the desire of ages-第137节

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12）；　when　we　love　the　world　as　He　has　loved　it；　then　for　us　His　mission　is　accomplished。　We　are　fitted　for　heaven；　for　we　have　heaven　in　our　hearts。

But　〃if　thou　forbear　to　deliver　them　that　are　drawn　unto　death；　and　those　that　are　ready　to　be　slain；　if　thou　sayest；　Behold；　we　knew　it　not；　doth　not　He　that　pondereth　the　heart　consider　it？　and　He　that　keepeth　thy　soul；　doth　not　He　know　it？　and　shall　not　He　render　to　every　man　according　to　his　works？〃　Prov。　24：11；　12。　In　the　great　Judgment　day；　those　who　have　not　worked　for　Christ；　who　have　drifted　along　thinking　of　themselves；　caring　for　themselves；　will　be　placed　by　the　Judge　of　the　whole　earth　with　those　who　did　evil。　They　receive　the　same　condemnation。

To　every　soul　a　trust　is　given。　Of　everyone　the　Chief　Shepherd　will　demand；　〃Where　is　the　flock　that　was　given　thee；　thy　beautiful　flock？〃　And　〃what　wilt　thou　say　when　He　shall　punish　thee？〃　Jer。　13：20；　21。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　71

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　Servant　of　Servants


In　the　upper　chamber　of　a　dwelling　at　Jerusalem；　Christ　was　sitting　at　table　with　His　disciples。　They　had　gathered　to　celebrate　the　Passover。　The　Saviour　desired　to　keep　this　feast　alone　with　the　twelve。　He　knew　that　His　hour　was　come；　He　Himself　was　the　true　paschal　lamb；　and　on　the　day　the　Passover　was　eaten　He　was　to　be　sacrificed。　He　was　about　to　drink　the　cup　of　wrath；　He　must　soon　receive　the　final　baptism　of　suffering。　But　a　few　quiet　hours　yet　remained　to　Him；　and　these　were　to　be　spent　for　the　benefit　of　His　beloved　disciples。

The　whole　life　of　Christ　had　been　a　life　of　unselfish　service。　〃Not　to　be　ministered　unto；　but　to　minister；〃　（Matt。　20：28）；　had　been　the　lesson　of　His　every　act。　But　not　yet　had　the　disciples　learned　the　lesson。　At　this　last　Passover　supper；　Jesus　repeated　His　teaching　by　an　illustration　that　impressed　it　forever　on　their　minds　and　hearts。

The　interviews　between　Jesus　and　His　disciples　were　usually　seasons　of　calm　joy；　highly　prized　by　them　all。　The　Passover　suppers　had　been　scenes　of　special　interest；　but　upon　this　occasion　Jesus　was　troubled。　His　heart　was　burdened；　and　a　shadow　rested　upon　His　countenance。

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As　He　met　the　disciples　in　the　upper　chamber；　they　perceived　that　something　weighed　heavily　upon　His　mind；　and　although　they　knew　not　its　cause；　they　sympathized　with　His　grief。

As　they　were　gathered　about　the　table；　He　said　in　tones　of　touching　sadness；　〃With　desire　I　have　desired　to　eat　this　Passover　with　you　before　I　suffer：　for　I　say　unto　you；　I　will　not　any　more　eat　thereof；　until　it　be　fulfilled　in　the　kingdom　of　God。　And　He　took　the　cup；　and　gave　thanks；　and　said；　Take　this；　and　divide　it　among　yourselves：　for　I　say　unto　you；　I　will　not　drink　of　the　fruit　of　the　vine；　until　the　kingdom　of　God　shall　come。〃

Christ　knew　that　the　time　had　come　for　Him　to　depart　out　of　the　world；　and　go　to　His　Father。　And　having　loved　His　own　that　were　in　the　world；　He　loved　them　unto　the　end。　He　was　now　in　the　shadow　of　the　cross；　and　the　pain　was　torturing　His　heart。　He　knew　that　He　would　be　deserted　in　the　hour　of　His　betrayal。　He　knew　that　by　the　most　humiliating　process　to　which　criminals　were　subjected　He　would　be　put　to　death。　He　knew　the　ingratitude　and　cruelty　of　those　He　had　come　to　save。　He　knew　how　great　the　sacrifice　that　He　must　make；　and　for　how　many　it　would　be　in　vain。　Knowing　all　that　was　before　Him；　He　might　naturally　have　been　overwhelmed　with　the　thought　of　His　own　humiliation　and　suffering。　But　He　looked　upon　the　twelve；　who　had　been　with　Him　as　His　own；　and　who；　after　His　shame　and　sorrow　and　painful　usage　were　over；　would　be　left　to　struggle　in　the　world。　His　thoughts　of　what　He　Himself　must　suffer　were　ever　connected　with　His　disciples。　He　did　not　think　of　Himself。　His　care　for　them　was　uppermost　in　His　mind。

On　this　last　evening　with　His　disciples；　Jesus　had　much　to　tell　them。　If　they　had　been　prepared　to　receive　what　He　longed　to　impart；　they　would　have　been　saved　from　heartbreaking　anguish；　from　disappointment　and　unbelief。　But　Jesus　saw　that　they　could　not　bear　what　He　had　to　say。　As　He　looked　into　their　faces；　the　words　of　warning　and　comfort　were　stayed　upon　His　lips。　Moments　passed　in　silence。　Jesus　appeared　to　be　waiting。　The　disciples　were　ill　at　ease。　The　sympathy　and　tenderness　awakened　by　Christ's　grief　seemed　to　have　passed　away。　His　sorrowful　words；　pointing　to　His　own　suffering；　had　made　little　impression。　The　glances　they　cast　upon　each　other　told　of　jealousy　and　contention。

