THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST – A Written Account

The Passion of the Christ – A Written Account gives abrief picture of the final hours of our blessed Savoir,Jesus Christ leading up to and including Calvary. Fromthe Garden of Gethsemane, to the betrayal by Judas,to Pilate's Judgment Hall, onto Calvary, and TheResurrection, and finally to Jesus' Ascension, you willbe moved, like no other book has moved you. You willtreasure this most in-depth account of the final hoursleading up to and including Calvary.

Author - Ellen G. White

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Table of Contents

1. Gethsemane

2. Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas

3. Judas

4. In Pilate's Judgment Hall

5. Calvary

6. "It Is Finished"

7. In Joseph's Tomb

8. "The Lord Is Risen"

9. "Why Weepest Thou?"

10. The Walk to Emmaus

11. "Peace Be Unto You"

12. By the Sea Once More

13. Go Teach All Nations

14. "To My Father, and Your Father"

Chap. 1 - Gethsemane

In company with His disciples, the Saviourslowly made His way to the garden ofGethsemane. 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 Hisdisciples and instructing them; but as He nearedGethsemane, He became strangely silent. He hadoften visited this spot for meditation and prayer;but never with a heart so full of sorrow as uponthis night of His last agony. Throughout His life onearth He had walked in the light of God'spresence. When in conflict with men who wereinspired by the very spirit of Satan, He could say,"He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath notleft Me alone; for I do always those things thatplease Him." John 8:29. But now He seemed to beshut out from the light of God's sustaining

presence. Now He was numbered with thetransgressors. The guilt of fallen humanity Hemust bear. Upon Him who knew no sin must belaid the iniquity of us all. So dreadful does sinappear to Him, so great is the weight of guilt whichHe must bear, that He is tempted to fear it will shutHim out forever from His Father's love. Feelinghow terrible is the wrath of God againsttransgression, He exclaims, "My soul is exceedingsorrowful, even unto death."

As they approached the garden, the discipleshad marked the change that came over theirMaster. Never before had they seen Him so utterlysad and silent. As He proceeded, this strangesadness deepened; yet they dared not questionHim as to the cause. His form swayed as if Hewere about to fall. Upon reaching the garden, thedisciples looked anxiously for His usual place ofretirement, that their Master might rest. Every stepthat He now took was with labored effort. Hegroaned aloud, as if suffering under the pressureof a terrible burden. Twice His companions

supported Him, or He would have fallen to theearth.

Near the entrance to the garden, Jesus left allbut three of the disciples, bidding them pray forthemselves and for Him. With Peter, James, andJohn, He entered its secluded recesses. Thesethree disciples were Christ's closest companions.They had beheld His glory on the mount oftransfiguration; they had seen Moses and Elijahtalking with Him; they had heard the voice fromheaven; now in His great struggle, Christ desiredtheir presence near Him. Often they had passedthe night with Him in this retreat. On theseoccasions, after a season of watching and prayer,they would sleep undisturbed at a little distancefrom their Master, until He awoke them in themorning to go forth anew to labor. But now Hedesired them to spend the night with Him inprayer. Yet He could not bear that even theyshould witness the agony He was to endure.

"Tarry ye here," He said, "and watch with Me."

He went a little distance from them--not so farbut that they could both see and hear Him--and fellprostrate upon the ground. He felt that by sin Hewas being separated from His Father. The gulfwas so broad, so black, so deep, that His spiritshuddered before it. This agony He must not exertHis divine power to escape. As man He mustsuffer the consequences of man's sin. As man Hemust endure the wrath of God againsttransgression.

Christ was now standing in a different attitudefrom that in which He had ever stood before. Hissuffering can best be described in the words of theprophet, "Awake, O sword, against My shepherd,and against the man that is My fellow, saith theLord of hosts." Zechariah 13:7. As the substituteand surety for sinful man, Christ was sufferingunder 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 brokenup, He feared that in His human nature He would

be unable to endure the coming conflict with thepowers of darkness. In the wilderness oftemptation the destiny of the human race hadbeen at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now thetempter had come for the last fearful struggle. Forthis he had been preparing during the three yearsof Christ's ministry. Everything was at stake withhim. If he failed here, his hope of mastery waslost; the kingdoms of the world would finallybecome Christ's; he himself would be overthrownand cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, theearth would become Satan's kingdom, and thehuman race would be forever in his power. Withthe issues of the conflict before Him, Christ's soulwas filled with dread of separation from God.Satan told Him that if He became the surety for asinful world, the separation would be eternal. Hewould be identified with Satan's kingdom, andwould nevermore be one with God.

