stones become

bread." But he would have been no true man, no example for us, if in time of need he had fallen back upon his omnipotence. He might use his divine power on behalf of others, he would not use it for himself. He had entered upon the path of humiliation and self-denial, and he trod it to the end. Satan had another arrow in his quiver. Failing to lead him to distrust he would lead him to presumption. "Thy trust is in God, then from this pinnacle of the temple cast thyself down, relying upon his promise that the angels shall keep thee safe." Foiled the second time the Tempter made a third and last attack. "All the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." That is to say, these shall be thine and thou shalt be mine. That is the consideration that underlies every promise Satan makes to men. Observe that these temptations are addressed to appetite, to pride, to ambition. They answer to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which John represents as the component elements of the world of sin. They are the points which determine the circumference of man's desires. There is no temptation which does not appeal to one or more of them. Satan brought to bear upon our Lord his whole armory, and in vanquishing these temptations Christ overcame all the might of hell.

It is the second assault of Satan that invites our study now. "The devil taketh him to the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If "—that is one of Satan's favorite

words, sly, insinuating, venomous as a serpent—" If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone." Why was the pinnacle of the Temple chosen? To give sanctity to the deed, to array the suggestion of evil in the garb of religion, to deck presumption in the robes of faith. Surely here in thy Father's house thou mayest trust him, rest upon his promise. No harm can befall thee there. Satan is very religious, sets Jesus on the pinnacle of the Temple, and quotes Scripture. But there was another reason. The pinnacle of the Temple was the most conspicuous point in the holy city. The Temple was the center of the national life, and its courts were thronged with worshipers. Satan says: "Here before the eyes of the people give an exhibition of thy power. Cast thyself down and borne by angels thou shalt descend in safety to the earth. So shalt thou make known to Israel that thou art the Son of God, and they will crown thee King. Thus in a moment thou shalt win the promised Kingdom." God's way to the Kingdom lay through poverty and reproach and shame and sorrow and death. Satan bids him make a short cut, try an easier way. It is a familiar temptation, and myriads succumb to it every year. The way of excellence is the way of the cross. Toil and sacrifice and selfdenial are the conditions of success in every sphere. Satan is constantly proposing some other and easier path. Men desire wealth. God's way to it lies