the desire of ages-第85章

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The　directions　to　the　seventy　were　similar　to　those　that　had　been　given　to　the　twelve；　but　the　command　to　the　twelve；　not　to　enter　into　any　city　of　the　Gentiles　or　of　the　Samaritans；　was　not　given　to　the　seventy。　Though　Christ　had　just　been　repulsed　by　the　Samaritans；　His　love　toward　them　was　unchanged。　When　the　seventy　went　forth　in　His　name；　they　visited；　first　of　all；　the　cities　of　Samaria。

The　Saviour's　own　visit　to　Samaria；　and　later；　the　commendation　of　the　good　Samaritan；　and　the　grateful　joy　of　that　leper；　a　Samaritan；　who　alone　of　the　ten　returned　to　give　thanks　to　Christ；　were　full　of　significance　to　the　disciples。　The　lesson　sank　deep　into　their　hearts。　In　His　commission　to　them；　just　before　His　ascension；　Jesus　mentioned　Samaria　with　Jerusalem　and　Judea　as　the　places　where　they　were　first　to　preach　the　gospel。　This　commission　His　teaching　had　prepared　them　to　fulfill。　When　in　their　Master's　name　they　went　to　Samaria；　they　found　the　people　ready　to　receive　them。　The　Samaritans　had　heard　of　Christ's　words　of　commendation　and　His　works　of　mercy　for　men　of　their　nation。　They　saw　that；　notwithstanding　their　rude　treatment　of　Him；　He　had　only　thoughts　of　love　toward　them；　and　their　hearts　were　won。　After　His　ascension　they　welcomed　the　Saviour's　messengers；　and　the　disciples　gathered　a　precious　harvest　from　among　those　who　had　once　been　their　bitterest　enemies。

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〃A　bruised　reed　shall　He　not　break；　and　the　dimly　burning　flax　shall　He　not　quench：　He　shall　bring　forth　judgment　unto　truth。〃　〃And　in　His　name　shall　the　Gentiles　trust。〃　Isa。　42：3；　margin；　Matt。　12：21。

In　sending　out　the　seventy；　Jesus　bade　them；　as　He　had　bidden　the　twelve；　not　to　urge　their　presence　where　they　were　unwelcome。　〃Into　whatsoever　city　ye　enter；　and　they　receive　you　not；〃　He　said；　〃go　your　ways　out　into　the　streets　of　the　same；　and　say；　Even　the　very　dust　of　your　city；　which　cleaveth　on　us；　we　do　wipe　off　against　you：　notwithstanding　be　ye　sure　of　this；　that　the　kingdom　of　God　is　come　nigh　unto　you。〃　They　were　not　to　do　this　from　motives　of　resentment　or　through　wounded　dignity；　but　to　show　how　grievous　a　thing　it　is　to　refuse　the　Lord's　message　or　His　messengers。　To　reject　the　Lord's　servants　is　to　reject　Christ　Himself。

〃I　say　unto　you；〃　Jesus　added；　〃that　it　shall　be　more　tolerable　in　that　day　for　Sodom；　than　for　that　city。〃　Then　His　mind　reverted　to　the　Galilean　towns　where　so　much　of　His　ministry　had　been　spent。　In　deeply　sorrowful　accents　He　exclaimed；　〃Woe　unto　thee；　Chorazin！　woe　unto　thee；　Bethsaida！　for　if　the　mighty　works　had　been　done　in　Tyre　and　Sidon；　which　have　been　done　in　you；　they　had　a　great　while　ago　repented；　sitting　in　sackcloth　and　ashes。　But　it　shall　be　more　tolerable　for　Tyre　and　Sidon　at　the　judgment；　than　for　you。　And　thou；　Capernaum；　which　art　exalted　to　heaven；　shalt　be　thrust　down　to　hell。〃

To　those　busy　towns　about　the　Sea　of　Galilee；　heaven's　richest　blessings　had　been　freely　offered。　Day　after　day　the　Prince　of　life　had　gone　in　and　out　among　them。　The　glory　of　God；　which　prophets　and　kings　had　longed　to　see；　had　shone　upon　the　multitudes　that　thronged　the　Saviour's　steps。　Yet　they　had　refused　the　heavenly　Gift。

With　a　great　show　of　prudence　the　rabbis　had　warned　the　people　against　receiving　the　new　doctrines　taught　by　this　new　teacher；　for　His　theories　and　practices　were　contrary　to　the　teachings　of　the　fathers。　The　people　gave　credence　to　what　the　priests　and　Pharisees　taught；　in　place　of　seeking　to　understand　the　word　of　God　for　themselves。　They　honored　the　priests　and　rulers　instead　of　honoring　God；　and　rejected　the　truth　that　they　might　keep　their　own　traditions。　Many　had　been　impressed　and　almost　persuaded；　but　they　did　not　act　upon　their　convictions；　and　were　not　reckoned　on　the　side　of　Christ。　Satan　presented　his　temptations；　until　the　light　appeared　as　darkness。　Thus　many　rejected　the　truth　that　would　have　proved　the　saving　of　the　soul。