And what was to be gained by this sacrifice?How hopeless appeared the guilt and ingratitudeof men! In its hardest features Satan pressed the

situation upon the Redeemer: The people whoclaim to be above all others in temporal andspiritual advantages have rejected You. They areseeking to destroy You, the foundation, the centerand seal of the promises made to them as apeculiar people. One of Your own disciples, whohas listened to Your instruction, and has beenamong the foremost in church activities, will betrayYou. One of Your most zealous followers will denyYou. All will forsake You. Christ's whole beingabhorred the thought. That those whom He hadundertaken to save, those whom He loved somuch, should unite in the plots of Satan, thispierced His soul. The conflict was terrible. Itsmeasure was the guilt of His nation, of Hisaccusers and betrayer, the guilt of a world lying inwickedness. The sins of men weighed heavilyupon Christ, and the sense of God's wrath againstsin was crushing out His life.

Behold Him contemplating the price to be paidfor the human soul. In His agony He clings to thecold ground, as if to prevent Himself from being

drawn farther from God. The chilling dew of nightfalls upon His prostrate form, but He heeds it not.From His pale lips comes the bitter cry, "O MyFather, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me."Yet even now He adds, "Nevertheless not as I will,but as Thou wilt."

The human heart longs for sympathy insuffering. This longing Christ felt to the verydepths of His being. In the supreme agony of Hissoul He came to His disciples with a yearningdesire to hear some words of comfort from thosewhom He had so often blessed and comforted,and shielded in sorrow and distress. The One whohad always had words of sympathy for them wasnow suffering superhuman agony, and He longedto know that they were praying for Him and forthemselves.

How dark seemed the malignity of sin!Terrible was the temptation to let the human racebear the consequences of its own guilt, while Hestood innocent before God. If He could only know

that His disciples understood and appreciated this,He would be strengthened.

Rising with painful effort, He staggered to theplace where He had left His companions. But He"findeth them asleep." Had He found them praying,He would have been relieved. Had they beenseeking refuge in God, that satanic agencies mightnot prevail over them, He would have beencomforted by their steadfast faith. But they had notheeded the repeated warning, "Watch and pray."At first they had been much troubled to see theirMaster, usually so calm and dignified, wrestlingwith a sorrow that was beyond comprehension.They had prayed as they heard the strong cries ofthe sufferer. They did not intend to forsake theirLord, but they seemed paralyzed by a stuporwhich they might have shaken off if they hadcontinued pleading with God. They did not realizethe necessity of watchfulness and earnest prayerin order to withstand temptation.

Just before He bent His footsteps to thegarden, Jesus had said to the disciples, "All ye

shall be offended because of Me this night." Theyhad given Him the strongest assurance that theywould go with Him to prison and to death. Andpoor, self-sufficient Peter had added, "Although allshall be offended, yet will not I." Mark 14:27, 29.But the disciples trusted to themselves. They didnot look to the mighty Helper as Christ hadcounseled them to do. Thus when the Saviour wasmost in need of their sympathy and prayers, theywere found asleep. Even Peter was sleeping.

And John, the loving disciple who had leanedupon the breast of Jesus, was asleep. Surely, thelove of John for his Master should have kept himawake. His earnest prayers should have mingledwith those of his loved Saviour in the time of Hissupreme sorrow. The Redeemer had spent entirenights praying for His disciples, that their faithmight not fail. Should Jesus now put to James andJohn the question He had once asked them, "Areye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, andto be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized

with?" they would not have ventured to answer,"We are able." Matthew 20:22.

The disciples awakened at the voice of Jesus,but they hardly knew Him, His face was sochanged by anguish. Addressing Peter, Jesussaid, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thouwatch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enterinto temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but theflesh is weak." The weakness of His disciplesawakened the sympathy of Jesus. He feared thatthey would not be able to endure the test whichwould come upon them in His betrayal and death.He did not reprove them, but said, "Watch ye andpray, lest ye enter into temptation." Even in Hisgreat agony, He was seeking to excuse theirweakness. "The spirit truly is ready," He said, "butthe flesh is weak."

Again the Son of God was seized withsuperhuman agony, and fainting and exhausted,He staggered back to the place of His formerstruggle. His suffering was even greater thanbefore. As the agony of soul came upon Him, "His

sweat was as it were great drops of blood fallingdown to the ground." The cypress and palm treeswere the silent witnesses of His anguish. Fromtheir leafy branches dropped heavy dew upon Hisstricken form, as if nature wept over its Authorwrestling alone with the powers of darkness.

