It is no wonder, then, that God said simply, "I will send the first." Naturally, Lucifer became angry, and rebelled against God, carrying with him one-third of the spirits of heaven. But in the war which followed, Lucifer and his host were defeated, and were cast out of heaven. "And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto (God's) voice." [Sidenote: The declaration of Jesus.] That is how evil came into the world; and that is why Jesus said once to the Jews who rejected Him, "If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and am come from God: neither came I of myself, but He sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode {59} not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." THE REFERENCES Luke 8:4-15. Isa. 14:12, 13. Moses 4:1-4. Doc. and Cov. 29:36-38. Abraham 3:27, 28. Doc. and Cov. 76:25-27. John 8:42-44. THE QUESTIONS 1. Why is one tempted to neglect the word of God? 2. What is the lesson of the parable of the sower? 3. Who is the sower of evil in the world? 4. How did Satan come to be the devil? 5. What is the devil's mission on the earth? 6. How did Jesus characterize the devil? {60} PICTURE: TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, Scheffer {61} VIII WHY EVIL IS IN THE WORLD [Sidenote: The devil's desperate hope.] No better illustration of the mission of the devil on the earth can be found than the story of the temptation of Jesus. You remember, that, when Jesus was grown to manhood He went to the river Jordan and was baptized by John. "Then," we are told, "was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungered." This was a very important and a critical moment in the history of the world. Jesus was about to begin the splendid ministry which was to culminate in His death on the cross for the redemption of the world. If He should succeed in His mission, the power of evil would be broken, and it would become possible for man to return to the presence of God. Of course, Satan was much disturbed at such a thought. He had gained such power on the earth that he had come to be called the prince of this world. It angered him to think that he might lose that power. In desperation, he determined to try his strength with Jesus. If he could but bring about the downfall of the Son of God, God's plan would certainly be thwarted, and Satan might hope utterly to possess the earth. It was a wicked ambition; but it was in fulfillment of his mission among men. So Satan set about to tempt even the Only Begotten of the Father. [Sidenote: The temptation of Jesus.]