There　was　〃a　strife　among　them；　which　of　them　should　be　accounted　the　greatest。〃　This　contention；　carried　on　in　the　presence　of　Christ；　grieved　and　wounded　Him。　The　disciples　clung　to　their　favorite　idea　that　Christ　would　assert　His　power；　and　take　His　position　on　the　throne　of　David。　And　in　heart　each　still　longed　for　the　highest　place　in　the

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kingdom。　They　had　placed　their　own　estimate　upon　themselves　and　upon　one　another；　and；　instead　of　regarding　their　brethren　as　more　worthy；　they　had　placed　themselves　first。　The　request　of　James　and　John　to　sit　on　the　right　and　left　of　Christ's　throne　had　excited　the　indignation　of　the　others。　That　the　two　brothers　should　presume　to　ask　for　the　highest　position　so　stirred　the　ten　that　alienation　threatened。　They　felt　that　they　were　misjudged；　that　their　fidelity　and　talents　were　not　appreciated。　Judas　was　the　most　severe　upon　James　and　John。

When　the　disciples　entered　the　supper　room；　their　hearts　were　full　of　resentful　feelings。　Judas　pressed　next　to　Christ　on　the　left　side；　John　was　on　the　right。　If　there　was　a　highest　place；　Judas　was　determined　to　have　it；　and　that　place　was　thought　to　be　next　to　Christ。　And　Judas　was　a　traitor。

Another　cause　of　dissension　had　arisen。　At　a　feast　it　was　customary　for　a　servant　to　wash　the　feet　of　the　guests；　and　on　this　occasion　preparation　had　been　made　for　the　service。　The　pitcher；　the　basin；　and　the　towel　were　there；　in　readiness　for　the　feet　washing；　but　no　servant　was　present；　and　it　was　the　disciples'　part　to　perform　it。　But　each　of　the　disciples；　yielding　to　wounded　pride；　determined　not　to　act　the　part　of　a　servant。　All　manifested　a　stoical　unconcern；　seeming　unconscious　that　there　was　anything　for　them　to　do。　By　their　silence　they　refused　to　humble　themselves。

How　was　Christ　to　bring　these　poor　souls　where　Satan　would　not　gain　over　them　a　decided　victory？　How　could　He　show　that　a　mere　profession　of　discipleship　did　not　make　them　disciples；　or　insure　them　a　place　in　His　kingdom？　How　could　He　show　that　it　is　loving　service；　true　humility；　which　constitutes　real　greatness？　How　was　He　to　kindle　love　in　their　hearts；　and　enable　them　to　comprehend　what　He　longed　to　tell　them？

The　disciples　made　no　move　toward　serving　one　another。　Jesus　waited　for　a　time　to　see　what　they　would　do。　Then　He；　the　divine　Teacher；　rose　from　the　table。　Laying　aside　the　outer　garment　that　would　have　impeded　His　movements；　He　took　a　towel；　and　girded　Himself。　With　surprised　interest　the　disciples　looked　on；　and　in　silence　waited　to　see　what　was　to　follow。　〃After　that　He　poureth　water　into　a　basin；　and　began　to　wash　the　disciples'　feet；　and　to　wipe　them　with　the　towel　wherewith　He　was　girded。〃　This　action　opened　the　eyes　of　the　disciples。　Bitter　shame　and　humiliation　filled　their　hearts。　They　understood　the　unspoken　rebuke；　and　saw　themselves　in　altogether　a　new　light。

So　Christ　expressed　His　love　for　His　disciples。　Their　selfish　spirit　filled　Him　with　sorrow；　but　He　entered　into　no　controversy　with　them

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regarding　their　difficulty。　Instead　He　gave　them　an　example　they　would　never　forget。　His　love　for　them　was　not　easily　disturbed　or　quenched。　He　knew　that　the　Father　had　given　all　things　into　His　hands；　and　that　He　came　from　God；　and　went　to　God。　He　had　a　full　consciousness　of　His　divinity；　but　He　had　laid　aside　His　royal　crown　and　kingly　robes；　and　had　taken　the　form　of　a　servant。　One　of　the　last　acts　of　His　life　on　earth　was　to　gird　Himself　as　a　servant；　and　perform　a　servant's　part。

Before　the　Passover　Judas　had　met　a　second　time　with　the　priests　and　scribes；　and　had　closed　the　contract　to　deliver　Jesus　into　their　hands。　Yet　he　afterward　mingled　with　the　disciples　as　though　innocent　of　any　wrong；　and　interested　in　the　work　of　preparing　for　the　feast。　The　disciples　knew　nothing　of　the　purpose　of　Judas。　Jesus　alone　could　read　his　secret。　Yet　He　did　not　expose　him。　Jesus　hungered　for　his　soul。　He　felt　for　him　such　a　burden　as　for　Jerusalem　when　He　wept　over　the　doomed　city。　His　heart　was　crying；　How　can　I　give　thee　up？　The　constraining　power　of　that　love　was　felt　by　Judas。　When　the　Saviour's　hands　were　bathing　those　soiled　feet；　and　wiping　them　with　the　towel；　the　heart　of　Judas　thrilled　through　and　through　with　the　impulse　then　and　there　to　confess　his　sin。　But　he　would　not　humble　himself。　He　hardened　his　heart　against　repentance；　and　the　old　impulses；　for　the　moment　put　aside；　again　controlled　him。　Judas　was　now　offended　at　Christ's　act　in　washing　the　feet　of　His　disciples。　If　Jesus　could　so　humble　Himself；　he　thought；　He　coul