A short time before, Jesus had stood like amighty cedar, withstanding the storm of oppositionthat spent its fury upon Him. Stubborn wills, andhearts filled with malice and subtlety, had strivenin vain to confuse and overpower Him. He stoodforth in divine majesty as the Son of God. Now Hewas like a reed beaten and bent by the angrystorm. He had approached the consummation ofHis work a conqueror, having at each step gainedthe victory over the powers of darkness. As onealready glorified, He had claimed oneness withGod. In unfaltering accents He had poured out Hissongs of praise. He had spoken to His disciples inwords of courage and tenderness. Now had comethe hour of the power of darkness. Now His voicewas heard on the still evening air, not in tones of

triumph, but full of human anguish. The words ofthe Saviour were borne to the ears of the drowsydisciples, "O My Father, if this cup may not passaway from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done."

The first impulse of the disciples was to go toHim; but He had bidden them tarry there, watchingunto prayer. When Jesus came to them, He foundthem still sleeping. Again He had felt a longing forcompanionship, for some words from His discipleswhich would bring relief, and break the spell ofdarkness that well-nigh overpowered Him. Buttheir eyes were heavy; "neither wist they what toanswer Him." His presence aroused them. Theysaw His face marked with the bloody sweat ofagony, and they were filled with fear. His anguishof mind they could not understand. "His visagewas so marred more than any man, and His formmore than the sons of men." Isaiah 52:14.

Turning away, Jesus sought again His retreat,and fell prostrate, overcome by the horror of agreat darkness. The humanity of the Son of Godtrembled in that trying hour. He prayed not now for

His disciples that their faith might not fail, but forHis own tempted, agonized soul. The awfulmoment had come--that moment which was todecide the destiny of the world. The fate ofhumanity trembled in the balance. Christ mighteven now refuse to drink the cup apportioned toguilty man. It was not yet too late. He might wipethe bloody sweat from His brow, and leave man toperish in his iniquity. He might say, Let thetransgressor receive the penalty of his sin, and Iwill go back to My Father. Will the Son of Goddrink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony? Willthe innocent suffer the consequences of the curseof sin, to save the guilty? The words falltremblingly from the pale lips of Jesus, "O MyFather, if this cup may not pass away from Me,except I drink it, Thy will be done."

Three times has He uttered that prayer. Threetimes has humanity shrunk from the last, crowningsacrifice. But now the history of the human racecomes up before the world's Redeemer. He seesthat the transgressors of the law, if left to

themselves, must perish. He sees thehelplessness of man. He sees the power of sin.The woes and lamentations of a doomed worldrise before Him. He beholds its impending fate,and His decision is made. He will save man at anycost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood,that through Him perishing millions may gaineverlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven,where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to savethe one lost sheep, the one world that has fallenby transgression. And He will not turn from Hismission. He will become the propitiation of a racethat has willed to sin. His prayer now breathesonly submission: "If this cup may not pass awayfrom Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done."

Having made the decision, He fell dying to theground from which He had partially risen. Wherenow were His disciples, to place their handstenderly beneath the head of their fainting Master,and bathe that brow, marred indeed more than thesons of men? The Saviour trod the wine pressalone, and of the people there was none with Him.

But God suffered with His Son. Angels beheldthe Saviour's agony. They saw their Lord enclosedby legions of satanic forces, His nature weigheddown with a shuddering, mysterious dread. Therewas silence in heaven. No harp was touched.Could mortals have viewed the amazement of theangelic host as in silent grief they watched theFather separating His beams of light, love, andglory from His beloved Son, they would betterunderstand how offensive in His sight is sin.

The worlds unfallen and the heavenly angelshad watched with intense interest as the conflictdrew to its close. Satan and his confederacy ofevil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently thisgreat crisis in the work of redemption. The powersof good and evil waited to see what answer wouldcome to Christ's thrice-repeated prayer. Angelshad longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, butthis might not be. No way of escape was found forthe Son of God. In this awful crisis, wheneverything was at stake, when the mysterious cuptrembled in the hand of the sufferer, the heavens

opened, a light shone forth amid the stormydarkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angelwho stands in God's presence, occupying theposition from which Satan fell, came to the side ofChrist. The angel came not to take the cup fromChrist's hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it,with the assurance of the Father's love. He cameto give power to the divine-human suppliant. Hepointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him ofthe souls that would be saved as the result of Hissufferings. He assured Him that His Father isgreater and more powerful than Satan, that Hisdeath would result in the utter discomfiture ofSatan, and that the kingdom of this world would begiven to the saints of the Most High. He told Himthat He would see of the travail of His soul, and besatisfied, for He would see a multitude of thehuman race saved, eternally saved.