The　True　Witness　says；　〃Behold；　I　stand　at　the　door；　and　knock。〃　Rev。　3：20。　Every　warning；　reproof；　and　entreaty　in　the　word　of　God　or

490

through　His　messengers　is　a　knock　at　the　door　of　the　heart。　It　is　the　voice　of　Jesus　asking　for　entrance。　With　every　knock　unheeded；　the　disposition　to　open　becomes　weaker。　The　impressions　of　the　Holy　Spirit　if　disregarded　today；　will　not　be　as　strong　tomorrow。　The　heart　becomes　less　impressible；　and　lapses　into　a　perilous　unconsciousness　of　the　shortness　of　life；　and　of　the　great　eternity　beyond。　Our　condemnation　in　the　judgment　will　not　result　from　the　fact　that　we　have　been　in　error；　but　from　the　fact　that　we　have　neglected　heaven…sent　opportunities　for　learning　what　is　truth。

Like　the　apostles；　the　seventy　had　received　supernatural　endowments　as　a　seal　of　their　mission。　When　their　work　was　completed；　they　returned　with　joy；　saying；　〃Lord；　even　the　devils　are　subject　unto　us　through　Thy　name。〃　Jesus　answered；　〃I　beheld　Satan　as　lightning　fall　from　heaven。〃

The　scenes　of　the　past　and　the　future　were　presented　to　the　mind　of　Jesus。　He　beheld　Lucifer　as　he　was　first　cast　out　from　the　heavenly　places。　He　looked　forward　to　the　scenes　of　His　own　agony；　when　before　all　the　worlds　the　character　of　the　deceiver　should　be　unveiled。　He　heard　the　cry；　〃It　is　finished〃　（John　19：30）；　announcing　that　the　redemption　of　the　lost　race　was　forever　made　certain；　that　heaven　was　made　eternally　secure　against　the　accusations；　the　deceptions；　the　pretensions；　that　Satan　would　instigate。

Beyond　the　cross　of　Calvary；　with　its　agony　and　shame；　Jesus　looked　forward　to　the　great　final　day；　when　the　prince　of　the　power　of　the　air　will　meet　his　destruction　in　the　earth　so　long　marred　by　his　rebellion。　Jesus　beheld　the　work　of　evil　forever　ended；　and　the　peace　of　God　filling　heaven　and　earth。

Henceforward　Christ's　followers　were　to　look　upon　Satan　as　a　conquered　foe。　Upon　the　cross；　Jesus　was　to　gain　the　victory　for　them；　that　victory　He　desired　them　to　accept　as　their　own。　〃Behold；〃　He　said；　〃I　give　unto　you　power　to　tread　on　serpents　and　scorpions；　and　over　all　the　power　of　the　enemy：　and　nothing　shall　by　any　means　hurt　you。〃

The　omnipotent　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit　is　the　defense　of　every　contrite　soul。　Not　one　that　in　penitence　and　faith　has　claimed　His　protection　will　Christ　permit　to　pass　under　the　enemy's　power。　The　Saviour　is　by　the　side　of　His　tempted　and　tried　ones。　With　Him　there　can　be　no　such　thing　as　failure；　loss；　impossibility；　or　defeat；　we　can　do　all　things　through　Him　who　strengthens　us。　When　temptations　and　trials

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come；　do　not　wait　to　adjust　all　the　difficulties；　but　look　to　Jesus；　your　helper。

There　are　Christians　who　think　and　speak　altogether　too　much　about　the　power　of　Satan。　They　think　of　their　adversary；　they　pray　about　him；　they　talk　about　him；　and　he　looms　up　greater　and　greater　in　their　imagination。　It　is　true　that　Satan　is　a　powerful　being；　but；　thank　God；　we　have　a　mighty　Saviour；　who　cast　out　the　evil　one　from　heaven。　Satan　is　pleased　when　we　magnify　his　power。　Why　not　talk　of　Jesus？　Why　not　magnify　His　power　and　His　love？

The　rainbow　of　promise　encircling　the　throne　on　high　is　an　everlasting　testimony　that　〃God　so　loved　the　world；　that　He　gave　His　only…begotten　Son；　that　whosoever　believeth　in　Him　should　not　perish；　but　have　everlasting　life。〃　John　3：16。　It　testifies　to　the　universe　that　God　will　never　forsake　His　people　in　their　struggle　with　evil。　It　is　an　assurance　to　us　of　strength　and　protection　as　long　as　the　throne　itself　shall　endure。

