the desire of ages-第49章

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　opportunity　of　introducing　them　to　the　Saviour；　but　he　went　to　tell　Andrew。　Again；　in　those　last　hours　before　the　crucifixion；　the　words　of　Philip　were　such　as　to　discourage　faith。　When　Thomas　said　to　Jesus；　〃Lord；　we　know　not　whither　Thou　goest；　and　how　can　we　know　the　way？〃　the　Saviour　answered；　〃I　am　the　Way；　the　Truth；　and　the　Life。　。　。　。　If　ye　had　known　Me；　ye　should　have　known　My　Father　also。〃　From　Philip　came　the　response　of　unbelief：　〃Lord；　show　us　the　Father；　and　it　sufficeth　us。〃　John　14：5…8。　So　slow　of　heart；　so　weak　in　faith；　was　that　disciple　who　for　three　years　had　been　with　Jesus。

In　happy　contrast　to　Philip's　unbelief　was　the　childlike　trust　of　Nathanael。　He　was　a　man　of　intensely　earnest　nature；　one　whose　faith　took　hold　upon　unseen　realities。　Yet　Philip　was　a　student　in　the　school　of　Christ；　and　the　divine　Teacher　bore　patiently　with　his　unbelief　and　dullness。　When　the　Holy　Spirit　was　poured　out　upon　the　disciples；　Philip　became　a　teacher　after　the　divine　order。　He　knew　whereof　he　spoke；　and　he　taught　with　an　assurance　that　carried　conviction　to　the　hearers。

While　Jesus　was　preparing　the　disciples　for　their　ordination；　one　who　had　not　been　summoned　urged　his　presence　among　them。　It　was　Judas　Iscariot；　a　man　who　professed　to　be　a　follower　of　Christ。　He　now　came　forward；　soliciting　a　place　in　this　inner　circle　of　disciples。　With　great　earnestness　and　apparent　sincerity　he　declared；　〃Master；　I　will　follow　Thee　whithersoever　Thou　goest。〃　Jesus　neither　repulsed　nor　welcomed　him；　but　uttered　only　the　mournful　words：　〃The　foxes　have　holes；　and　the　birds　of　the　air　have　nests；　but　the　Son　of　man

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hath　not　where　to　lay　His　head。〃　Matt。　8：19；　20。　Judas　believed　Jesus　to　be　the　Messiah；　and　by　joining　the　apostles；　he　hoped　to　secure　a　high　position　in　the　new　kingdom。　This　hope　Jesus　designed　to　cut　off　by　the　statement　of　His　poverty。

The　disciples　were　anxious　that　Judas　should　become　one　of　their　number。　He　was　of　commanding　appearance；　a　man　of　keen　discernment　and　executive　ability；　and　they　commended　him　to　Jesus　as　one　who　would　greatly　assist　Him　in　His　work。　They　were　surprised　that　Jesus　received　him　so　coolly。

The　disciples　had　been　much　disappointed　that　Jesus　had　not　tried　to　secure　the　co…operation　of　the　leaders　in　Israel。　They　felt　that　it　was　a　mistake　not　to　strengthen　His　cause　by　securing　the　support　of　these　influential　men。　If　He　had　repulsed　Judas；　they　would；　in　their　own　minds；　have　questioned　the　wisdom　of　their　Master。　The　after　history　of　Judas　would　show　them　the　danger　of　allowing　any　worldly　consideration　to　have　weight　in　deciding　the　fitness　of　men　for　the　work　of　God。　The　co…operation　of　such　men　as　the　disciples　were　anxious　to　secure　would　have　betrayed　the　work　into　the　hands　of　its　worst　enemies。

Yet　when　Judas　joined　the　disciples；　he　was　not　insensible　to　the　beauty　of　the　character　of　Christ。　He　felt　the　influence　of　that　divine　power　which　was　drawing　souls　to　the　Saviour。　He　who　came　not　to　break　the　bruised　reed　nor　quench　the　smoking　flax　would　not　repulse　this　soul　while　even　one　desire　was　reaching　toward　the　light。　The　Saviour　read　the　heart　of　Judas；　He　knew　the　depths　of　iniquity　to　which；　unless　delivered　by　the　grace　of　God；　Judas　would　sink。　In　connecting　this　man　with　Himself；　He　placed　him　where　he　might；　day　by　day；　be　brought　in　contact　with　the　outflowing　of　His　own　unselfish　love。　If　he　would　open　his　heart　to　Christ；　divine　grace　would　banish　the　demon　of　selfishness；　and　even　Judas　might　become　a　subject　of　the　kingdom　of　God。

