the desire of ages-第120章

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〃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　temptation　the　destiny　of　the　human　race　had　been　at　stake。　Christ　was　then　conqueror。　Now

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the　tempter　had　come　for　the　last　fearful　struggle。　For　this　he　had　been　preparing　during　the　three　years　of　Christ's　ministry。　Everything　was　at　stake　with　him。　If　he　failed　here；　his　hope　of　mastery　was　lost；　the　kingdoms　of　the　world　would　finally　become　Christ's；　he　himself　would　be　overthrown　and　cast　out。　But　if　Christ　could　be　overcome；　the　earth　would　become　Satan's　kingdom；　and　the　human　race　would　be　forever　in　his　power。　With　the　issues　of　the　conflict　before　Him；　Christ's　soul　was　filled　with　dread　of　separation　from　God。　Satan　told　Him　that　if　He　became　the　surety　for　a　sinful　world；　the　separation　would　be　eternal。　He　would　be　identified　with　Satan's　kingdom；　and　would　nevermore　be　one　with　God。

And　what　was　to　be　gained　by　this　sacrifice？　How　hopeless　appeared　the　guilt　and　ingratitude　of　men！　In　its　hardest　features　Satan　pressed　the　situation　upon　the　Redeemer：　The　people　who　claim　to　be　above　all　others　in　temporal　and　spiritual　advantages　have　rejected　You。　They　are　seeking　to　destroy　You；　the　foundation；　the　center　and　seal　of　the　promises　made　to　them　as　a　peculiar　people。　One　of　Your　own　disciples；　who　has　listened　to　Your　instruction；　and　has　been　among　the　foremost　in　church　activities；　will　betray　You。　One　of　Your　most　zealous　followers　will　deny　You。　All　will　forsake　You。　Christ's　whole　being　abhorred　the　thought。　That　those　whom　He　had　undertaken　to　save；　those　whom　He　loved　so　much；　should　unite　in　the　plots　of　Satan；　this　pierced　His　soul。　The　conflict　was　terrible。　Its　measure　was　the　guilt　of　His　nation；　of　His　accusers　and　betrayer；　the　guilt　of　a　world　lying　in　wickedness。　The　sins　of　men　weighed　heavily　upon　Christ；　and　the　sense　of　God's　wrath　against　sin　was　crushing　out　His　life。

Behold　Him　contemplating　the　price　to　be　paid　for　the　human　soul。　In　His　agony　He　clings　to　the　cold　ground；　as　if　to　prevent　Himself　from　being　drawn　farther　from　God。　The　chilling　dew　of　night　falls　upon　His　prostrate　form；　but　He　heeds　it　not。　From　His　pale　lips　comes　the　bitter　cry；　〃O　My　Father；　if　it　be　possible；　let　this　cup　pass　from　Me。〃　Yet　even　now　He　adds；　〃Nevertheless　not　as　I　will；　but　as　Thou　wilt。〃

The　human　heart　longs　for　sympathy　in　suffering。　This　longing　Christ　felt　to　the　very　depths　of　His　being。　In　the　supreme　agony　of　His　soul　He　came　to　His　disciples　with　a　yearning　desire　to　hear　some　words　of　comfort　from　those　whom　He　had　so　often　blessed　and　comforted；　and　shielded　in　sorrow　and　distress。　The　One　who　had　always　had　words　of　sympathy　for　them　was　now　suffering　superhuman　agony；　and　He　longed　to　know　that　they　were　praying　for　Him　and　for　themselves。

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How　dark　seemed　the　malignity　of　sin！　Terrible　was　the　temptation　to　let　the　human　race　bear　the　consequences　of　its　own　guilt；　while　He　stood　innocent　before　God。　If　He　could　only　know　that　His　disciples　understood　and　appreciated　this；　He　would　be　strengthened。