Christ's agony did not cease, but Hisdepression and discouragement left Him. Thestorm had in nowise abated, but He who was itsobject was strengthened to meet its fury. He came

forth calm and serene. A heavenly peace restedupon His bloodstained face. He had borne thatwhich no human being could ever bear; for He hadtasted the sufferings of death for every man.

The sleeping disciples had been suddenlyawakened by the light surrounding the Saviour.They saw the angel bending over their prostrateMaster. They saw him lift the Saviour's head uponhis bosom, and point toward heaven. They heardhis voice, like sweetest music, speaking words ofcomfort and hope. The disciples recalled thescene upon the mount of transfiguration. Theyremembered the glory that in the temple hadencircled Jesus, and the voice of God that spokefrom the cloud. Now that same glory was againrevealed, and they had no further fear for theirMaster. He was under the care of God; a mightyangel had been sent to protect Him. Again thedisciples in their weariness yield to the strangestupor that overpowers them. Again Jesus findsthem sleeping.

Looking sorrowfully upon them He says, "Sleepon now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is athand, and the Son of man is betrayed into thehands of sinners."

Even as He spoke these words, He heard thefootsteps of the mob in search of Him, and said,"Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand thatdoth betray Me."

No traces of His recent agony were visible asJesus stepped forth to meet His betrayer.Standing in advance of His disciples He said,"Whom seek ye?" They answered, "Jesus ofNazareth." Jesus replied, "I am He." As thesewords were spoken, the angel who had latelyministered to Jesus moved between Him and themob. A divine light illuminated the Saviour's face,and a dovelike form overshadowed Him. In thepresence of this divine glory, the murderousthrong could not stand for a moment. Theystaggered back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and evenJudas, fell as dead men to the ground.

The angel withdrew, and the light faded away.Jesus had opportunity to escape, but Heremained, calm and self-possessed. As oneglorified He stood in the midst of that hardenedband, now prostrate and helpless at His feet. Thedisciples looked on, silent with wonder and awe.

But quickly the scene changed. The mobstarted up. The Roman soldiers, the priests andJudas, gathered about Christ. They seemedashamed of their weakness, and fearful that Hewould yet escape. Again the question was askedby the Redeemer, "Whom seek ye?" They had hadevidence that He who stood before them was theSon of God, but they would not be convinced. Tothe question, "Whom seek ye?" again theyanswered, "Jesus of Nazareth." The Saviour thensaid, "I have told you that I am He: if therefore yeseek Me, let these go their way"--pointing to thedisciples. He knew how weak was their faith, andHe sought to shield them from temptation and trial.For them He was ready to sacrifice Himself.

Judas the betrayer did not forget the part hewas to act. When the mob entered the garden, hehad led the way, closely followed by the highpriest. To the pursuers of Jesus he had given asign, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that sameis He: hold Him fast." Matthew 26:48. Now hepretends to have no part with them. Coming closeto Jesus, he takes His hand as a familiar friend.With the words, "Hail, Master," he kisses Himrepeatedly, and appears to weep as if in sympathywith Him in His peril.

Jesus said to him, "Friend, wherefore art thoucome?" His voice trembled with sorrow as Headded, "Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man witha kiss?" This appeal should have aroused theconscience of the betrayer, and touched hisstubborn heart; but honor, fidelity, and humantenderness had forsaken him. He stood bold anddefiant, showing no disposition to relent. He hadgiven himself up to Satan, and he had no power toresist him. Jesus did not refuse the traitor's kiss.

The mob grew bold as they saw Judas touchthe person of Him who had so recently beenglorified before their eyes. They now laid hold ofJesus, and proceeded to bind those precioushands that had ever been employed in doinggood.

