Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-11

The pragmatc Roman cared little or
nothing for the spiritual. experience
through which Jesus passed just after
his induction into office; so Mark dis
misses it with very brief reference.
1t is worth our while, however, to stop
for a moment and read the parallel
accounts in Matthew and Luke, to see
that the temptation through which
Jesus passed during those terrific forty
days was physical. moral. and spiritual.
so it is true, as the writer to the He
brews says, that in all points He was
tempted like as we are, yet without
sin; He learned obedience by the things
which He suffered, being made perfect
through suffering; and in that He suf-
fered, being tempted He is now able
to help those who are tempted.
We should thank God for this spirit
ual experience through which Jesus
passed when He was in actual conflict
with the wisest, shrewdest and most
powerful created being in the universe,
Satan And seeing that He has shown
Himself stronger than Satan, after hav-
ing been attacked from every side of
His nature, physically, morally and
spiritually, we can come boldly to the
throne of grace, knowing that we have
a High Priest who is touched by the
mercy for past sin, and grace to help
in every time of need.
1t is noteworthy that the temptation came
Immediately after His baptism, but this Is TIT
devils method Of procedure. IT yOu have had
some marked spiritual experience. do not think
that you will not he tempted again; that is the
very time when probably the most terrific temp
tation You have yet had will come upon you
with tornado-like force. Do not be discouraged
however: there is no sin in temptation itself;
the sin is in yielding to it, The devil him
self cannot make You yield; just realize that
there hath no temptation taken you but such
as mau can bear; God is faithful, who will not
suffer you to he tempted above that you are
able, hut will, with the template also make
il. Jesus overcame the Devil through the
Word Of God, and that same mighty weapon
is at your disposal if you will plan TO use 1t.
The Essence of 1t
Mark also skips over the Judean ministry IT
few weeks and jumps right into the Gailean
ministry, which Logan after John had been i'm
p,TiSone9. Then Jesus same preaching, saying
rercnt We and believe the Gospel" II is mar.
Vicious now the Holy City has stored up in
these three sentences the essence of all that
The time is fulfilled" What time: There
was in the minds and hearts Of the Jewish
nation jnS tthen an attitude Of eXpectance
They realized that something was due to hap
pen; that something the tultillment Of the
time when Daniel had propheSed and with
which every student Of Jewish history was
familiar.
God had told Daniel many things. Every.
one of those prophecies had been literally ful-
filled, eNceDt this one, in which He toll him
that from the going forth Of the commandment
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem unto Messiah
the Prince should be seyens, and three
score and two sevens. or 4S3 years. The end
Of the seven Sevens had brought its fulfill
ment in the last event Of the Old Testament
history and in the last Old Testament prophecy,
for it was exactly 40 years from the first year
Of Cyrus, when he gave the command to re-