Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
The First Advent Of Christ
I was carried down to the time when Jesus was to take upon
Himself man's nature, humble Himself as a man, and suffer the temptations of
Satan. {EW 153.1}
His birth was without worldly grandeur. He was born in a
stable and cradled in a manger; yet His birth was honored far above that of any
of the sons of men. Angels from heaven informed the shepherds of the advent of
Jesus, and light and glory from God accompanied their testimony. The heavenly
host touched their harps and glorified God. They triumphantly heralded the
advent of the Son of God to a fallen world to accomplish the work of
redemption, and by His death to bring peace, happiness, and everlasting life to
man. God honored the advent of His Son. Angels worshiped Him. {EW 153.2}
Angels of God hovered over the scene of His baptism; the
Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove and lighted upon Him, and as the
people stood greatly amazed, with their eyes fastened upon Him, the Father's
voice was heard from heaven, saying, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well
pleased. {EW 153.3}
John was not certain that it was the Saviour who came to be
baptized of him in Jordan. But God had promised him a sign by which he should
know the Lamb of God. That sign was given as the heavenly dove rested upon
Jesus, and the glory of God shone [154] round about Him. John reached
forth his hand, pointing to Jesus, and with a loud voice cried out,
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" {EW 153.4}
John informed his disciples that Jesus was the promised
Messiah, the Saviour of the world. As his work was closing, he taught his
disciples to look to Jesus, and follow Him as the Great Teacher. John's life
was sorrowful and self-denying. He heralded the first advent of Christ, but was
not permitted to witness His miracles, and enjoy the power manifested by Him.
When Jesus should establish Himself as a teacher, John knew that he himself
must die. His voice was seldom heard, except in the wilderness. His life was
lonely. He did not cling to his father's family, to enjoy their society, but
left them in order to fulfill his mission. Multitudes left the busy cities and
villages and flocked to the wilderness to hear the words of the wonderful
prophet. John laid the ax to the root of the tree. He reproved sin, fearless of
consequences, and prepared the way for the Lamb of God. {EW 154.1}
Herod was affected as he listened to the powerful, pointed
testimonies of John, and with deep interest he inquired what he must do to
become his disciple. John was acquainted with the fact that he was about to
marry his brother's wife, while her husband was yet living, and faithfully told
Herod that this was not lawful. Herod was unwilling to make any sacrifice. He
married his brother's wife, and through her influence, seized John and put him
in prison, intending however to release him. While there confined, John heard
through his disciples of the mighty works of Jesus. He could not listen to His
gracious words; but the disciples informed him and comforted him with what they
had heard. Soon John was beheaded, through the influence of Herod's wife. I saw
that [155]
the humblest disciples who followed Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and heard
the comforting words which fell from His lips, were greater than John the
Baptist; that is, they were more exalted and honored, and had more pleasure in
their lives. {EW 154.2}
John came in the spirit and power of Elijah to proclaim the
first advent of Jesus. I was pointed down to the last days and saw that John
represented those who should go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to
herald the day of wrath and the second advent of Jesus. {EW 155.1}
After the baptism of Jesus in Jordan, He was led by the
Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. The Holy Spirit had
prepared Him for that special scene of fierce temptations. Forty days He was
tempted of Satan, and in those days He ate nothing. Everything around Him was
unpleasant, from which human nature would be led to shrink. He was with the
wild beasts and the devil, in a desolate, lonely place. The Son of God was pale
and emaciated, through fasting and suffering. But His course was marked out,
and He must fulfill the work which He came to do. {EW 155.2}
Satan took advantage of the sufferings of the Son of God and
prepared to beset Him with manifold temptations, hoping to obtain the victory
over Him, because He had humbled Himself as a man. Satan came with this
temptation: "If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made
bread." He tempted Jesus to condescend to give him proof of His being the
Messiah, by exercising His divine power. Jesus mildly answered him, "It is
written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of
God." {EW 155.3}
Satan was seeking a dispute with Jesus concerning His being
the Son of God. He referred to His weak, [156]
suffering condition and boastingly affirmed that he was stronger than Jesus.
But the word spoken from heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am
well pleased," was sufficient to sustain Jesus through all His sufferings.
I saw that Christ had nothing to do in convincing Satan of His power or of His
being the Saviour of the world. Satan had sufficient evidence of the exalted
station and authority of the Son of God. His unwillingness to yield to Christ's
authority had shut him out of heaven. {EW 155.4}
Satan, to manifest his power, carried Jesus to Jerusalem,
and set Him upon a pinnacle of the temple, and there tempted Him to give
evidence that He was the Son of God, by casting Himself down from that dizzy
height. Satan came with the words of inspiration: "For it is written, He
shall give His angels charge over Thee, to keep Thee: and in their hands they
shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone."
Jesus answering said unto him, "It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord
thy God." Satan wished to cause Jesus to presume upon the mercy of His
Father and risk His life before the fulfillment of His mission. He had hoped
that the plan of salvation would fail; but the plan was laid too deep to be
overthrown or marred by Satan. {EW 156.1}
Christ is the example for all Christians. When they are
tempted, or their rights are disputed, they should bear it patiently. They
should not feel that they have a right to call upon the Lord to display His
power that they may obtain a victory over their enemies, unless God can be
directly honored and glorified thereby. If Jesus had cast Himself from the
pinnacle of the temple, it would not have glorified His Father; for none would
have witnessed the act but Satan and the angels of God. And it would have been
tempting the Lord to display His power to His bitterest foe. It [157]
would have been condescending to the one whom Jesus came to conquer. {EW 156.2}
"And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain,
showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the
devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them:
for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou
therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine. And Jesus answered and said unto
him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." {EW 157.1}
Satan presented before Jesus the kingdoms of the world in
the most attractive light. If Jesus would there worship him, he offered to
relinquish his claims to the possessions of earth. If the plan of salvation should
be carried out, and Jesus should die to redeem man, Satan knew that his own
power must be limited and finally taken away, and that he would be destroyed.
Therefore it was his studied plan to prevent, if possible, the completion of
the great work which had been commenced by the Son of God. If the plan of man's
redemption should fail, Satan would retain the kingdom which he then claimed.
And if he should succeed, he flattered himself that he would reign in
opposition to the God of heaven. {EW 157.2}
Satan exulted when Jesus laid aside His power and glory and
left heaven. He thought that the Son of God was then placed in his power. The
temptation took so easily with the holy pair in Eden that he hoped by his
satanic power and cunning to overthrow even the Son of God, and thereby save
his own life and kingdom. If he could tempt Jesus to depart from the will of
His Father, his object would be gained. But Jesus met the tempter with the
rebuke, "Get thee behind Me, Satan." He was to bow only to His
Father. [158] Satan claimed the kingdom of
earth as his and insinuated to Jesus that all His sufferings might be saved:
that He need not die to obtain the kingdoms of this world; if He would worship
him He might have all the possessions of earth and the glory of reigning over
them. But Jesus was steadfast. He knew that the time was to come when He would
by His own life redeem the kingdom from Satan, and that, after a season, all in
heaven and earth would submit to Him. He chose His life of suffering and His
dreadful death, as the way appointed by His Father that He might become a
lawful heir to the kingdoms of earth and have them given into His hands as an
everlasting possession. Satan also will be given into His hands to be destroyed
by death, nevermore to annoy Jesus or the saints in glory. {EW 157.3}
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