the desire of ages-第164章
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His church ample facilities； that He may receive a large revenue of glory from His redeemed； purchased possession。 He has bestowed upon His people capabilities and blessings that they may represent His own sufficiency。 The church； endowed with the righteousness of Christ； is His depositary； in which the riches of His mercy； His grace； and His love； are to appear in full and final display。 Christ looks upon His people in their purity and perfection； as the reward of His humiliation； and the supplement of His glory；Christ； the great Center； from whom radiates all glory。
With strong； hopeful words the Saviour ended His instruction。 Then He poured out the burden of His soul in prayer for His disciples。 Lifting His eyes to heaven； He said； 〃Father； the hour is come； glorify Thy Son； that Thy Son also may glorify Thee： as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh； that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him。 And this is life eternal； that they might know Thee the only true God； and Jesus Christ； 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 Hi
