the desire of ages-第61章

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　and　downtrodden。　In　all　our　afflictions　He　is　afflicted。　In　every　temptation　and　every　trial　the　angel　of　His　presence　is　near　to　deliver。

Not　even　a　sparrow　falls　to　the　ground　without　the　Father's　notice。　Satan's　hatred　against　God　leads　him　to　hate　every　object　of　the　Saviour's　care。　He　seeks　to　mar　the　handiwork　of　God；　and　he　delights　in　destroying

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even　the　dumb　creatures。　It　is　only　through　God's　protecting　care　that　the　birds　are　preserved　to　gladden　us　with　their　songs　of　joy。　But　He　does　not　forget　even　the　sparrows。　〃Fear　ye　not　therefore；　ye　are　of　more　value　than　many　sparrows。〃

Jesus　continues：　As　you　confess　Me　before　men；　so　I　will　confess　you　before　God　and　the　holy　angels。　You　are　to　be　My　witnesses　upon　earth；　channels　through　which　My　grace　can　flow　for　the　healing　of　the　world。　So　I　will　be　your　representative　in　heaven。　The　Father　beholds　not　your　faulty　character；　but　He　sees　you　as　clothed　in　My　perfection。　I　am　the　medium　through　which　Heaven's　blessings　shall　come　to　you。　And　everyone　who　confesses　Me　by　sharing　My　sacrifice　for　the　lost　shall　be　confessed　as　a　sharer　in　the　glory　and　joy　of　the　redeemed。

He　who　would　confess　Christ　must　have　Christ　abiding　in　him。　He　cannot　communicate　that　which　he　has　not　received。　The　disciples　might　speak　fluently　on　doctrines；　they　might　repeat　the　words　of　Christ　Himself；　but　unless　they　possessed　Christlike　meekness　and　love；　they　were　not　confessing　Him。　A　spirit　contrary　to　the　spirit　of　Christ　would　deny　Him；　whatever　the　profession。　Men　may　deny　Christ　by　evilspeaking；　by　foolish　talking；　by　words　that　are　untruthful　or　unkind。　They　may　deny　Him　by　shunning　life's　burdens；　by　the　pursuit　of　sinful　pleasure。　They　may　deny　Him　by　conforming　to　the　world；　by　uncourteous　behavior；　by　the　love　of　their　own　opinions；　by　justifying　self；　by　cherishing　doubt；　borrowing　trouble；　and　dwelling　in　darkness。　In　all　these　ways　they　declare　that　Christ　is　not　in　them。　And　〃whosoever　shall　deny　Me　before　men；〃　He　says；　〃him　will　I　also　deny　before　My　Father　which　is　in　heaven。〃

The　Saviour　bade　His　disciples　not　to　hope　that　the　world's　enmity　to　the　gospel　would　be　overcome；　and　that　after　a　time　its　opposition　would　cease。　He　said；　〃I　came　not　to　send　peace；　but　a　sword。〃　This　creating　of　strife　is　not　the　effect　of　the　gospel；　but　the　result　of　opposition　to　it。　Of　all　persecution　the　hardest　to　bear　is　variance　in　the　home；　the　estrangement　of　dearest　earthly　friends。　But　Jesus　declares；　〃He　that　loveth　father　or　mother　more　than　Me　is　not　worthy　of　Me：　and　he　that　loveth　son　or　daughter　more　than　Me　is　not　worthy　of　Me。　And　he　that　taketh　not　his　cross；　and　followeth　after　Me；　is　not　worthy　of　Me。〃

The　mission　of　Christ's　servants　is　a　high　honor；　and　a　sacred　trust。　〃He　that　receiveth　you；〃　He　says；　〃receiveth　Me；　and　he　that　receiveth

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Me　receiveth　Him　that　sent　Me。〃　No　act　of　kindness　shown　to　them　in　His　name　will　fail　to　be　recognized　and　rewarded。　And　in　the　same　tender　recognition　He　includes　the　feeblest　and　lowliest　of　the　family　of　God：　〃Whosoever　shall　give　to　drink　unto　one　of　these　little　ones〃those　who　are　as　children　in　their　faith　and　their　knowledge　of　Christ〃a　cup　of　cold　water　only　in　the　name　of　a　disciple；　verily　I　say　unto　you；　he　shall　in　nowise　lose　his　reward。〃

Thus　the　Saviour　ended　His　instruction。　In　the　name　of　Christ　the　chosen　twelve　went　out；　as　He　had　gone；　〃to　preach　the　gospel　to　the　poor；　。　。　。　to　heal　the　brokenhearted；　to　preach　deliverance　to　the　captives；　and　recovering　of　sight　to　the　blind；　to　set　at　liberty　them　that　are　bruised；　to　preach　the　acceptable　year　of　the　Lord。〃　Luke　4：18；　19。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　38

