Paradise Regained Illustrated

PlotBook 1Jesus is baptized by John. Satan, seeing this, calls a meeting of demons to plot against him, confident he can fool Christ as he fooled Adam.

Meanwhile God tells the angels Satan is overconfident, and they sing God's praise.Jesus enters the wilderness and fasts there for 40 days, pondering His past and future.

A seeming old man of the desert asks him as Son of God to turn stones into bread.

Jesus, recognizing Satan, rebukes him for his lies. Satan pretends to be delighted to hear truth and begs permission to stay.

Jesus says he can do whatever the Father in heaven allows.

Night falls.Book 2Simon and Andrew saw Jesus baptized and realize He is Messiah, but lose Him and search for him.

They worry they have lost Him for good. Mary too wonders what has become of her Son, remembering that she lost him once before when He was 12.

Satan returns to his demons, warning them this temptation is going to be far more difficult than the Fall of man.

Belial advises using a honey trap, but Satan knows this will not work, thinking pride a stronger test.Jesus, hungry, dreams of Elijah being fed by ravens.

Waking, he finds a fair man and a banquet waiting for Him, but He again resists.

Satan next tries to tempt with money, but Jesus reminds him that King David started as a mere shepherd.Book 3Satan flatters Christ, praising His wisdom, then taunts Him with his lack of achievement, saying Alexander the Great had conquered half the world at 30.

Jesus rejects gaining glory by violent means. Satan next tries goading him with duty, saying Judas Maccabeus gained glory for God by fighting the pagans.

But Jesus sees suffering as the path He must tread.Satan then takes Christ to a high mountain, showing Him the kingdoms of the world.

He suggests He will need an alliance with the Parthians if He is to resist Rome successfully.

Christ refuses Satan's suggestion to free the Ten Tribes, leaving it to Divine providence.Book 4Satan next shows Christ Rome, and offers it Him.

Christ once more rejects. Satan says all the kingdoms of the world are his to bestow if only Christ will bow the knee.

Christs rebukes him for this blasphemy, quoting Exodus chapter 20.Satan realizing he is defeated, makes an attempt to interest Christ in the wisdom of Ancient Greece.

But Jesus rejects this in favour of the Psalms and the Prophets.

Satan, angrily returns Christ to the wilderness and forces him to spend a cold night in the middle of a Tempest amid hellish furies.

Christ endures this. Satan, frustrated, takes Christ to Jerusalem and tells him to throw himself off the pinnacle of the Jewish Temple, quoting a Psalm.

Jesus quotes back, "Tempt not the Lord thy God". Satan falls. Angels help Jesus, singing of his victory over the devil, feeding Him, and returning him to Mary.