The disciples had thought that their Masterwould not suffer Himself to be taken. For the samepower that had caused the mob to fall as deadmen could keep them helpless, until Jesus and Hiscompanions should escape. They weredisappointed and indignant as they saw the cordsbrought forward to bind the hands of Him whomthey loved. Peter in his anger rashly drew hissword and tried to defend his Master, but he onlycut off an ear of the high priest's servant. WhenJesus saw what was done, He released Hishands, though held firmly by the Roman soldiers,and saying, "Suffer ye thus far," He touched thewounded ear, and it was instantly made whole. Hethen said to Peter, "Put up again thy sword into hisplace: for all they that take the sword shall perish

with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot nowpray to My Father, and He shall presently give Memore than twelve legions of angels?"--a legion inplace of each one of the disciples. Oh, why, thedisciples thought, does He not save Himself andus? Answering their unspoken thought, He added,"But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, thatthus it must be?" "The cup which My Father hathgiven Me, shall I not drink it?"

The official dignity of the Jewish leaders hadnot prevented them from joining in the pursuit ofJesus. His arrest was too important a matter to betrusted to subordinates; the wily priests and eldershad joined the temple police and the rabble infollowing Judas to Gethsemane. What a companyfor those dignitaries to unite with--a mob that waseager for excitement, and armed with all kinds ofimplements, as if in pursuit of a wild beast!

Turning to the priests and elders, Christ fixedupon them His searching glance. The words Hespoke they would never forget as long as lifeshould last. They were as the sharp arrows of the

Almighty. With dignity He said: You come outagainst Me with swords and staves as you wouldagainst a thief or a robber. Day by day I satteaching in the temple. You had every opportunityof laying hands upon Me, and you did nothing. Thenight is better suited to your work. "This is yourhour, and the power of darkness."

The disciples were terrified as they saw Jesuspermit Himself to be taken and bound. They wereoffended that He should suffer this humiliation toHimself and them. They could not understand Hisconduct, and they blamed Him for submitting tothe mob. In their indignation and fear, Peterproposed that they save themselves. Followingthis suggestion, "they all forsook Him, and fled."But Christ had foretold this desertion, "Behold," Hehad said, "the hour cometh, yea, is now come, thatye shall be scattered, every man to his own, andshall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone,because the Father is with Me." John 16:32.

Chap. 2 - Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas

Over the brook Kedron, past gardens and olivegroves, and through the hushed streets of thesleeping city, they hurried Jesus. It was pastmidnight, and the cries of the hooting mob thatfollowed Him broke sharply upon the still air. TheSaviour was bound and closely guarded, and Hemoved painfully. But in eager haste His captorsmade their way with Him to the palace of Annas,the ex-high priest.

Annas was the head of the officiating priestlyfamily, and in deference to his age he wasrecognized by the people as high priest. Hiscounsel was sought and carried out as the voice ofGod. He must first see Jesus a captive to priestlypower. He must be present at the examination ofthe prisoner, for fear that the less-experiencedCaiaphas might fail of securing the object forwhich they were working. His artifice, cunning, and

subtlety must be used on this occasion; for, at allevents, Christ's condemnation must be secured.

Christ was to be tried formally before theSanhedrin; but before Annas He was subjected toa preliminary trial. Under the Roman rule theSanhedrin could not execute the sentence ofdeath. They could only examine a prisoner, andpass judgment, to be ratified by the Romanauthorities. It was therefore necessary to bringagainst Christ charges that would be regarded ascriminal by the Romans. An accusation must alsobe found which would condemn Him in the eyes ofthe Jews. Not a few among the priests and rulershad been convicted by Christ's teaching, and onlyfear of excommunication prevented them fromconfessing Him. The priests well remembered thequestion of Nicodemus, "Doth our law judge anyman, before it hear him, and know what hedoeth?" John 7:51. This question had for the timebroken up the council, and thwarted their plans.Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus were notnow to be summoned, but there were others who

might dare to speak in favor of justice. The trialmust be so conducted as to unite the members ofthe Sanhedrin against Christ. There were twocharges which the priests desired to maintain. IfJesus could be proved a blasphemer, He would becondemned by the Jews. If convicted of sedition, itwould secure His condemnation by the Romans.The second charge Annas tried first to establish.He questioned Jesus concerning His disciples andHis doctrines, hoping the prisoner would saysomething that would give him material uponwhich to work. He thought to draw out somestatement to prove that He was seeking toestablish a secret society, with the purpose ofsetting up a new kingdom. Then the priests coulddeliver Him to the Romans as a disturber of thepeace and a creator of insurrection.

Christ read the priest's purpose as an openbook. As if reading the inmost soul of Hisquestioner, He denied that there was between Himand His followers any secret bond of union, or thatHe gathered them secretly and in the darkness to

conceal His designs. He had no secrets in regardto His purposes or doctrines. "I spake openly tothe world," He answered; "I ever taught in thesynagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jewsalways resort; and in secret have I said nothing."

