the desire of ages-第115章
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ay the hand that was pierced is reached forth to bless more abundantly His people that are in the world。 〃And they shall never perish； neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand。〃
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The soul that has given himself to Christ is more precious in His sight than the whole world。 The Saviour would have passed through the agony of Calvary that one might be saved in His kingdom。 He will never abandon one for whom He has died。 Unless His followers choose to leave Him； He will hold them fast。
Through all our trials we have a never…failing Helper。 He does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation； to battle with evil； and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow。 Though now He is hidden from mortal sight； the ear of faith can hear His voice saying； Fear not； I am with you。 〃I am He that liveth； and was dead； and； behold； I am alive forevermore。〃 Rev。 1：18。 I have endured your sorrows； experienced your struggles； encountered your temptations。 I know your tears； I also have wept。 The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear； I know。 Think not that you are desolate and forsaken。 Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on earth； look unto Me； and live。 〃The mountains shall depart； and the hills be removed； but My kindness shall not depart from thee； neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed； saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee。〃 Isa。 54：10。
However much a shepherd may love his sheep； he loves his sons and daughters more。 Jesus is not only our shepherd； He is our 〃everlasting Father。〃 And He says； 〃I know Mine own； and Mine own know Me； even as the Father knoweth Me； and I know the Father。〃 John 10：14； 15； R。 V。 What a statement is this！the only…begotten Son； He who is in the bosom of the Father； He whom God has declared to be 〃the Man that is My fellow〃 （Zech。 13：7）；the communion between Him and the eternal God is taken to represent the communion between Christ and His children on the earth！
Because we are the gift of His Father； and the reward of His work； Jesus loves us。 He loves us as His children。 Reader； He loves you。 Heaven itself can bestow nothing greater； nothing better。 Therefore trust。
Jesus thought upon the souls all over the earth who were misled by false shepherds。 Those whom He longed to gather as the sheep of His pasture were scattered among wolves； and He said； 〃Other sheep I have； which are not of this fold： them also I must bring； and they shall hear My voice； and they shall become one flock； one shepherd。〃 John 10：16； R。 V。
〃Therefore doth My Father love Me； because I lay down My life； that I might take it again。〃 That is； My Father has so loved you； that
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He even loves Me more for giving My life to redeem you。 In becoming your substitute and surety； by surrendering My life； by taking your liabilities； your transgressions； I am endeared to My Father。
〃I lay down My life； that I might take it again。 No man taketh it from Me； but I lay it down of Myself。 I have power to lay it down； and I have power to take it again。〃 While as a member of the human family He was mortal； as God He was the fountain of life for the world。 He could have withstood the advances of death； and refused to come under its dominion； but voluntarily He laid down His life； that He might bring life and immortality to light。 He bore the sin of the world； endured its curse； yielded up His life as a sacrifice； that men might not eternally die。 〃Surely He hath borne our griefs； and carried our sorrows。 。 。 。 He was wounded for our transgressions； He was bruised for our iniquities： the chastisement of our peace was upon Him； and with His stripes we are healed。 All we like sheep have gone astray； we have turned every one to his own way； and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all。〃 Isa。 53：4…6。
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Chapter 53
The Last Journey From Galilee
As the close of His ministry drew near； there was a change in Christ's manner of labor。 Heretofore He had sought to shun excitement and publicity。 He had refused the homage of the people； and had passed quickly from place to place when the popular enthusiasm in His favor seemed kindling beyond control。 Again and again He had commanded that none should declare Him to be the Christ。
At the time of the Feast of Tabernacles His journey to Jerusalem was made swiftly and secretly。 When urged by His brothers to present Himself publicly as the Messiah； His answer was； 〃My time is not yet come。〃 John 7：6。 He made His way to Jerusalem unobserved； and entered the city unannounced； and unhonored by the multitude。 But not so with His last journey。 He had left Jerusalem for a season because of the malice of the priests and rabbis。 But He now set out to return； traveling in the most public manner； by a circuitous route； and preceded by such an announcement of His coming as He had never made before。 He was going forward to the scene of His great sacrifice； and to this the attention of the people must be directed。
〃As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness； even so must the Son of man be lifted up。〃 John 3：14。 As the eyes of all Israel had been directed to the uplifted serpent； the symbol appointed for their healing； so all eyes must be drawn to Christ； the sacrifice that brought salvation to the lost world。
It was a false conception of the Messiah's work； and a lack of faith
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in the divine character of Jesus； that had led His brothers to urge Him to present Himself publicly to the people at the Feast of Tabernacles。 Now； in a spirit akin to this； the disciples would have prevented Him from making the journey to Jerusalem。 They remembered His words concerning what was to befall Him there； they knew the deadly hostility of the religious leaders； and they would fain have dissuaded their Master from going thither。
To the heart of Christ it was a bitter task to press His way against the fears； disappointment； and unbelief of His beloved disciples。 It was hard to lead them forward to the anguish and despair that awaited them at Jerusalem。 And Satan was at hand to press his temptations upon the Son of man。 Why should He now go to Jerusalem； to certain death？ All around Him were souls hungering for the bread of life。 On every hand were suffering ones waiting for His word of healing。 The work to be wrought by the gospel of His grace was but just begun。 And He was full of the vigor of manhood's prime。 Why not go forward to the vast fields of the world with the words of His grace； the touch of His healing power？ Why not take to Himself the joy of giving light and gladness to those darkened and sorrowing millions？ Why leave the harvest gathering to His disciples； so weak in faith； so dull of understanding； so slow to act？ Why face death now； and leave the work in its infancy？ The foe who in the wilderness had confronted Christ assailed Him now with fierce and subtle temptations。 Had Jesus yielded for a moment； had He changed His course in the least particular to save Himself； Satan's agencies would have triumphed； and the world would have been lost。
But Jesus had 〃steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem。〃 The one law of His life was the Father's will。 In the visit to the temple in His boyhood； He had said to Mary； 〃Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business？〃 Luke 2：49。 At Cana； when Mary desired Him to reveal His miraculous power； His answer was； 〃Mine hour is not yet come。〃 John 2：4。 With the same words He replied to His brothers when they urged Him to go to the feast。 But in God's great plan the hour had been appointed for the offering of Himself for the sins of men； and that hour was soon to strike。 He would not fail nor falter。 His steps are turned toward Jerusalem； where His foes have long plotted to take His life； now He will lay it down。 He set His face steadfastly to go to persecution； denial； rejection； condemnation； and death。
And He 〃sent messengers before His face： and they went； and entered into a village of the Samaritans； to make ready for Him。〃 But