Rising　with　painful　effort；　He　staggered　to　the　place　where　He　had　left　His　companions。　But　He　〃findeth　them　asleep。〃　Had　He　found　them　praying；　He　would　have　been　relieved。　Had　they　been　seeking　refuge　in　God；　that　satanic　agencies　might　not　prevail　over　them；　He　would　have　been　comforted　by　their　steadfast　faith。　But　they　had　not　heeded　the　repeated　warning；　〃Watch　and　pray。〃　At　first　they　had　been　much　troubled　to　see　their　Master；　usually　so　calm　and　dignified；　wrestling　with　a　sorrow　that　was　beyond　comprehension。　They　had　prayed　as　they　heard　the　strong　cries　of　the　sufferer。　They　did　not　intend　to　forsake　their　Lord；　but　they　seemed　paralyzed　by　a　stupor　which　they　might　have　shaken　off　if　they　had　continued　pleading　with　God。　They　did　not　realize　the　necessity　of　watchfulness　and　earnest　prayer　in　order　to　withstand　temptation。

Just　before　He　bent　His　footsteps　to　the　garden；　Jesus　had　said　to　the　disciples；　〃All　ye　shall　be　offended　because　of　Me　this　night。〃　They　had　given　Him　the　strongest　assurance　that　they　would　go　with　Him　to　prison　and　to　death。　And　poor；　self…sufficient　Peter　had　added；　〃Although　all　shall　be　offended；　yet　will　not　I。〃　Mark　14：27；　29。　But　the

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disciples　trusted　to　themselves。　They　did　not　look　to　the　mighty　Helper　as　Christ　had　counseled　them　to　do。　Thus　when　the　Saviour　was　most　in　need　of　their　sympathy　and　prayers；　they　were　found　asleep。　Even　Peter　was　sleeping。

And　John；　the　loving　disciple　who　had　leaned　upon　the　breast　of　Jesus；　was　asleep。　Surely；　the　love　of　John　for　his　Master　should　have　kept　him　awake。　His　earnest　prayers　should　have　mingled　with　those　of　his　loved　Saviour　in　the　time　of　His　supreme　sorrow。　The　Redeemer　had　spent　entire　nights　praying　for　His　disciples；　that　their　faith　might　not　fail。　Should　Jesus　now　put　to　James　and　John　the　question　He　had　once　asked　them；　〃Are　ye　able　to　drink　of　the　cup　that　I　shall　drink　of；　and　to　be　baptized　with　the　baptism　that　I　am　baptized　with？〃　they　would　not　have　ventured　to　answer；　〃We　are　able。〃　Matt。　20：22。

The　disciples　awakened　at　the　voice　of　Jesus；　but　they　hardly　knew　Him；　His　face　was　so　changed　by　anguish。　Addressing　Peter；　Jesus　said；　〃Simon；　sleepest　thou？　couldest　not　thou　watch　one　hour？　Watch　ye　and　pray；　lest　ye　enter　into　temptation。　The　spirit　truly　is　ready；　but　the　flesh　is　weak。〃　The　weakness　of　His　disciples　awakened　the　sympathy　of　Jesus。　He　feared　that　they　would　not　be　able　to　endure　the　test　which　would　come　upon　them　in　His　betrayal　and　death。　He　did　not　reprove　them；　but　said；　〃Watch　ye　and　pray；　lest　ye　enter　into　temptation。〃　Even　in　His　great　agony；　He　was　seeking　to　excuse　their　weakness。　〃The　spirit　truly　is　ready；〃　He　said；　〃but　the　flesh　is　weak。〃

Again　the　Son　of　God　was　seized　with　superhuman　agony；　and　fainting　and　exhausted；　He　staggered　back　to　the　place　of　His　former　struggle。　His　suffering　was　even　greater　than　before。　As　the　agony　of　soul　came　upon　Him；　〃His　sweat　was　as　it　were　great　drops　of　blood　falling　down　to　the　ground。〃　The　cypress　and　palm　trees　were　the　silent　witnesses　of　His　anguish。　From　their　leafy　branches　dropped　heavy　dew　upon　His　stricken　form；　as　if　nature　wept　over　its　Author　wrestling　alone　with　the　powers　of　darkness。

A　short　time　before；　Jesus　had　stood　like　a　mighty　cedar；　withstanding　the　storm　of　opposition　that　spent　its　fury　upon　Him。　Stubborn　wills；　and　hearts　filled　with　malice　and　subtlety；　had　striven　in　vain　to　confuse　and　overpower　Him。　He　stood　forth　in　divine　majesty　as　the　Son　of　God。　Now　He　was　like　a　reed　beaten　and　bent　by　the　angry　storm。　He　had　approached　the　consummation　of　His　work　a　conqueror；　having　at　each　step　gained　the　victory　over　the　powers　of　darkness。　As