The Saviour contrasted His own manner ofwork with the methods of His accusers. Formonths they had hunted Him, striving to entrapHim and bring Him before a secret tribunal, wherethey might obtain by perjury what it wasimpossible to gain by fair means. Now they werecarrying out their purpose. The midnight seizureby a mob, the mockery and abuse before He wascondemned, or even accused, was their manner ofwork, not His. Their action was in violation of thelaw. Their own rules declared that every manshould be treated as innocent until proved guilty.By their own rules the priests stood condemned.

Turning upon His questioner, Jesus said, "Whyaskest thou Me?" Had not the priests and rulerssent spies to watch His movements, and reportHis every word? Had not these been present at

every gathering of the people, and carried to thepriests information of all His sayings and doings?"Ask them which heard Me, what I have said untothem," replied Jesus; "behold, they know what Isaid."

Annas was silenced by the decision of theanswer. Fearing that Christ would say somethingregarding his course of action that he would preferto keep covered up, he said nothing more to Himat this time. One of his officers, filled with wrath ashe saw Annas silenced, struck Jesus on the face,saying, "Answerest Thou the high priest so?"

Christ calmly replied, "If I have spoken evil,bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitestthou Me?" He spoke no burning words ofretaliation. His calm answer came from a heartsinless, patient, and gentle, that would not beprovoked.

Christ suffered keenly under abuse and insult.At the hands of the beings whom He had created,and for whom He was making an infinite sacrifice,

He received every indignity. And He suffered inproportion to the perfection of His holiness and Hishatred of sin. His trial by men who acted as fiendswas to Him a perpetual sacrifice. To besurrounded by human beings under the control ofSatan was revolting to Him. And He knew that in amoment, by the flashing forth of His divine power,He could lay His cruel tormentors in the dust. Thismade the trial the harder to bear.

The Jews were looking for a Messiah to berevealed in outward show. They expected Him, byone flash of overmastering will, to change thecurrent of men's thoughts, and force from them anacknowledgment of His supremacy. Thus, theybelieved, He was to secure His own exaltation,and gratify their ambitious hopes. Thus whenChrist was treated with contempt, there came toHim a strong temptation to manifest His divinecharacter. By a word, by a look, He could compelHis persecutors to confess that He was Lordabove kings and rulers, priests and temple. But it

was His difficult task to keep to the position Hehad chosen as one with humanity.

The angels of heaven witnessed everymovement made against their loved Commander.They longed to deliver Christ. Under God theangels are all-powerful. On one occasion, inobedience to the command of Christ, they slew ofthe Assyrian army in one night one hundred andeighty-five thousand men. How easily could theangels, beholding the shameful scene of the trialof Christ, have testified their indignation byconsuming the adversaries of God! But they werenot commanded to do this. He who could havedoomed His enemies to death bore with theircruelty. His love for His Father, and His pledge,made from the foundation of the world, to becomethe Sin Bearer, led Him to endure uncomplaininglythe coarse treatment of those He came to save. Itwas a part of His mission to bear, in His humanity,all the taunts and abuse that men could heap uponHim. The only hope of humanity was in this

submission of Christ to all that He could endurefrom the hands and hearts of men.

Christ had said nothing that could give Hisaccusers an advantage; yet He was bound, tosignify that He was condemned. There must,however, be a pretense of justice. It wasnecessary that there should be the form of a legaltrial. This the authorities were determined tohasten. They knew the regard in which Jesus washeld by the people, and feared that if the arrestwere noised abroad, a rescue would be attempted.Again, if the trial and execution were not broughtabout at once, there would be a week's delay onaccount of the celebration of the Passover. Thismight defeat their plans. In securing thecondemnation of Jesus they depended largelyupon the clamor of the mob, many of them therabble of Jerusalem. Should there be a week'sdelay, the excitement would abate, and a reactionwould be likely to set in. The better part of thepeople would be aroused in Christ's favor; manywould come forward with testimony in His

vindication, bringing to light the mighty works Hehad done. This would excite popular indignationagainst the Sanhedrin. Their proceedings wouldbe condemned, and Jesus would be set free, toreceive new homage from the multitudes. Thepriests and rulers therefore determined that beforetheir purpose could become known, Jesus shouldbe delivered into the hands of the Romans.