Jesus　added；　〃Notwithstanding　in　this　rejoice　not；　that　the　spirits　are　subject　unto　you；　but　rather　rejoice；　because　your　names　are　written　in　heaven。〃　Rejoice　not　in　the　possession　of　power；　lest　you　lose　sight　of　your　dependence　upon　God。　Be　careful　lest　self…sufficiency　come　in；　and　you　work　in　your　own　strength；　rather　than　in　the　spirit　and　strength　of　your　Master。　Self　is　ever　ready　to　take　the　credit　if　any　measure　of　success　attends　the　work。　Self　is　flattered　and　exalted；　and　the　impression　is　not　made　upon　other　minds　that　God　is　all　and　in　all。　The　apostle　Paul　says；　〃When　I　am　weak；　then　am　I　strong。〃　2　Cor。　12：10。　When　we　have　a　realization　of　our　weakness；　we　learn　to　depend　upon　a　power　not　inherent。　Nothing　can　take　so　strong　a　hold　on　the　heart　as　the　abiding　sense　of　our　responsibility　to　God。　Nothing　reaches　so　fully　down　to　the　deepest　motives　of　conduct　as　a　sense　of　the　pardoning　love　of　Christ。　We　are　to　come　in　touch　with　God；　then　we　shall　be　imbued　with　His　Holy　Spirit；　that　enables　us　to　come　in　touch　with　our　fellow　men。　Then　rejoice　that　through　Christ　you　have　become　connected　with　God；　members　of　the　heavenly　family。　While　you　look　higher　than　yourself；　you　will　have　a　continual　sense　of　the　weakness　of　humanity。　The　less　you　cherish　self；　the　more　distinct　and　full　will　be　your　comprehension　of　the　excellence　of　your　Saviour。　The　more　closely　you　connect　yourself　with　the　source　of　light　and　power；　the　greater　light　will　be　shed　upon　you；　and　the　greater　power　will　be　yours　to　work　for　God。　Rejoice　that　you　are　one　with　God；　one　with　Christ；　and　with　the　whole　family　of　heaven。

494


As　the　seventy　listened　to　the　words　of　Christ；　the　Holy　Spirit　was　impressing　their　minds　with　living　realities；　and　writing　truth　upon　the　tablets　of　the　soul。　Though　multitudes　surrounded　them；　they　were　as　though　shut　in　with　God。

Knowing　that　they　had　caught　the　inspiration　of　the　hour；　Jesus　〃rejoiced　in　spirit；　and　said；　I　thank　Thee；　O　Father；　Lord　of　heaven　and　earth；　that　Thou　hast　hid　these　things　from　the　wise　and　prudent；　and　hast　revealed　them　unto　babes：　even　so；　Father；　for　so　it　seemed　good　in　Thy　sight。　All　things　are　delivered　to　Me　of　My　Father：　and　no　man　knoweth　who　the　Son　is；　but　the　Father；　and　who　the　Father　is；　but　the　Son；　and　he　to　whom　the　Son　will　reveal　Him。〃

The　honored　men　of　the　world；　the　so…called　great　and　wise　men；　with　all　their　boasted　wisdom；　could　not　comprehend　the　character　of　Christ。　They　judged　Him　from　outward　appearance；　from　the　humiliation　that　came　upon　Him　as　a　human　being。　But　to　fishermen　and　publicans　it　had　been　given　to　see　the　Invisible。　Even　the　disciples　failed　of　understanding　all　that　Jesus　desired　to　reveal　to　them；　but　from　time　to　time；　as　they　surrendered　themselves　to　the　Holy　Spirit's　power；　their　minds　were　illuminated。　They　realized　that　the　mighty　God；　clad　in　the　garb　of　humanity；　was　among　them。　Jesus　rejoiced　that　though　this　knowledge　was　not　possessed　by　the　wise　and　prudent；　it　had　been　revealed　to　these　humble　men。　Often　as　He　had　presented　the　Old　Testament　Scriptures；　and　showed　their　application　to　Himself　and　His　work　of　atonement；　they　had　been　awakened　by　His　Spirit；　and　lifted　into　a　heavenly　atmosphere。　Of　the　spiritual　truths　spoken　by　the　prophets　they　had　a　clearer　understanding　than　had　the　original　writers　themselves。　Hereafter　they　would　read　the　Old　Testament　Scriptures；　not　as　the　doctrines　of　the　scribes　and　Pharisees；　not　as　the　utterances　of　wise　men　who　were　dead；　but　as　a　new　revelation　from　God。　They　beheld　Him　〃whom　the　world　cannot　receive；　because　it　seeth　Him　not；　neither　knoweth　Him：