Gods Sabbath

260

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

Yet to resist such temptation is the victory which everyone who is finally saved must gain. This was the experience through which Christ passed on the mount of temptation immediately following His baptism in the Jordan. Here it was that He and Satan met in direct confronta tion, bringing the way in which Christ related to His Father in to sharp focus.

The Impression Fades

When, on the banks of Jordan, the heavenly light faded from His kneeling form and the voice of God could no longer be heard, Christ arose. Under the Holy Spirit’s personal direction, He de parted into the wilderness where, by fasting and prayer, He was to brace Himself for the coming conflict. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be temp ted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” Matthew 4:1, 2. If we have experienced that inspiration from contact with the Infinite, which normally lasts some time afterwards, we will know that the associated feelings gradually die away. Unless re freshed again, the experience fades, until finally the impression can be left on the senses that all is lost. As a human being with a human nature the same as yours and mine, Jesus was no ex ception. The glory from the throne of God that was reflected in His face left Him after He entered the wilderness. His experi ence changed as follows: “When Jesus entered the wilderness, He was shut in by the Father’s glory. Absorbed in communion with God, He was lifted above human weakness. But the glory departed, and He was left to battle with temptation. It was pressing upon Him every moment. His human nature shrank from the conflict that awaited Him. For forty days He fasted and prayed. Weak and emaciated from hunger, worn and haggard with mental agony, ‘His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.’ Isa. 52:14. Now was Satan’s oppor tunity. Now he supposed that he could overcome Christ.” The Desire of Ages , 118.1.