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took nothing to eat; and at the end of the forty days He was hungry. The devil took this opportunity to tempt Jesus to break God's law; and he said to Him, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Jesus knew Satan's wicked designs, and He answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." When Satan found He could not succeed, he tried another temptation. He then took Jesus to the top of one of the pinnacles of the temple, and said to Him, "If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down; for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee; and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone."

Jesus thought of nothing but doing

the will of God His Father; and He resisted the temptation, saying, 66 It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Satan was, however, so determined to overcome Jesus, that he tried a third temptation. He took Him to the top of a very high mountain, shewed Him all the kingdoms in the world, and promised to give them to Him, if He would only fall down and worship him. This wickedness of Satan moved our blessed

Saviour; and He said, "Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." These words overawed Satan, and he went away. The angels then came to minister unto Jesus.

We renounced all the wicked works of the devil when we were baptised; we must also overcome all the temptations of Satan by the word of God. With the help of God's

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grace we may do it; for God never suffers us to be tempted above our strength. Jesus is our Saviour; we must also take Him as our model. We must, like Him, resist all the suggestions of the enemy of our souls. Let us fight with the armour of faith; we shall then be the true disciples of Christ.

13. THE FIRST DISCIPLES CHOSEN. JESUS now left the wilderness, and went towards John. As soon as John saw Him again, he was filled with holy joy, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me for He was before me. And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come

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baptising with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptise with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptiseth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."

The next day Jesus passed by again; and John said to his disciples, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." When his disciples heard these words, they wished very much to know more about Jesus; and they followed Him. Jesus looked round, and saw them coming after Him; He then turned round, and said, “What

seek ye?" They replied that they wished to see where He lived. Jesus asked them to come and see." They followed Him joyfully, and spent that day with Jesus.

One of these disciples was named John, the other Andrew. Some time after this Jesus made them His Apostles, and they were among His dearest friends.

Andrew had a brother, Simon Peter, and he went to seek him, and to tell him the happy news. When Andrew met his brother, he said to him, "We have found the Messias." He then led him to Jesus.

The Saviour knew Peter's name before He saw him. When he came, Jesus said to him, "Thou art Simon, the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas." After this, Peter became one of His disciples.

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