But first of all, an accusation was to be found.They had gained nothing as yet. Annas orderedJesus to be taken to Caiaphas. Caiaphasbelonged to the Sadducees, some of whom werenow the most desperate enemies of Jesus. Hehimself, though wanting in force of character, wasfully as severe, heartless, and unscrupulous aswas Annas. He would leave no means untried todestroy Jesus. It was now early morning, and verydark; by the light of torches and lanterns thearmed band with their prisoner proceeded to thehigh priest's palace. Here, while the members ofthe Sanhedrin were coming together, Annas and

Caiaphas again questioned Jesus, but withoutsuccess.

When the council had assembled in thejudgment hall, Caiaphas took his seat as presidingofficer. On either side were the judges, and thosespecially interested in the trial. The Romansoldiers were stationed on the platform below thethrone. At the foot of the throne stood Jesus. UponHim the gaze of the whole multitude was fixed.The excitement was intense. Of all the throng Healone was calm and serene. The very atmospheresurrounding Him seemed pervaded by a holyinfluence.

Caiaphas had regarded Jesus as his rival. Theeagerness of the people to hear the Saviour, andtheir apparent readiness to accept His teachings,had aroused the bitter jealousy of the high priest.But as Caiaphas now looked upon the prisoner, hewas struck with admiration for His noble anddignified bearing. A conviction came over him thatthis Man was akin to God. The next instant hescornfully banished the thought. Immediately his

voice was heard in sneering, haughty tonesdemanding that Jesus work one of His mightymiracles before them. But his words fell upon theSaviour's ears as though He heard them not. Thepeople compared the excited and malignantdeportment of Annas and Caiaphas with the calm,majestic bearing of Jesus. Even in the minds ofthat hardened multitude arose the question, Is thisman of godlike presence to be condemned as acriminal?

Caiaphas, perceiving the influence that wasobtaining, hastened the trial. The enemies ofJesus were in great perplexity. They were bent onsecuring His condemnation, but how toaccomplish this they knew not. The members ofthe council were divided between the Phariseesand the Sadducees. There was bitter animosityand controversy between them; certain disputedpoints they dared not approach for fear of aquarrel. With a few words Jesus could haveexcited their prejudices against each other, andthus have averted their wrath from Himself.

Caiaphas knew this, and he wished to avoidstirring up a contention. There were plenty ofwitnesses to prove that Christ had denounced thepriests and scribes, that He had called themhypocrites and murderers; but this testimony itwas not expedient to bring forward. TheSadducees in their sharp contentions with thePharisees had used to them similar language. Andsuch testimony would have no weight with theRomans, who were themselves disgusted with thepretensions of the Pharisees. There was abundantevidence that Jesus had disregarded the traditionsof the Jews, and had spoken irreverently of manyof their ordinances; but in regard to tradition thePharisees and Sadducees were at swords' points;and this evidence also would have no weight withthe Romans. Christ's enemies dared not accuseHim of Sabbathbreaking, lest an examinationshould reveal the character of His work. If Hismiracles of healing were brought to light, the veryobject of the priests would be defeated.

False witnesses had been bribed to accuseJesus of inciting rebellion and seeking to establisha separate government. But their testimony provedto be vague and contradictory. Under examinationthey falsified their own statements.

Early in His ministry Christ had said, "Destroythis temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Inthe figurative language of prophecy, He had thusforetold His own death and resurrection. "Hespake of the temple of His body." John 2:19, 21.These words the Jews had understood in a literalsense, as referring to the temple at Jerusalem. Ofall that Christ had said, the priests could findnothing to use against Him save this. Bymisstating these words they hoped to gain anadvantage. The Romans had engaged inrebuilding and embellishing the temple, and theytook great pride in it; any contempt shown to itwould be sure to excite their indignation. HereRomans and Jews, Pharisees and Sadducees,could meet; for all held the temple in greatveneration. On this point two witnesses were

found whose testimony was not so contradictoryas that of the others had been. One of them, whohad been bribed to accuse Jesus, declared, "Thisfellow said, I am able to destroy the temple ofGod, and to build it in three days." Thus Christ'swords were misstated. If they had been reportedexactly as He spoke them, they would not havesecured His condemnation even by the Sanhedrin.Had Jesus been a mere man, as the Jewsclaimed, His declaration would only have indicatedan unreasonable, boastful spirit, but could nothave been construed into blasphemy. Even asmisrepresented by the false witnesses, His wordscontained nothing which would be regarded by theRomans as a crime worthy of death.

