the desire of ages-第116章

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thoughts　of　His　disciples。

Then　addressing　them　by　the　endearing　term；　〃Little　children；〃　He　said；　〃Yet　a　little　while　I　am　with　you。　Ye　shall　seek　Me：　and　as　I　said　unto　the　Jews；　Whither　I　go；　ye　cannot　come；　so　now　I　say　to　you。〃

The　disciples　could　not　rejoice　when　they　heard　this。　Fear　fell　upon　them。　They　pressed　close　about　the　Saviour。　Their　Master　and　Lord；　their　beloved　Teacher　and　Friend；　He　was　dearer　to　them　than　life。　To　Him　they　had　looked　for　help　in　all　their　difficulties；　for　comfort　in　their　sorrows　and　disappointments。　Now　He　was　to　leave　them；　a　lonely；　dependent　company。　Dark　were　the　forebodings　that　filled　their　hearts。

But　the　Saviour's　words　to　them　were　full　of　hope。　He　knew　that　they　were　to　be　assailed　by　the　enemy；　and　that　Satan's　craft　is　most　successful　against　those　who　are　depressed　by　difficulties。　Therefore　He　pointed　them　away　from　〃the　things　which　are　seen；〃　to　〃the　things　which　are　not　seen。〃　2　Cor。　4：18。　From　earthly　exile　He　turned　their　thoughts　to　the　heavenly　home。

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〃Let　not　your　heart　be　troubled；〃　He　said；　〃ye　believe　in　God；　believe　also　in　Me。　In　My　Father's　house　are　many　mansions：　if　it　were　not　so；　I　would　have　told　you。　I　go　to　prepare　a　place　for　you。　And　if　I　go　and　prepare　a　place　for　you；　I　will　come　again；　and　receive　you　unto　Myself；　that　were　I　am；　there　ye　may　be　also。　And　whither　I　go　ye　know；　and　the　way　ye　know。〃　For　your　sake　I　came　into　the　world。　I　am　working　in　your　behalf。　When　I　go　away；　I　shall　still　work　earnestly　for　you。　I　came　into　the　world　to　reveal　Myself　to　you；　that　you　might　believe。　I　go　to　the　Father　to　co…operate　with　Him　in　your　behalf。　The　object　of　Christ's　departure　was　the　opposite　of　what　the　disciples　feared。　It　did　not　mean　a　final　separation。　He　was　going　to　prepare　a　place　for　them；　that　He　might　come　again；　and　receive　them　unto　Himself。　While　He　was　building　mansions　for　them；　they　were　to　build　characters　after　the　divine　similitude。

Still　the　disciples　were　perplexed。　Thomas；　always　troubled　by　doubts；　said；　〃Lord；　we　know　not　whither　Thou　goest；　and　how　can　we　know　the　way？　Jesus　saith　unto　him；　I　am　the　way；　the　truth；　and　the　life；　no　man　cometh　unto　the　Father；　but　by　Me。　If　ye　had　known　Me；　ye　should　have　known　My　Father　also：　and　from　henceforth　ye　know　Him；　and　have　seen　Him。〃

There　are　not　many　ways　to　heaven。　Each　one　may　not　choose　his　own　way。　Christ　says；　〃I　am　the　way：　。　。　。　no　man　cometh　unto　the　Father；　but　by　Me。〃　Since　the　first　gospel　sermon　was　preached；　when　in　Eden　it　was　declared　that　the　seed　of　the　woman　should　bruise　the　serpent's　head；　Christ　had　been　uplifted　as　the　way；　the　truth；　and　the　life。　He　was　the　way　when　Adam　lived；　when　Abel　presented　to　God　the　blood　of　the　slain　lamb；　representing　the　blood　of　the　Redeemer。　Christ　was　the　way　by　which　patriarchs　and　prophets　were　saved。　He　is　the　way　by　which　alone　we　can　have　access　to　God。

〃If　ye　had　known　Me；〃　Christ　said；　〃ye　should　have　known　My　Father　also：　and　from　henceforth　ye　know　Him；　and　have　seen　Him。〃　But　not　yet　did　the　disciples　understand。　〃Lord；　show　us　the　Father；〃　exclaimed　Philip；　〃and　it　sufficeth　us。〃

Amazed　at　his　dullness　of　comprehension；　Christ　asked　with　pained　surprise；　〃Have　I　been　so　long　time　with　you；　and　yet　hast　thou　not　known　Me；　Philip？〃　Is　it　possible　that　you　do　not　see　the　Father　in　the　works　He　does　through　Me？　Do　you　not　believe　that　I　came　to　testify　of　the　Father？　〃How　sayest　thou　then；　Show　us　the　Father？〃　〃He　that　hath　seen　Me　hath　seen　the　Father。〃　Christ　had　not　ceased　to　be

