按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
f； to break the fetters with which Satan has enthralled them； and in their behalf to conquer the destroyer。 He asks for the witness that God accepts humanity in the person of His Son。
Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer。 They are eager to bear to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort。 But no； the Father Himself will answer the petition of His Son。 Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory。 The heavens are opened； and upon the Saviour's head descends a dovelike form of purest light；fit emblem of Him； the meek and lowly One。
Of the vast throng at the Jordan； few except John discerned the heavenly vision。 Yet the solemnity of the divine Presence rested upon the assembly。 The people stood silently gazing upon Christ。 His form was bathed in the light that ever surrounds the throne of God。 His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man。 From the open heavens a voice was heard saying； 〃This is My beloved Son； in whom I am well pleased。〃
These words of confirmation were given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene； and to strengthen the Saviour for His mission。 Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ； notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature； the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal。
John had been deeply moved as he saw Jesus bowed as a suppliant； pleading with tears for the approval of the Father。 As the glory of God encircled Him； and the voice from heaven was heard； John recognized the token which God had promised。 He knew that it was the world's Redeemer whom he had baptized。 The Holy Spirit rested upon him； and with outstretched hand pointing to Jesus； he cried； 〃Behold the Lamb of God； which taketh away the sin of the world。〃
None among the hearers； and not even the speaker himself； discerned the import of these words； 〃the Lamb of God。〃 Upon Mount Moriah； Abraham had heard the question of his son； 〃My father； 。 。 。 where is the lamb for a burnt offering？〃 The father answered； 〃My son； God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering。〃 Gen。 22：7； 8。 And in the ram divinely provided in the place of Isaac； Abraham saw a symbol of Him who was to die for the sins of men。 The Holy Spirit through Isaiah； taking up the illustration； prophesied of the Saviour； 〃He is
113
brought as a lamb to the slaughter；〃 〃and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all〃 （Isa。 53：7； 6）； but the people of Israel had not understood the lesson。 Many of them regarded the sacrificial offerings much as the heathen looked upon their sacrifices；as gifts by which they themselves might propitiate the Deity。 God desired to teach them that from His own love comes the gift which reconciles them to Himself。
And the word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan； 〃This is My beloved Son； in whom I am well pleased；〃 embraces humanity。 God spoke to Jesus as our representative。 With all our sins and weaknesses； we are not cast aside as worthless。 〃He hath made us accepted in the Beloved。〃 Eph。 1：6。 The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us。 It tells us of the power of prayer；how the human voice may reach the ear of God； and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven。 By sin； earth was cut off from heaven； and alienated from its communion； but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory。 His love has encircled man； and reached the highest heaven。 The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation。 The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul； This is My beloved child； in whom I am well pleased。
〃Beloved； now are we the sons of God； and it doth not yet appear what we shall be： but we know that； when He shall appear； we shall be like Him； for we shall see Him as He is。〃 1 John 3：2。 Our Redeemer has opened the way so that the most sinful； the most needy； the most oppressed and despised； may find access to the Father。 All may have a home in the mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare。 〃These things saith He that is holy； He that is true； He that hath the key of David； He that openeth； and no man shutteth； and shutteth； and no man openeth； 。 。 。 behold； I have set before thee an open door； and no man can shut it。〃 Rev。 3：7； 8。
（114）
Chapter 12
The Temptation
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan； and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness。〃 The words of Mark are still more significant。 He says； 〃Immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness。 And He was there in the wilderness forty days； tempted of Satan； and was with the wild beasts。〃 〃And in those days He did eat nothing。〃
When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted； He was led by the Spirit of God。 He did not invite temptation。 He went to the wilderness to be alone； to contemplate His mission and work。 By fasting and prayer He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained path He must travel。 But Satan knew that the Saviour had gone into the wilderness； and he thought this the best time to approach Him。
Mighty issues for the world were at stake in the conflict between the Prince of light and the leader of the kingdom of darkness。 After tempting man to sin； Satan claimed the earth as his； and styled himself the prince of this world。 Having conformed to his own nature the father and mother of our race； he thought to establish here his empire。 He declared that men had chosen him as their sovereign。 Through his
115
control of men； he held dominion over the world。 Christ had come to disprove Satan's claim。 As the Son of man； Christ would stand loyal to God。 Thus it would be shown that Satan had not gained complete control of the human race； and that his claim to the world was false。 All who desired deliverance from his power would be set free。 The dominion that Adam had lost through sin would be recovered。
Since the announcement to the serpent in Eden； 〃I will put enmity between thee and the woman； and between thy seed and her seed〃 （Gen。 3：15）； Satan had known that he did not hold absolute sway over the world。 There was seen in men the working of a power that withstood his dominion。 With intense interest he watched the sacrifices offered by Adam and his sons。 In these ceremonies he discerned a symbol of communion between earth and heaven。 He set himself to intercept this communion。 He misrepresented God； and misinterpreted the rites that pointed to the Saviour。 Men were led to fear God as one who delighted in their destruction。 The sacrifices that should have revealed His love were offered only to appease His wrath。 Satan excited the evil passions of men； in order to fasten his rule upon them。 When God's written word was given； Satan studied the prophecies of the Saviour's advent。 From generation to generation he worked to blind the people to these prophecies； that they might reject Christ at His coming。
At th