Before creation of our world Jesus had glory. He was loved by the Father before the foundation of the world. Then, he was born of a virgin as God became man. His virgin birth sets Him apart from all men. No religious leader, no religious guru; nor any organization (religious or secular) has ever had a founder or member that was born of a virgin. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost... And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins...Behold, a VIRGIN shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:18,21, and 23.

Not everyone believes in the virgin birth of Jesus, such as the Jesus Seminar Groups. From "News of Interest to Christians" dated November 18, 1994, a Santa Rosa, California newspaper says "a group of Biblical scholars has determined that Jesus Christ was not born of a virgin, a decision that likely may elicit an icy response from mainstream Christians. Twenty-five of 26 members of the Jesus Seminar rendered that verdict late Friday afternoon after nearly five hours of debate."

Christ’s virgin birth, on which rest the credibility of the Scriptures and the sinlessness of Jesus, is the alpha of our Christian faith. Accept that, and all else rightly follows. But reject that – accept the impious conclusions of modern skepticism that Jesus was earthborn, not Heaven born – then with this sinister stain across His birth hours, Christianity is falsehood, civilization is a delusion, all history is a fathomless riddle, the whole story of Jesus is questionable. Go wrong on the virgin birth and you will go wrong on His whole mission as to why He left heaven and came to earth.

Jesus, Son of Man! Jesus, Son of God! He was 100% God and He was 100% man, but there was not one speck, not one pinpoint of sin that ever tainted His mind; nor His flesh. Jesus, Son of God and Jesus, Son of Man! And both in one! As man Jesus got tired; as God, He said, "Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. As man, He got thirsty; as God, He gave the water of life. As man, He got hungry; as God, He fed thousands with a lad’s lunch. As man, He sorrowed over separation from friends; as God, He promised never to leave us comfortless, and to come again to receive us unto Himself.

baffling His enemies with the question, "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" John 8:46. "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter (Devil/Satan) came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Matthew 4:1-3.

The temptation in the wilderness came immediately after John baptized Jesus in the River Jordan. Jesus stood on the bank of the Jordan River and heard the voice of God. "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17. Friends, Jesus knew what that voice meant. It meant that God acknowledged that He was to be King, Messiah, Savior, but that the way of being Savior went straight through the wilderness to the cross.

There is something about our generation that likes taking the battle to the enemy’s turf. The whole unusual story of Rambo, the one man who goes to the place of the enemy and wins the battle there almost single handedly, has captured something in the deep imagination of people. Then, there is the film, "Missing in Action," where one man goes to the territory of the enemy and sets the prisoners free. We want a hero victor who can go to the very battleground and turf of he enemy and win a victory there. Our Lord Jesus Christ is that person.

The sermon calls our attention to four points: The place: Wilderness Desert, Satan’s First Proposal, Satan’s Second Proposal, and Satan’s Third Proposal.

The demon of the desert was called Azazel (scapegoat), and it was believed he reigned over the desert area in the wilderness of Judea. Everyone first reading the words of the temptation knew that when Jesus went to the wilderness, He was taking the battle to Satan’s turf to win a victory at the very beginning of His ministry.

It has often been noted that our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s last Adam, the head of a new race of those who overcame sin, was tempted in a very dissimilar way to the first Adam, father of the human race.

When we look at the temptations of Jesus, we must recognize that there is a temptation which was unique to Jesus Christ alone. He was tempted as a suffering servant of God, and in a sense we cannot stand with Him in that part of His temptation, but on the other hand, there is a universal aspect of His temptation–a temptation into which every one of us can enter.

The New Testament knows nothing of the impersonal forces of evil. The Bible teaches us

about a very personal devil. But do not misunderstand by thinking that Satan came to Jesus

as a green-eyed, cloven-hoofed creature, smelling of brimstone with a pointed tail and

wearing horns with a pitchfork in his hand.

Satan always works to get people to do one of the following three things:

This proposition was so plausible because it was so possible. There on the desert floor Jesus looked down at the millions of small stones. They must have looked just like little brown biscuits. Immediately, He could have used His high powers for a this low project. He could have filled His own stomach and fed the multitudes.

Jesus’ generation never knew what it was to go to bed at night with a full stomach. Dr. William Barkley (historian and theologian) tells us the largest portion of Jesus’ generation never had enough to eat.

Perhaps it occurred to Jesus, "I am in the wilderness just like Moses. I can turn these stones into bread and feed the people. For every man who lost his job, lost his home, I could tell him, ‘Don’t worry; no pain. Just follow me and it’s all gain.’" It was very plausible. Satan never told Jesus to go rob a bank, commit adultery, or steal somebody’s money. He did not tell Him to embezzle anything. He told Him, "Look Jesus, I have a better way, I have a short cut to the same thing. Look, Jesus, this is what the world wants:

Look Jesus, put bread in their bellies right now, and they will make you king right now. Look Jesus, give them bread now, and later you can lift them up to something higher and something better."