664

God　when　He　became　man。　Though　He　had　humbled　Himself　to　humanity；　the　Godhead　was　still　His　own。　Christ　alone　could　represent　the　Father　to　humanity；　and　this　representation　the　disciples　had　been　privileged　to　behold　for　over　three　years。

〃Believe　Me　that　I　am　in　the　Father；　and　the　Father　in　Me：　or　else　believe　Me　for　the　very　works'　sake。〃　Their　faith　might　safely　rest　on　the　evidence　given　in　Christ's　works；　works　that　no　man；　of　himself；　ever　had　done；　or　ever　could　do。　Christ's　work　testified　to　His　divinity。　Through　Him　the　Father　had　been　revealed。

If　the　disciples　believed　this　vital　connection　between　the　Father　and　the　Son；　their　faith　would　not　forsake　them　when　they　saw　Christ's　suffering　and　death　to　save　a　perishing　world。　Christ　was　seeking　to　lead　them　from　their　low　condition　of　faith　to　the　experience　they　might　receive　if　they　truly　realized　what　He　was；God　in　human　flesh。　He　desired　them　to　see　that　their　faith　must　lead　up　to　God；　and　be　anchored　there。　How　earnestly　and　perseveringly　our　compassionate　Saviour　sought　to　prepare　His　disciples　for　the　storm　of　temptation　that　was　soon　to　beat　upon　them。　He　would　have　them　hid　with　Him　in　God。

As　Christ　was　speaking　these　words；　the　glory　of　God　was　shining　from　His　countenance；　and　all　present　felt　a　sacred　awe　as　they　listened　with　rapt　attention　to　His　words。　Their　hearts　were　more　decidedly　drawn　to　Him；　and　as　they　were　drawn　to　Christ　in　greater　love；　they　were　drawn　to　one　another。　They　felt　that　heaven　was　very　near；　and　that　the　words　to　which　they　listened　were　a　message　to　them　from　their　heavenly　Father。

〃Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；〃　Christ　continued；　〃He　that　believeth　on　Me；　the　works　that　I　do　shall　he　do　also。〃　The　Saviour　was　deeply　anxious　for　His　disciples　to　understand　for　what　purpose　His　divinity　was　united　to　humanity。　He　came　to　the　world　to　display　the　glory　of　God；　that　man　might　be　uplifted　by　its　restoring　power。　God　was　manifested　in　Him　that　He　might　be　manifested　in　them。　Jesus　revealed　no　qualities；　and　exercised　no　powers；　that　men　may　not　have　through　faith　in　Him。　His　perfect　humanity　is　that　which　all　His　followers　may　possess；　if　they　will　be　in　subjection　to　God　as　He　was。

〃And　greater　works　than　these　shall　he　do；　because　I　go　unto　My　Father。〃　By　this　Christ　did　not　mean　that　the　disciples'　work　would　be　of　a　more　exalted　character　than　His；　but　that　it　would　have　greater　extent。　He　did　not　refer　merely　to　miracle　working；　but　to　all　that　would　take　place　under　the　working　of　the　Holy　Spirit。

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After　the　Lord's　ascension；　the　disciples　realized　the　fulfillment　of　His　promise。　The　scenes　of　the　crucifixion；　resurrection；　and　ascension　of　Christ　were　a　living　reality　to　them。　They　saw　that　the　prophecies　had　been　literally　fulfilled。　They　searched　the　Scriptures；　and　accepted　their　teaching　with　a　faith　and　assurance　unknown　before。　They　knew　that　the　divine　Teacher　was　all　that　He　had　claimed　to　be。　As　they　told　their　experience；　and　exalted　the　love　of　God；　men's　hearts　were　melted　and　subdued；　and　multitudes　believed　on　Jesus。

The　Saviour's　promise　to　His　disciples　is　a　promise　to　His　church　to　the　end　of　time。　God　did　not　design　that　His　wonderful　plan　to　redeem　men　should　achieve　only　insignificant　results。　All　who　will　go　to　work；　trusting　not　in　what　they　themselves　can　do；　but　in　what　God　can　do　for　and　through　them；　will　certainly　realize　the　fulfillment　of　His　promise。　〃Greater　works　than　these　shall　ye　do；〃　He　declares；　〃because　I　go　unto　My　Father。〃

