the desire of ages-第146节

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hrist；　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　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