God　takes　men　as　they　are；　with　the　human　elements　in　their　character；　and　trains　them　for　His　service；　if　they　will　be　disciplined　and　learn　of　Him。　They　are　not　chosen　because　they　are　perfect；　but　notwithstanding　their　imperfections；　that　through　the　knowledge　and　practice　of　the　truth；　through　the　grace　of　Christ；　they　may　become　transformed　into　His　image。

Judas　had　the　same　opportunities　as　had　the　other　disciples。　He　listened　to　the　same　precious　lessons。　But　the　practice　of　the　truth；

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which　Christ　required；　was　at　variance　with　the　desires　and　purposes　of　Judas；　and　he　would　not　yield　his　ideas　in　order　to　receive　wisdom　from　Heaven。

How　tenderly　the　Saviour　dealt　with　him　who　was　to　be　His　betrayer！　In　His　teaching；　Jesus　dwelt　upon　principles　of　benevolence　that　struck　at　the　very　root　of　covetousness。　He　presented　before　Judas　the　heinous　character　of　greed；　and　many　a　time　the　disciple　realized　that　his　character　had　been　portrayed；　and　his　sin　pointed　out；　but　he　would　not　confess　and　forsake　his　unrighteousness。　He　was　self…sufficient；　and　instead　of　resisting　temptation；　he　continued　to　follow　his　fraudulent　practices。　Christ　was　before　him；　a　living　example　of　what　he　must　become　if　he　reaped　the　benefit　of　the　divine　mediation　and　ministry；　but　lesson　after　lesson　fell　unheeded　on　the　ears　of　Judas。

Jesus　dealt　him　no　sharp　rebuke　for　his　covetousness；　but　with　divine　patience　bore　with　this　erring　man；　even　while　giving　him　evidence　that　He　read　his　heart　as　an　open　book。　He　presented　before　him　the　highest　incentives　for　right　doing；　and　in　rejecting　the　light　of　Heaven；　Judas　would　be　without　excuse。

Instead　of　walking　in　the　light；　Judas　chose　to　retain　his　defects。　Evil　desires；　revengeful　passions；　dark　and　sullen　thoughts；　were　cherished；　until　Satan　had　full　control　of　the　man。　Judas　became　a　representative　of　the　enemy　of　Christ。

When　he　came　into　association　with　Jesus；　he　had　some　precious　traits　of　character　that　might　have　been　made　a　blessing　to　the　church。　If　he　had　been　willing　to　wear　the　yoke　of　Christ；　he　might　have　been　among　the　chief　of　the　apostles；　but　he　hardened　his　heart　when　his　defects　were　pointed　out；　and　in　pride　and　rebellion　chose　his　own　selfish　ambitions；　and　thus　unfitted　himself　for　the　work　that　God　would　have　given　him　to　do。

All　the　disciples　had　serious　faults　when　Jesus　called　them　to　His　service。　Even　John；　who　came　into　closest　association　with　the　meek　and　lowly　One；　was　not　himself　naturally　meek　and　yielding。　He　and　his　brother　were　called　〃the　sons　of　thunder。〃　While　they　were　with　Jesus；　any　slight　shown　to　Him　aroused　their　indignation　and　combativeness。　Evil　temper；　revenge；　the　spirit　of　criticism；　were　all　in　the　beloved　disciple。　He　was　proud；　and　ambitious　to　be　first　in　the　kingdom　of　God。　But　day　by　day；　in　contrast　with　his　own　violent　spirit；　he　beheld　the　tenderness　and　forbearance　of　Jesus；　and　heard　His　lessons　of　humility　and　patience。　He　opened　his　heart　to　the　divine　influence；

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and　became　not　only　a　hearer　but　a　doer　of　the　Saviour's　words。　Self　was　hid　in　Christ。　He　learned　to　wear　the　yoke　of　Christ　and　to　bear　His　burden。

Jesus　reproved　His　disciples；　He　warned　and　cautioned　them；　but　John　and　his　brethren　did　not　leave　Him；　they　chose　Jesus；　notwithstanding　the　reproofs。　The　Saviour　did　not　withdraw　from　them　because　of　their　weakness　and　errors。　They　continued　to　the　end　to　share　His　trials　and　to　learn　the　lessons　of　His　life。　By　beholding　Christ；　they　became　transformed　in　character。