As　yet　the　disciples　were　unacquainted　with　the　Saviour's　unlimited　resources　and　power。　He　said　to　them；　〃Hitherto　have　ye　asked　nothing　in　My　name。〃　John　16：24。　He　explained　that　the　secret　of　their　success　would　be　in　asking　for　strength　and　grace　in　His　name。　He　would　be　present　before　the　Father　to　make　request　for　them。　The　prayer　of　the　humble　suppliant　He　presents　as　His　own　desire　in　that　soul's　behalf。　Every　sincere　prayer　is　heard　in　heaven。　It　may　not　be　fluently　expressed；　but　if　the　heart　is　in　it；　it　will　ascend　to　the　sanctuary　where　Jesus　ministers；　and　He　will　present　it　to　the　Father　without　one　awkward；　stammering　word；　beautiful　and　fragrant　with　the　incense　of　His　own　perfection。

The　path　of　sincerity　and　integrity　is　not　a　path　free　from　obstruction；　but　in　every　difficulty　we　are　to　see　a　call　to　prayer。　There　is　no　one　living　who　has　any　power　that　he　has　not　received　from　God；　and　the　source　whence　it　comes　is　open　to　the　weakest　human　being。　〃Whatsoever　ye　shall　ask　in　My　name；〃　said　Jesus；　〃that　will　I　do；　that　the　Father　may　be　glorified　in　the　Son。　If　ye　shall　ask　anything　in　My　name；　I　will　do　it。〃

〃In　My　name；〃　Christ　bade　His　disciples　pray。　In　Christ's　name　His　followers　are　to　stand　before　God。　Through　the　value　of　the　sacrifice　made　for　them；　they　are　of　value　in　the　Lord's　sight。　Because　of　the　imputed　righteousness　of　Christ　they　are　accounted　precious。　For　Christ's　sake　the　Lord　pardons　those　that　fear　Him。　He　does　not　see　in　them　the　vileness　of　the　sinner。　He　recognizes　in　them　the　likeness　of　His　Son；　in　whom　they　believe。

668


The　Lord　is　disappointed　when　His　people　place　a　low　estimate　upon　themselves。　He　desires　His　chosen　heritage　to　value　themselves　according　to　the　price　He　has　placed　upon　them。　God　wanted　them；　else　He　would　not　have　sent　His　Son　on　such　an　expensive　errand　to　redeem　them。　He　has　a　use　for　them；　and　He　is　well　pleased　when　they　make　the　very　highest　demands　upon　Him；　that　they　may　glorify　His　name。　They　may　expect　large　things　if　they　have　faith　in　His　promises。

But　to　pray　in　Christ's　name　means　much。　It　means　that　we　are　to　accept　His　character；　manifest　His　spirit；　and　work　His　works。　The　Saviour's　promise　is　given　on　condition。　〃If　ye　love　Me；〃　He　says；　〃keep　My　commandments。〃　He　saves　men；　not　in　sin；　but　from　sin；　and　those　who　love　Him　will　show　their　love　by　obedience。

All　true　obedience　comes　from　the　heart。　It　was　heart　work　with　Christ。　And　if　we　consent；　He　will　so　identify　Himself　with　our　thoughts　and　aims；　so　blend　our　hearts　and　minds　into　conformity　to　His　will；　that　when　obeying　Him　we　shall　be　but　carrying　out　our　own　impulses。　The　will；　refined　and　sanctified；　will　find　its　highest　delight　in　doing　His　service。　When　we　know　God　as　it　is　our　privilege　to　know　Him；　our　life　will　be　a　life　of　continual　obedience。　Through　an　appreciation　of　the　character　of　Christ；　through　communion　with　God；　sin　will　become　hateful　to　us。

As　Christ　lived　the　law　in　humanity；　so　we　may　do　if　we　will　take　hold　of　the　Strong　for　strength。　But　we　are　not　to　place　the　responsibility　of　our　duty　upon　others；　and　wait　for　them　to　tell　us　what　to　do。　We　cannot　depend　for　counsel　upon　humanity。　The　Lord　will　teach　us　our　duty　just　as　willingly　as　He　will　teach　somebody　else。　If　we　come　to　Him　in　faith；　He　will　speak　His　mysteries　to　us　personally。　Our　hearts　will　often　burn　within　us　as　One　draws　nigh　to　commune　with　us　as　He　did　with　Enoch。　Those　who　decide　to　do　nothing　in　any　line　that　will　displease　God；　will　know；　after　presenting　their　case　before　Him；　just　what　course　to　pursue。　And　they　will　receive　not　only　wisdom；　but　strength。　Power　for　obedience；　for　service；　will　be　imparted　to　them；　as　Christ　has　promised。　Whatever　was　given　to　Christthe　〃all　things〃　to　supply　the　need　of　fallen　menwas　given　to　Him　as　the　head　and　representative　of　humanity。　And　〃whatsoever　we　ask；　we　receive　of　Him；　because　we　keep　His　commandments；　and　do　those　things　that　are　pleasing　in　His　sight。〃　1　John　3：22。

Befor