Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-01-21
STRUGGLE AND VICTORY.
SThe Baptism and Temptation Of
Jesus"

The government Is a proving
ground at Sandy Hook for its heavy
artillery, and the navy has a proving
ground for it's warships. So the LORD
has a proving ground for every n OF
the sons Of men. And he had n fol
his own we'll beloved Son, Jesus. The
latter was about to enter upon his pub.
lie activities. He needed to know him
self, that he might know man. There
fore was permitted the tremendous
testing in the wilderness which the
Sunday schools are to study.
A BROTHER TO MEN.
BY undergoing his trial at the
opening of his mission. Jesus identi-
fled himself with nan in the latter's
~profoundest experiences. He at once
proved himself a brother to the race
in all its sufferings. He was not clothed
in a divinitl which could not feel
the touch Of temptation, but was
tempted in all points like AS we are
This was a real temptation. The
rather startling question, Gould Jesus
fall?" must be answered in the affirm
alive. Otherwise this entire experi-
ence was but an unreal show, and
LAS idle as a painted ship
Upon a painted ocean,"
In the tragedies Of the human heart.
when 1t struggles to be free from Its
own baser self, and to resist the be-
guilements Of sin. Jesus stands close
has passed through those silent. lone
ly hours Of wrestling which every fine
soul must undergo. He is mans Uni
versal Brother.
STANDING UP TO BE COUNTED.
One mark Of manhood is willing
ness to be counted on n side or an
other. When Jesus emerged from the
obscurity Of the Nazareth carpenter
shop, the best feature of his time was
John the Baptist and his preaching.
The latter was not the full gospel, but
1t was the best there was. So Jesus
promptly went to Jordan and lined
wanted to identify himself with the
forces making for Righteousness. and
to fulfil all the conditions required of
other men whose faces were toward
the light.
So he offered himself for baptism at
the hands Of John. and insisted that
the rite be performed. He did not
need baptism. but he did need to show
the world how completely he made
he wanted to give countenance to this
outward sign Of recognition OF mems
allegiance to God.
Then occurred the mysterious token
Of his divine sonship, the descent OF
the Spirit az q dove and b voice out
OF the clouds. This Is my beloved Son
In whom I Inn well pleased" Probab.
ly only John and Jesus witnessed this
and to both of them 1t was a heavenly
symbol of the lattor's M~essiahship
What was the Consciousness o.
| Mary's son concerning his W divine
mission and character? We canno'
know. II there had been, up to Thu
time any indeiniteness or uncertain
", the voice from above removed II
BY this supernatural seal upon nj
Honship Jesus was fortified for VIVA
was to follow.
INTO THE WILDERNESS.
Alone, with his mind filled with
tumult of thoughts which none OF u
can ven imagine, went the young ma
Jesus into q desolate place. there I
think through his great problem'
One mar and q wilderness 10 suficieu
TOR the greatest conflict of the age
The individual heart IL h suprem
battlefield. There are fought the wal
which determine history.
The solitariness Of the scene was II
self an aid to the tempter.. Many
young man has gone done before Sa
tan's assaults because he felt htmse
to be in the loneliness OF a great city
wilderness. The fact that no or
knew, and that no n cared. has bee
the determining influence for defe'
/, lin the battle which more than OF
stout heart has waged against a city
temptations. But since Jesus fougl
his fight In the wilderness alone !
other young man need be alone, 4
beside him stands the sympathetic. el
nobling Christ.
q MAN AND HIS BODY.
Forty days of hunger ia the vii,
had reduced the physical vitality
Jesus to the lowest ebb. He was lea
at for combat when Satan assatl'
] him. with his powers Of resistan
weakened. and the cravings Of hung
clamorous within him. the suggesti'
came that he should use his divil
power to convert stones into bread.
The human spirit 10 tied to the boz
by q very short rope. The element
physical needs soon assert thenselvt
Danger to the body often makes COY
ards ana brutes OF men. az was Sc
IN the awful tragedy ct Chicago. Ma
eacrince of every consideration Of chi
Airy, courage, honor. and helpfulne'
All that . man has will he give
exchange for his life. So the VI
temptef assalled Jesus along b II
Of his carnal needs.
There was another and Q = mt
o0otle TEMPTATION IN tuSU uret III
than thu mere oat1ofytng OF bod
u hunger. satan called IN questi
Christ'e divinity. 'If'-with the g
I .Iphaais upon the if-"thou art the g
= of God. command that these stones I
AZ come bread." Il would have been "a
Tor Jesus to prove to the Adversa
= and y himself that he had such pow
n But thie strong spirit could never
hurried into preclpltAte action. The
toto. ~ refused to Be goaded into p
Gor,ntng Z miracle for his own Dervi
n Instead. ~ made answer In VOL
= oe holy writ. settlng forth the prtn
ple which undesale0 ~ victory o.
freshly temptAtons-sHan shall
Live ~ bread alone" There aTe gre
I 81 needs than the needs Of tho bo'
higher elAln,a than the claims q M
5Geee n Nleutk clsaM.
New York Nan an1 impress: scien
~ ID latoot v1gd. dstves home u p
= sflnency ~ t6Aa advtces Mouth b,
E6ofiaM*1o ~ Dubject ~ . resent addr
1nfaGt Vo2a - doctor