Then Jesus was led up into the Wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. And, after he had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he became hungry. read more. And the Tempter came to him, and said: "If you are God's Son, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But Jesus answered: "Scripture says--'It is not on bread alone that man is to live, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the Devil took him to the Holy City, and, placing him on the parapet of the temple, said to him: "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for Scripture says- -'He will give his angels commands about thee, And on their hands they will upbear thee, Lest ever thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'" "Scripture also says," answered Jesus, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'" The third time, the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain, and, showing him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, said to him: "All these I will give you, if you will fall at my feet and do homage to me." Then Jesus said to him: "Begone, Satan! for Scripture says-- 'Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and worship him only.'" Then the Devil left him alone, and angels came and ministered to him.

Meanwhile the Chief Priests and the whole of the High Council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death,

Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so: "Now play the Prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?"

When evening had fallen, there came a rich man belonging to Ramah, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. He went to see Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus; upon which Pilate ordered it to be given him.

And laid it in his newly-made tomb which he had cut in the rock; and, before he left, he rolled a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Then they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots for them, to settle what each should take. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

And she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him round and laid him in a manger.

And, as his anguish became intense, he prayed still more earnestly, while his sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground.]

"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" asked Nathanael. "Come and see," replied Philip.

He, I say, in accordance with God's definite plan and with his previous knowledge, was betrayed, and you, by the hands of lawless men, nailed him to a cross and put him to death. But God released him from the pangs of death and raised him to life, it being impossible for death to retain its hold upon him.

But, when the full time came, God sent his Son--born a woman's child, born subject to Law--

He appeared among us as a man, and still further humbled himself by submitting even to death--to death on a cross!

What our eyes do see is Jesus, who was made for a while lower than angels, now, because of his sufferings and death, crowned with glory and honour; so that his tasting the bitterness of death should, in God's loving-kindness, be on behalf of all mankind.

And consequently it was necessary that he should in all points be made like 'his Brothers,' in order that he might prove a merciful as well as a faithful High Priest in man's relations with God, for the purpose of expiating the sins of his People. The fact that he himself suffered under temptation enables him to help those who are tempted.

Our High Priest is not one unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has in every way been tempted, exactly as we have been, but without sinning.

Nor was it with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, that he entered, once and for all, into the Sanctuary, and obtained our eternal deliverance.

And that is why he is the intermediary of a new Covenant; in order that, as a death has taken place to effect a deliverance from the offenses committed under the first Covenant, those who have received the Call may obtain the eternal inheritance promised to them.