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Come　Rest　Awhile


On　returning　from　their　missionary　tour；　〃the　apostles　gathered　themselves　together　unto　Jesus；　and　told　Him　all　things；　both　what　they　had　done；　and　what　they　had　taught。　And　He　said　unto　them；　Come　ye　yourselves　apart　into　a　desert　place；　and　rest　awhile：　for　there　were　many　coming　and　going；　and　they　had　no　leisure　so　much　as　to　eat。〃

The　disciples　came　to　Jesus　and　told　Him　all　things。　Their　intimate　relationship　with　Him　encouraged　them　to　lay　before　Him　their　favorable　and　unfavorable　experiences；　their　joy　at　seeing　results　from　their　labors；　and　their　sorrow　at　their　failures；　their　faults；　and　their　weaknesses。　They　had　committed　errors　in　their　first　work　as　evangelists；　and　as　they　frankly　told　Christ　of　their　experiences；　He　saw　that　they　needed　much　instruction。　He　saw；　too；　that　they　had　become　weary　in　their　labors；　and　that　they　needed　to　rest。

But　where　they　then　were　they　could　not　obtain　the　needed　privacy；　〃for　there　were　many　coming　and　going；　and　they　had　no　leisure　so　much　as　to　eat。〃　The　people　were　thronging　after　Christ；　anxious　to　be　healed；　and　eager　to　listen　to　His　words。　Many　felt　drawn　to　Him；　for　He　seemed　to　them　to　be　the　fountain　of　all　blessings。　Many　of　those　who　then　thronged　about　Christ　to　receive　the　precious　boon　of　health　accepted　Him　as　their　Saviour。　Many　others；　afraid　then　to　confess　Him；　because　of　the　Pharisees；　were　converted　at　the　descent

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of　the　Holy　Spirit；　and；　before　the　angry　priests　and　rulers；　acknowledged　Him　as　the　Son　of　God。

But　now　Christ　longed　for　retirement；　that　He　might　be　with　His　disciples；　for　He　had　much　to　say　to　them。　In　their　work　they　had　passed　through　the　test　of　conflict；　and　had　encountered　opposition　in　various　forms。　Hitherto　they　had　consulted　Christ　in　everything；　but　for　some　time　they　had　been　alone；　and　at　times　they　had　been　much　troubled　to　know　what　to　do。　They　had　found　much　encouragement　in　their　work；　for　Christ　did　not　send　them　away　without　His　Spirit；　and　by　faith　in　Him　they　worked　many　miracles；　but　they　needed　now　to　feed　on　the　Bread　of　Life。　They　needed　to　go　to　a　place　of　retirement；　where　they　could　hold　communion　with　Jesus　and　receive　instruction　for　future　work。

〃And　He　said　unto　them；　Come　ye　yourselves　apart　into　a　desert　place；　and　rest　awhile。〃　Christ　is　full　of　tenderness　and　compassion　for　all　in　His　service。　He　would　show　His　disciples　that　God　does　not　require　sacrifice；　but　mercy。　They　had　been　putting　their　whole　souls　into　labor　for　the　people；　and　this　was　exhausting　their　physical　and　mental　strength。　It　was　their　duty　to　rest。

As　the　disciples　had　seen　the　success　of　their　labors；　they　were　in　danger　of　taking　credit　to　themselves；　in　danger　of　cherishing　spiritual　pride；　and　thus　falling　under　Satan's　temptations。　A　great　work　was　before　them；　and　first　of　all　they　must　learn　that　their　strength　was　not　in　self；　but　in　God。　Like　Moses　in　the　wilderness　of　Sinai；　like　David　among　the　hills　of　Judea；　or　Elijah　by　the　brook　Cherith；　the　disciples　needed　to　come　apart　from　the　scenes　of　their　busy　activity；　to　commune　with　Christ；　with　nature；　and　with　their　own　hearts。

