the desire of ages-第149章
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will be sharers with Him of His glory。 It was the joy of Christ in His humiliation and pain that His disciples should be glorified with Him。 They are the fruit of His self…sacrifice。 The outworking in them of His own character and spirit is His reward； and will be His joy throughout eternity。 This joy they share with Him as the fruit of their labor and sacrifice is seen in other hearts and lives。 They are workers together with Christ； and the Father will honor them as He honors His Son。
The message of the Greeks； foreshadowing as it did the gathering in of the Gentiles； brought to the mind of Jesus His entire mission。 The work of redemption passed before Him； from the time when in heaven the plan was laid； to the death that was now so near at hand。 A mysterious cloud seemed to enshroud the Son of God。 Its gloom was felt by those near Him。 He sat rapt in thought。 At last the silence was broken by His mournful voice； 〃Now is My soul troubled； and what shall I say？ Father； save Me from this hour？〃 In anticipation Christ was already drinking the cup of bitterness。 His humanity shrank from the hour of abandonment； when to all appearance He would be deserted even by God； when all would see Him stricken； smitten of God； and afflicted。 He shrank from public exposure； from being treated as the worst of criminals； from a shameful and dishonored death。 A foreboding of His conflict with the powers of darkness； a sense of the awful burden of human transgression； and the Father's wrath because of sin caused the spirit of Jesus to faint； and the pallor of death to overspread His countenance。
Then came divine submission to His Father's will。 〃For this cause；〃 He said； 〃came I unto this hour。 Father； glorify Thy name。〃 Only through the death of Christ could Satan's kingdom be overthrown。 Only thus could man be redeemed； and God be glorified。 Jesus consented to the agony； He accepted the sacrifice。 The Majesty of heaven consented to suffer as the Sin Bearer。 〃Father； glorify Thy name；〃 He said。 As
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Christ spoke these words； a response came from the cloud which hovered above His head： 〃I have both glorified it； and will glorify it again。〃 Christ's whole life； from the manger to the time when these words were spoken； had glorified God； and in the coming trial His divine…human sufferings would indeed glorify His Father's name。
As the voice was heard； a light darted from the cloud； and encircled Christ； as if the arms of Infinite Power were thrown about Him like a wall of fire。 The people beheld this scene with terror and amazement。 No one dared to speak。 With silent lips and bated breath all stood with eyes fixed upon Jesus。 The testimony of the Father having been given； the cloud lifted； and scattered in the heavens。 For the time the visible communion between the Father and the Son was ended。
〃The people therefore； that stood by； and heard it； said that it thundered： others said； An angel spake to Him。〃 But the inquiring Greeks saw the cloud； heard the voice； comprehended its meaning； and discerned Christ indeed； to them He was revealed as the Sent of God。
The voice of God had been heard at the baptism of Jesus at the beginning of His ministry； and again at His transfiguration on the mount。 Now at the close of His ministry it was heard for the third time； by a larger number of persons； and under peculiar circumstances。 Jesus had just spoken the most solemn truth regarding the condition of the Jews。 He had made His last appeal； and pronounced their doom。 Now God again set His seal to the mission of His Son。 He recognized the One whom Israel had rejected。 〃This voice came not because of Me；〃 said Jesus； 〃but for your sakes。〃 It was the crowning evidence of His Messiahship； the signal from the Father that Jesus had spoken the truth； and was the Son of God。
〃Now is the judgment of this world；〃 Christ continued； 〃now shall the prince of this world be cast out。 And I； if I be lifted up from the earth； will draw all unto Me。 This He said； signifying what death He should die。〃 This is the crisis of the world。 If I become the propitiation for the sins of men； the world will be lighted up。 Satan's hold upon the souls of men will be broken。 The defaced image of God will be restored in humanity； and a family of believing saints will finally inherit the heavenly home。 This is the result of Christ's death。 The Saviour is lost in contemplation of the scene of triumph called up before Him。 He sees the cross； the cruel； ignominious cross； with all its attending horrors； blazing with glory。
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But the work of human redemption is not all that is accomplished by the cross。 The love of God is manifested to the universe。 The prince of this world is cast out。 The accusations which Satan has brought against God are refuted。 The reproach which he has cast upon heaven is forever removed。 Angels as well as men are drawn to the Redeemer。 〃I； if I be lifted up from the earth；〃 He said； 〃will draw all unto Me。〃
Many people were round about Christ as He spoke these words； and one said； 〃We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever： and how sayest Thou； The Son of man must be lifted up？ who is this Son of man？ Then Jesus said unto them； Yet a little while is the light with you。 Walk while ye have the light； lest darkness come upon you： for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth。 While ye have light； believe in the light； that ye may be the children of light。〃
〃But though He had done so many miracles before them； yet they believed not on Him。〃 They had once asked the Saviour； 〃What sign showest Thou then； that we may see； and believe Thee？〃 John 6：30。 Innumerable signs had been given； but they had closed their eyes and hardened their hearts。 Now that the Father Himself had spoken； and they could ask for no further sign； they still refused to believe。
〃Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him； but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him； lest they should be put out of the synagogue。〃 They loved the praise of men rather than the approval of God。 To save themselves from reproach and shame； they denied Christ； and rejected the offer of eternal life。 And how many through all the centuries since have been doing the same thing！ To them all the Saviour's warning words apply： 〃He that loveth his life shall lose it。〃 〃He that rejecteth Me；〃 said Jesus； 〃and receiveth not My words； hath one that judgeth him： the word that I have spoken； the same shall judge him in the last day。〃 John 12：48。
Alas for those who knew not the time of their visitation！ Slowly and regretfully Christ left forever the precincts of the temple。
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Chapter 69
On the Mount of Olives
Christ's words to the priests and rulers； 〃Behold； your house is left unto you desolate〃 （Matt。 23：38）； had struck terror to their hearts。 They affected indifference； but the question kept rising in their minds as to the import of these words。 An unseen danger seemed to threaten them。 Could it be that the magnificent temple； which was the nation's glory； was soon to be a heap of ruins？ The foreboding of evil was shared by the disciples； and they anxiously waited for some more definite statement from Jesus。 As they passed with Him out of the temple； they called His attention to its strength and beauty。 The stones of the temple were of the purest marble； of perfect whiteness； and some of them of almost fabulous size。 A portion of the wall had withstood the siege by Nebuchadnezzar's army。 In its perfect masonry it appeared like one solid stone dug entire from the quarry。 How those mighty walls could be overthrown the disciples could not comprehend。
As Christ's attention was attracted to the magnificence of the temple； what must have been the unuttered thoughts of that Rejected One！ The view before Him was indeed beautiful； but He said with sadness； I see it all。 The buildings are indeed wonderful。 You point to these walls as apparently indestructible； but listen to My words： The day will come when 〃there shall not be lef