The　apostles　differed　widely　in　habits　and　disposition。　There　were　the　publican；　Levi…Matthew；　and　the　fiery　zealot　Simon；　the　uncompromising　hater　of　the　authority　of　Rome；　the　generous；　impulsive　Peter；　and　the　mean…spirited　Judas；　Thomas；　truehearted；　yet　timid　and　fearful；　Philip；　slow　of　heart；　and　inclined　to　doubt；　and　the　ambitious；　outspoken　sons　of　Zebedee；　with　their　brethren。　These　were　brought　together；　with　their　different　faults；　all　with　inherited　and　cultivated　tendencies　to　evil；　but　in　and　through　Christ　they　were　to　dwell　in　the　family　of　God；　learning　to　become　one　in　faith；　in　doctrine；　in　spirit。　They　would　have　their　tests；　their　grievances；　their　differences　of　opinion；　but　while　Christ　was　abiding　in　the　heart；　there　could　be　no　dissension。　His　love　would　lead　to　love　for　one　another；　the　lessons　of　the　Master　would　lead　to　the　harmonizing　of　all　differences；　bringing　the　disciples　into　unity；　till　they　would　be　of　one　mind　and　one　judgment。　Christ　is　the　great　center；　and　they　would　approach　one　another　just　in　proportion　as　they　approached　the　center。

When　Jesus　had　ended　His　instruction　to　the　disciples；　He　gathered　the　little　band　close　about　Him；　and　kneeling　in　the　midst　of　them；　and　laying　His　hands　upon　their　heads；　He　offered　a　prayer　dedicating　them　to　His　sacred　work。　Thus　the　Lord's　disciples　were　ordained　to　the　gospel　ministry。

As　His　representatives　among　men；　Christ　does　not　choose　angels　who　have　never　fallen；　but　human　beings；　men　of　like　passions　with　those　they　seek　to　save。　Christ　took　upon　Himself　humanity；　that　He　might　reach　humanity。　Divinity　needed　humanity；　for　it　required　both　the　divine　and　the　human　to　bring　salvation　to　the　world。　Divinity　needed　humanity；　that　humanity　might　afford　a　channel　of　communication　between　God　and　man。　So　with　the　servants　and　messengers　of　Christ。　Man　needs　a　power　outside　of　and　beyond　himself；　to　restore　him　to　the　likeness　of　God；　and　enable　him　to　do　the　work　of　God；　but　this

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does　not　make　the　human　agency　unessential。　Humanity　lays　hold　upon　divine　power；　Christ　dwells　in　the　heart　by　faith；　and　through　co…operation　with　the　divine；　the　power　of　man　becomes　efficient　for　good。

He　who　called　the　fisherman　of　Galilee　is　still　calling　men　to　His　service。　And　He　is　just　as　willing　to　manifest　His　power　through　us　as　through　the　first　disciples。　However　imperfect　and　sinful　we　may　be；　the　Lord　holds　out　to　us　the　offer　of　partnership　with　Himself；　of　apprenticeship　to　Christ。　He　invites　us　to　come　under　the　divine　instruction；　that；　uniting　with　Christ；　we　may　work　the　works　of　God。

〃We　have　this　treasure　in　earthen　vessels；　that　the　exceeding　greatness　of　the　power　may　be　of　God；　and　not　from　ourselves。〃　2　Cor。　4：7；　R。　V。　This　is　why　the　preaching　of　the　gospel　was　committed　to　erring　men　rather　than　to　the　angels。　It　is　manifest　that　the　power　which　works　through　the　weakness　of　humanity　is　the　power　of　God；　and　thus　we　are　encouraged　to　believe　that　the　power　which　can　help　others　as　weak　as　ourselves　can　help　us。　And　those　who　are　themselves　〃compassed　with　infirmity〃　should　be　able　to　〃have　compassion　on　the　ignorant；　and　on　them　that　are　out　of　the　way。〃　Heb。　5：2。　Having　been　in　peril　themselves；　they　are　acquainted　with　the　dangers　and　difficulties　of　the　way；　and　for　this　reason　are　called　to　reach　out　for　others　in　like　peril。　There　are　souls　perplexed　with　doubt；　burdened　with　infirmities；　weak　in　faith；　and　unable　to　grasp　the　Unseen；　but　a　friend　whom　they　can　see；　coming　to　them　in　Christ's　stead；　can　be　a　connecting　link　to　fasten　their　trembling　faith　upon　Christ。

We　are　to　be　laborers　together　with　the　heavenly　angels　in　presenting　Jesus　to　the　world。　With　almost　impatient　eagerness　the　angels　wait　for　our　co…operation；　for　man　must　be　the　channel　to　communicate　with　man。　And　when　we　give　ourselves　to　Christ　in　wholehearted　devotion；　angels　rejoice　that　they　may　speak　through　our　voices　to　reveal　God's　love。




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