While　the　disciples　had　been　absent　on　their　missionary　tour；　Jesus　had　visited　other　towns　and　villages；　preaching　the　gospel　of　the　kingdom。　It　was　about　this　time　that　He　received　tidings　of　the　Baptist's　death。　This　event　brought　vividly　before　Him　the　end　to　which　His　own　steps　were　tending。　The　shadows　were　gathering　thickly　about　His　path。　Priests　and　rabbis　were　watching　to　compass　His　death；　spies　hung　upon　His　steps；　and　on　every　hand　plots　for　His　ruin　were　multiplying。　News　of　the　preaching　of　the　apostles　throughout　Galilee　reached　Herod；　calling　his　attention　to　Jesus　and　His　work。　〃This　is　John　the　Baptist；〃　he　said；　〃he　is　risen　from　the　dead；〃　and　he　expressed　a　desire　to　see　Jesus。　Herod　was　in　constant　fear　lest　a　revolution　might　be　secretly　carried　forward；　with　the　object　of　unseating　him　from　the　throne；　and　breaking　the　Roman　yoke　from　the　Jewish　nation。　Among　the　people　the　spirit

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of　discontent　and　insurrection　was　rife。　It　was　evident　that　Christ's　public　labors　in　Galilee　could　not　be　long　continued。　The　scenes　of　His　suffering　were　drawing　near；　and　He　longed　to　be　apart　for　a　season　from　the　confusion　of　the　multitude。

With　saddened　hearts　the　disciples　of　John　had　borne　his　mutilated　body　to　its　burial。　Then　they　〃went　and　told　Jesus。〃　These　disciples　had　been　envious　of　Christ　when　He　seemed　to　be　drawing　the　people　away　from　John。　They　had　sided　with　the　Pharisees　in　accusing　Him　when　He　sat　with　the　publicans　at　Matthew's　feast。　They　had　doubted　His　divine　mission　because　He　did　not　set　the　Baptist　at　liberty。　But　now　that　their　teacher　was　dead；　and　they　longed　for　consolation　in　their　great　sorrow；　and　for　guidance　as　to　their　future　work；　they　came　to　Jesus；　and　united　their　interest　with　His。　They　too　needed　a　season　of　quiet　for　communion　with　the　Saviour。

Near　Bethsaida；　at　the　northern　end　of　the　lake；　was　a　lonely　region；　now　beautiful　with　the　fresh　green　of　spring；　that　offered　a　welcome　retreat　to　Jesus　and　His　disciples。　For　this　place　they　set　out；　going　in　their　boat　across　the　water。　Here　they　would　be　away　from　the　thoroughfares　of　travel；　and　the　bustle　and　agitation　of　the　city。　The　scenes　of　nature　were　in　themselves　a　rest；　a　change　grateful　to　the　senses。　Here　they　could　listen　to　the　words　of　Christ　without　hearing　the　angry　interruptions；　the　retorts　and　accusations　of　the　scribes　and　Pharisees。　Here　they　could　enjoy　a　short　season　of　precious　fellowship　in　the　society　of　their　Lord。

The　rest　which　Christ　and　His　disciples　took　was　not　self…indulgent　rest。　The　time　they　spent　in　retirement　was　not　devoted　to　pleasure　seeking。　They　talked　together　regarding　the　work　of　God；　and　the　possibility　of　bringing　greater　efficiency　to　the　work。　The　disciples　had　been　with　Christ；　and　could　understand　Him；　to　them　He　need　not　talk　in　parables。　He　corrected　their　errors；　and　made　plain　to　them　the　right　way　of　approaching　the　people。　He　opened　more　fully　to　them　the　precious　treasures　of　divine　truth。　They　were　vitalized　by　divine　power；　and　inspired　with　hope　and　courage。

Though　Jesus　could　work　miracles；　and　had　empowered　His　disciples　to　work　miracles；　He　directed　His　worn　servants　to　go　apart　into　the　country　and　rest。　When　He　said　that　the　harvest　was　great；　and　the　laborers　were　few；　He　did　not　urge　upon　His　disciples　the　necessity　of　ceaseless　toil；　but　said；　〃Pray　ye　therefore　the　Lord　of　the　harvest；　that　He　will　send　forth　laborers　into　His　harvest。〃　Matt。　9：38。　God　has

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appointed　to　every　man　his　work；　according　to　his　ability　（Eph。　4：11…13）；　and　He　would　not　have　a　few　weighted　with　responsibilities　while　others　have　no　burden；　no　travail　of　soul。

Christ's　words　of　compassion　are　spoken　to　His　workers　today　just　as　surely　as　they　were　spoken　to　His　disciples。　〃Come　ye　yourselves　apart；　。　。　。　and　rest　awhile；〃　He　says　to　those　who　are　worn　and　weary。　It　is　not　wise　to　be　always　under　the　strain　of　work　and　excitement；　even　in　ministering　to　men's　spiritual　needs；　for　in　this　way　personal　piety　is　neglected；　and　the　powers　of　mind　and　soul　and　body　are　overtaxed。　Self…denial　is　required　of　the　disciples　of　Chri