It was very plausible, the temptation to take the shortcut, rather than going to the cross.

Now you see the universality of this temptation. We all want to take the shortcut. This temptation comes to me; it comes to you, and it comes to everyone. Just take the SHORTCUT!

In Christianity Today we read of a California woman –a former Mrs. California, founder and leader of the Science of the Mind Church, International. The church grew from 50 members to 2500 members in a few short years. For only $25.00 she promised to make people rich. Members got a bumper sticker, booklet, and cassette tape.

Matthew 4:5 tells us "Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple" See Psalms 91:10-12. Here Jerusalem is called the Holy City, but no city

or community is so holy that it is exempt and secure from the devil and his temptations. This pinnacle of the temple was some 500 feet. and if you looked down you would become dizzy.

Satan moved to another temptation; "If thou be the Son of God, now show yourself to the world, and prove you are so; cast thyself down and then you will be admired. When they see you unharmed the multitudes will know you are the Son of God and they will accept you. All Jerusalem will see and acknowledge, not only that you are the Son of God, but that you have also come to conquer Rome and establish your kingdom. So go ahead Jesus and jump. Give them some excitement. Show them the spectacular. Let us set this up for a media event and call out all the news reporters."

In Palm Springs, California: Friday, March 28, 1986, Doug Pizac reported for the Associated Press on cable news network about the spring break of college students in Palm Springs, California. Those thousands of students wanted excitement; they wanted the unusual; they wanted to see the spectacular. So, they pulled the clothes off two ladies. They undressed two women in public as the crowd jeered them on. There was another daring act performed when they found a slow moving catering truck with hot food and drink. They tore the doors off and began distributing the food. Yes, the media was there, and the crowd laughed and jeered them on.

"Cast thyself down," the Devil said. The Devil could not cast him down, though a little push would have done it from the top of that pinnacle. The power of Satan is limited. Yet, if the Devil had cast him down, he would not have made his point.

All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." The worst temptation was reserved for the last. That tells us that whatever temptation we have already encountered, the worst may yet come, so we must be prepared.

To see from the highest mountain all the glory and kingdoms of the world, and to know that Satan would give all this to Jesus if only He would fall down and worship him was a strong temptation.

I heard the true story of a young man who had been pressured against his will to attend a Christian university in mid-America. He was a very talented musician, and his one desire was not to go to the university, but rather use his musical talent in a rock and roll band. In the classified section of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, a band in Chicago was advertising for a musician with the talent of the young student. The student called the telephone number in the ad, and the band leader answered the phone. In a few days the band leader visited the student in his dormitory room, and while there a man’s form appeared on the band leader’s shoulder. The student was shocked. He was frightened when the bandleader explained that the form of a man was his guide. He also stated that all the band members worshiped Satan and were very wealthy. The leader promised that if he joined the band and worshiped Satan, he would also be wealthy.

In telling me the above story, the boys’ dean gave me a brief comment on the results of the bandleader’s visit to the campus. Yes, the young man was afraid. He was offered a lot of money and could have played in the band, but he turned down the offer. He refused to sell his soul to Satan for wealth and fame.

Friend, in the wilderness temptation, the Son of God rejected the offer of Satan that He (Son of God) could have the kingdoms of this world if He would fall down and worship Satan. Perhaps it was Mount Pisgah, whence Moses, in communion with God, had all the kingdoms of Canaan shown him. But be that as it may, Jesus knew not to mix worldly kingdoms with His spiritual kingdom.

Some even in the Christian community have come to the place where they feel they cannot attract the attention of the world without uniting the political with religion. This

type of ministry often has the following problems:

had great concerts with Hollywood stars. In Florida, there is a Christian (so-called) Nudist Church. They have Bible study in the morning. In the afternoon they close the doors and have Happy Hour! They dance and drink and have fun in what they consider a Christian Church. I heard some time ago of a preacher who desires a crowd. When he preaches on "Hell Fire" he sets himself on fire. He has done it 75 times.

In closing, let us notice three true events that Jesus can claim:

In performing all three of the above events our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and coming King, never sinned one time. We are really saved by His perfect life--His Holy life of perfect righteousness. His perfect cloak of righteousness is given to us as a free gift.

F. E. Belden, an early Adventist Pioneer wrote the song, "Look Upon Jesus, Sinless is He." Let us consider its words in closing:

Look upon Jesus, sinless is He: Father, impute His

Life unto me. My life of scarlet, my sin and woe,

Cover with His life, whiter than snow.

Cover with His life, whiter than snow;

Fullness of His life then shall I know;

My life of scarlet, my sin and woe,

Cover With His life, whiter than snow.