After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him out into the desert near the Jordan. There He fasted forty days and forty nights. During all that time He ate nothing, and became hungry.After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Him out into the desert near the Jordan. There He fasted forty days and forty nights. During all that time He ate nothing, and became hungry.
Then the devil came to tempt Him, saying, "If You are the Son of God, com-mand that these stones be made bread."
Jesus answered, "Man lives not by bread alone. but by every word that comes from God."
The devil took Jesus up to Jerusalem, and put Him down on the highest point of the Temple. Far below them they could see the crowds going back and forth about their work. The devil said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, throw Your-self down. For it is written that God will give His angels charge over You. They will bear You up, and keep You from dashing Your feet against the stones."
But Jesus answered, "It is also written that you shall not tempt the Lord your God."
The devil, however, was not to be discouraged so easily. Once more he tried to tempt Jesus. Taking Him to a very high mountain, he showed Him all the great kingdoms of the world, and all their glory. He said, "I will give You all these kingdoms if You will fall down and adore me."
Then Jesus replied. "Begone, Satan. You shall adore only the Lord your God. You shall serve Him alone."
Defeated in his purposes, the devil left Jesus. Angels came to serve Him.
Jesus left the desert and returned to the country about the Jordan. He passed by the place where John was preaching and baptizing.
Seeing Jesus coming, John turned to the crowds around him, pointed to Jesus, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him Who takes away the sins of the world. This is He of Whom I said, 'After me will come a Man Who is greater than I, because He is before me.' I baptize with water, so that He may be known. I give testimony that this is the Son of God."
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines