the desire of ages-第131部分
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rward by aggressive warfare； in the midst of opposition； peril； loss； and suffering。 But those who do this work are only following in their Master's steps。
As the world's Redeemer； Christ was constantly confronted with apparent failure。 He； the messenger of mercy to our world； seemed to do little of the work He longed to do in uplifting and saving。 Satanic influences were constantly working to oppose His way。 But He would not be discouraged。 Through the prophecy of Isaiah He declares； 〃I have labored in vain； I have spent My strength for nought； and in vain： yet surely My judgment is with the Lord； and My work with My God。 。 。 。 Though Israel be not gathered； yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord； and My God shall be My strength。〃 It is to Christ that the promise is given； 〃Thus saith the Lord； the Redeemer of Israel； and His Holy One； to Him whom man despiseth； to Him whom the nation
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abhorreth； 。 。 。 thus saith the Lord： 。 。 。 I will preserve Thee； and give Thee for a covenant of the people； to establish the earth； to cause to inherit the desolate heritages； that Thou mayest say to the prisoners； Go forth； to them that are in darkness； Show yourselves。 。 。 。 They shall not hunger nor thirst； neither shall the heat nor sun smite them： for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them； even by the springs of water shall He guide them。〃 Isa。 49：4； 5； 7…10。
Upon this word Jesus rested； and He gave Satan no advantage。 When the last steps of Christ's humiliation were to be taken； when the deepest sorrow was closing about His soul； He said to His disciples； 〃The prince of this world cometh； and hath nothing in Me。〃 〃The prince of this world is judged。〃 Now shall he be cast out。 John 14：30； 16：11； 12：31。 With prophetic eye Christ traced the scenes to take place in His last great conflict。 He knew that when He should exclaim； 〃It is finished；〃 all heaven would triumph。 His ear caught the distant music and the shouts of victory in the heavenly courts。 He knew that the knell of Satan's empire would then be sounded； and the name of Christ would be heralded from world to world throughout the universe。
Christ rejoiced that He could do more for His followers than they could ask or think。 He spoke with assurance； knowing that an almighty decree had been given before the world was made。 He knew that truth； armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit； would conquer in the contest with evil； and that the bloodstained banner would wave triumphantly over His followers。 He knew that the life of His trusting disciples would be like His； a series of uninterrupted victories； not seen to be such here； but recognized as such in the great hereafter。
〃These things I have spoken unto you；〃 He said； 〃that in Me ye might have peace。 In the world ye shall have tribulation： but be of good cheer； I have overcome the world。〃 Christ did not fail； neither was He discouraged； and His followers are to manifest a faith of the same enduring nature。 They are to live as He lived； and work as He worked； because they depend on Him as the great Master Worker。 Courage； energy； and perseverance they must possess。 Though apparent impossibilities obstruct their way； by His grace they are to go forward。 Instead of deploring difficulties； they are called upon to surmount them。 They are to despair of nothing； and to hope for everything。 With the golden chain of His matchless love Christ has bound them to the throne of God。 It is His purpose that the highest influence in the universe； emanating from the source of all power； shall be theirs。 They are to have power
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to resist evil； power that neither earth； nor death； nor hell can master； power that will enable them to overcome as Christ overcame。
Christ designs that heaven's order； heaven's plan of government； heaven's divine harmony； shall be represented in His church on earth。 Thus in His people He is glorified。 Through them the Sun of Righteousness will shine in undimmed luster to the world。 Christ has given to His church ample facilities； that He may receive a large revenue of glory from His redeemed； purchased possession。 He has bestowed upon His people capabilities and blessings that they may represent His own sufficiency。 The church； endowed with the righteousness of Christ； is His depositary； in which the riches of His mercy； His grace； and His love； are to appear in full and final display。 Christ looks upon His people in their purity and perfection； as the reward of His humiliation； and the supplement of His glory；Christ； the great Center； from whom radiates all glory。
With strong； hopeful words the Saviour ended His instruction。 Then He poured out the burden of His soul in prayer for His disciples。 Lifting His eyes to heaven； He said； 〃Father； the hour is come； glorify Thy Son； that Thy Son also may glorify Thee： as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh； that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him。 And this is life eternal； that they might know Thee the only true God； and Jesus Christ； whom Thou hast sent。〃
Christ had finished the work that was given Him to do。 He had glorified God on the earth。 He had manifested the Father's name。 He had gathered out those who were to continue His work among men。 And He said； 〃I am glorified in them。 And now I am no more in the world； but these are in the world； and I come to Thee。 Holy Father； keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me； that they may be one； as We are。〃 〃Neither pray I for these alone； but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word； that they all may be one； 。 。 。 I in them； and Thou in Me； that they may be made perfect in one； and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me； and hast loved them； as Thou hast loved Me。〃
Thus in the language of one who has divine authority； Christ gives His elect church into the Father's arms。 As a consecrated high priest He intercedes for His people。 As a faithful shepherd He gathers His flock under the shadow of the Almighty； in the strong and sure refuge。 For Him there waits the last battle with Satan； and He goes forth to meet it。
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Chapter 74
Gethsemane
In company with His disciples； the Saviour slowly made His way to the garden of Gethsemane。 The Passover moon； broad and full； shone from a cloudless sky。 The city of pilgrims' tents was hushed into silence。
Jesus had been earnestly conversing with His disciples and instructing them； but as He neared Gethsemane； He became strangely silent。 He had often visited this spot for meditation and prayer； but never with a heart so full of sorrow as upon this night of His last agony。 Throughout His life on earth He had walked in the light of God's presence。 When in conflict with men who were inspired by the very spirit of Satan； He could say； 〃He that sent Me is with Me： the Father hath not left Me alone； for I do always those things that please Him。〃 John 8：29。 But now He seemed to be shut out from the light of God's sustaining presence。 Now He was numbered with the transgressors。 The guilt of fallen humanity He must bear。 Upon Him who knew no sin must be laid the iniquity of us all。 So dreadful does sin appear to Him； so great is the weight of guilt which He must bear； that He is tempted to fear it will shut Him out forever from His Father's love。 Feeling how terrible is the wrath of God against transgression； He exclaims； 〃My soul is exceeding sorrowful； even unto death。〃
As they approached the garden； the disciples had marked the change that came over their Master。 Never before had they seen Him so utterly
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sad and silent。 As He proceeded； this strange sadness deepened； yet they dared not question Him as to the cause。 His form swayed as if He were about to fall。 Upon reaching the garden； the disciples looked anxiously for His usual place of retirement； that their Master might rest。 Every step that He now took was with labored effort。 He groaned aloud； as if suffering under the pressure of a terrible burden。 Twice His companions supported Him； or He would have fallen to the earth。
Near the entrance to the garden； Jesus left all but three of the disciples； bidding them pray for themselves and for Him。 With Peter； James； and John； He entered its secluded recesses。 These three disciples were Christ's closest companions。 They had beheld His glory on the mount of transfiguration； they had seen Moses and Elijah talking with Him； they had heard the voice from heaven； now in His great struggle； Christ desired their presence near Him。 Often they had passed the night with Him in this retreat。 On these occasions； after a season of watching and prayer； they would sleep undisturbed at a little distance from their Master； until He awoke them in the morning to go forth anew to labor。 But now He desired them to spend the night with Him in prayer。 Yet He could not bear that even they should witness the agony He was to endure。
〃Tarry ye here；〃 He said； 〃and watch with Me。〃
He went a little distance from themnot so far but that they could both see and hear Himand fell prostrate upon the ground。 He felt that by sin He was being separated from His Father。 The gulf was so broad； so black； so deep； that His spirit shuddered before it。 This agony He must not exert His divine power to escape。 As man He must suffer the consequences of man's sin。 As man He must endure the wrath of God against transgression。
Christ was now standing in a different attitude from that in which He had ever stood before。 His suffering can best be described in the words of the prophet； 〃Awake； O sword； against My shepherd； and against the man that is My fellow； saith the Lord of hosts。〃 Zech。 13：7。 As the substitute and surety for sinful man； Christ was suffering under divine justice。 He saw what justice meant。 Hitherto He had been as an intercessor for others； now He longed to have an intercessor for Himself。
As Christ felt His unity with the Father broken up； He feared that in His human nature He would be unable to endure the coming conflict with the powers of darkness。 In the wilderness of tem