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one　already　glorified；　He　had　claimed　oneness　with　God。　In　unfaltering　accents　He　had　poured　out　His　songs　of　praise。　He　had　spoken　to　His　disciples　in　words　of　courage　and　tenderness。　Now　had　come　the　hour　of　the　power　of　darkness。　Now　His　voice　was　heard　on　the　still　evening　air；　not　in　tones　of　triumph；　but　full　of　human　anguish。　The　words　of　the　Saviour　were　borne　to　the　ears　of　the　drowsy　disciples；　〃O　My　Father；　if　this　cup　may　not　pass　away　from　Me；　except　I　drink　it；　Thy　will　be　done。〃

The　first　impulse　of　the　disciples　was　to　go　to　Him；　but　He　had　bidden　them　tarry　there；　watching　unto　prayer。　When　Jesus　came　to　them；　He　found　them　still　sleeping。　Again　He　had　felt　a　longing　for　companionship；　for　some　words　from　His　disciples　which　would　bring　relief；　and　break　the　spell　of　darkness　that　well…nigh　overpowered　Him。　But　their　eyes　were　heavy；　〃neither　wist　they　what　to　answer　Him。〃　His　presence　aroused　them。　They　saw　His　face　marked　with　the　bloody　sweat　of　agony；　and　they　were　filled　with　fear。　His　anguish　of　mind　they　could　not　understand。　〃His　visage　was　so　marred　more　than　any　man；　and　His　form　more　than　the　sons　of　men。〃　Isa。　52：14。

Turning　away；　Jesus　sought　again　His　retreat；　and　fell　prostrate；　overcome　by　the　horror　of　a　great　darkness。　The　humanity　of　the　Son　of　God　trembled　in　that　trying　hour。　He　prayed　not　now　for　His　disciples　that　their　faith　might　not　fail；　but　for　His　own　tempted；　agonized　soul。　The　awful　moment　had　comethat　moment　which　was　to　decide　the　destiny　of　the　world。　The　fate　of　humanity　trembled　in　the　balance。　Christ　might　even　now　refuse　to　drink　the　cup　apportioned　to　guilty　man。　It　was　not　yet　too　late。　He　might　wipe　the　bloody　sweat　from　His　brow；　and　leave　man　to　perish　in　his　iniquity。　He　might　say；　Let　the　transgressor　receive　the　penalty　of　his　sin；　and　I　will　go　back　to　My　Father。　Will　the　Son　of　God　drink　the　bitter　cup　of　humiliation　and　agony？　Will　the　innocent　suffer　the　consequences　of　the　curse　of　sin；　to　save　the　guilty？　The　words　fall　tremblingly　from　the　pale　lips　of　Jesus；　〃O　My　Father；　if　this　cup　may　not　pass　away　from　Me；　except　I　drink　it；　Thy　will　be　done。〃

Three　times　has　He　uttered　that　prayer。　Three　times　has　humanity　shrunk　from　the　last；　crowning　sacrifice。　But　now　the　history　of　the　human　race　comes　up　before　the　world's　Redeemer。　He　sees　that　the　transgressors　of　the　law；　if　left　to　themselves；　must　perish。　He　sees　the　helplessness　of　man。　He　sees　the　power　of　sin。　The　woes　and　lamentations　of　a　doomed　world　rise　before　Him。　He　beholds　its　impending

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fate；　and　His　decision　is　made。　He　will　save　man　at　any　cost　to　Himself。　He　accepts　His　baptism　of　blood；　that　through　Him　perishing　millions　may　gain　everlasting　life。　He　has　left　the　courts　of　heaven；　where　all　is　purity；　happiness；　and　glory；　to　save　the　one　lost　sheep；　the　one　world　that　has　fallen　by　transgression。　And　He　will　not　turn　from　His　mission。　He　will　become　the　propitiation　of　a　race　that　has　willed　to　sin。　His　prayer　now　breathes　only　submission：　〃If　this　cup　may　not　pass　away　from　Me；　except　I　drink　it；　Thy　will　be　done。〃

Having　made　the　decision；　He　fell　dying　to　the　ground　from　which　He　had　partially　rise