9. How do we know that Jesus did not succumb to the devil’s temptations? Hebrews 4:14-15; John 14:30.
NOTE: ‘As one of us, He was to give an example of obedience. For this He took upon Himself our nature, and passed through our experiences. “In all things it behoved Him [it was essential for Him] to be made like unto His brethren.” Hebrews 2:17. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did not endure, then upon this point Satan would represent the power of God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are.” Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trial to which we are subject. And He exercised on His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God. He says, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:7-8. As He went about doing good, and healing all who were afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character of God’s law and the nature of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God.’ Desire of Ages, page 24.
10. How do we know that the temptations of Jesus were not merely external, but those of the heart? Matthew 26:39, 42.
COMPILER’S NOTE: This confirms for us that Jesus, in preparing to be our High Priest was Emmanuel, God with us, but truly human like us. He did not only take on a flesh-and-blood body for the purpose of death but also a human mind and heart with all its complex conflicts, desires and emotions. He came face to face with all the temptations of the inner man, just as we do, yet came off conqueror. Temptation is not sin. As long as we do not linger over the tempting thoughts that come to us, but immediately say No, we have not sinned. Jesus longed for human sympathy and encouragement, but in the three times He wrestled with the evil one for the fate of the world, He found none. He pleaded with His Father, and found no relief. Eventually He drank the cup alone till, fainting, He could say, Not My will, but Thine be done. (Luke 22:42) Only then did an angel strengthen Him for what lay ahead.
NOTE: The human heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing Christ felt to the very depths of His being. In the supreme agony of His soul, He came to His disciples with a yearning desire to hear some words of comfort from those whom He had so often blessed and comforted, and shielded in sorrow and distress. The One who had always uttered words of sympathy for them was now suffering superhuman agony, and He longed to know that they were praying for Him and for themselves. How dark seemed the malignity of sin! Terrible was the temptation to let the human race bear the consequences of its own guilt, while He stood innocent before God.’ Desire of Ages, page 687.