Patiently Jesus listened to the conflictingtestimonies. No word did He utter in self-defense.At last His accusers were entangled, confused,and maddened. The trial was making no headway;it seemed that their plottings were to fail. Caiaphaswas desperate. One last resort remained; Christmust be forced to condemn Himself. The high

priest started from the judgment seat, his facecontorted with passion, his voice and demeanorplainly indicating that were it in his power he wouldstrike down the prisoner before him. "AnswerestThou nothing?" he exclaimed; "what is it whichthese witness against Thee?"

Jesus held His peace. "He was oppressed, andHe was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: Heis brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as asheep before her shearers is dumb, so Heopeneth not His mouth." Isaiah 53:7.

At last, Caiaphas, raising his right hand towardheaven, addressed Jesus in the form of a solemnoath: "I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thoutell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son ofGod."

To this appeal Christ could not remain silent.There was a time to be silent, and a time to speak.He had not spoken until directly questioned. Heknew that to answer now would make His deathcertain. But the appeal was made by the highest

acknowledged authority of the nation, and in thename of the Most High. Christ would not fail toshow proper respect for the law. More than this,His own relation to the Father was called inquestion. He must plainly declare His characterand mission. Jesus had said to His disciples,"Whosoever therefore shall confess Me beforemen, him will I confess also before My Fatherwhich is in heaven." Matthew 10:32. Now by Hisown example He repeated the lesson.

Every ear was bent to listen, and every eyewas fixed on His face as He answered, "Thou hastsaid." A heavenly light seemed to illuminate Hispale countenance as He added, "Nevertheless Isay unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son ofman sitting on the right hand of power, and comingin the clouds of heaven."

For a moment the divinity of Christ flashedthrough His guise of humanity. The high priestquailed before the penetrating eyes of the Saviour.That look seemed to read his hidden thoughts,and burn into his heart. Never in afterlife did he

forget that searching glance of the persecuted Sonof God. "Hereafter," said Jesus, "shall ye seethe Son of man sitting on the right hand of power,and coming in the clouds of heaven." In thesewords Christ presented the reverse of the scenethen taking place. He, the Lord of life and glory,would be seated at God's right hand. He would bethe judge of all the earth, and from His decisionthere could be no appeal. Then every secret thingwould be set in the light of God's countenance,and judgment be passed upon every manaccording to his deeds.

The words of Christ startled the high priest. Thethought that there was to be a resurrection of thedead, when all would stand at the bar of God, tobe rewarded according to their works, was athought of terror to Caiaphas. He did not wish tobelieve that in future he would receive sentenceaccording to his works. There rushed before hismind as a panorama the scenes of the finaljudgment. For a moment he saw the fearfulspectacle of the graves giving up their dead, with

the secrets he had hoped were forever hidden. Fora moment he felt as if standing before the eternalJudge, whose eye, which sees all things, wasreading his soul, bringing to light mysteriessupposed to be hidden with the dead.

The scene passed from the priest's vision.Christ's words cut him, the Sadducee, to the quick.Caiaphas had denied the doctrine of theresurrection, the judgment, and a future life. Nowhe was maddened by satanic fury. Was this man,a prisoner before him, to assail his most cherishedtheories? Rending his robe, that the people mightsee his pretended horror, he demanded thatwithout further preliminaries the prisoner becondemned for blasphemy. "What further needhave we of witnesses?" he said; "behold, now yehave heard His blasphemy. What think ye?" Andthey all condemned Him.

Conviction mingled with passion led Caiaphasto do as he did. He was furious with himself forbelieving Christ's words, and instead of rending hisheart under a deep sense of truth, and confessing

that Jesus was the Messiah, he rent his priestlyrobes in determined resistance. This act wasdeeply significant. Little did Caiaphas realize itsmeaning. In this act, done to influence the judgesand secure Christ's condemnation, the high priesthad condemned himself. By the law of God hewas disqualified for the priesthood. He hadpronounced upon himself the death sentence.

A high priest was not to rend his garments. Bythe Levitical law, this was prohibited undersentence of death. Under no circumstances, on nooccasion, was the priest to rend his robe. It wasthe custom among the Jews for the garments tobe rent at the death of friends, but this custom thepriests were not to observe. Express commandhad been given by Christ to Moses concerningthis. Leviticus 10:6.

Everything worn by the priest was to be wholeand without blemish. By those beautiful officialgarments was represented the character of thegreat antitype, Jesus Christ. Nothing butperfection, in dress and attitude, in word and spirit,

could be acceptable to God. He is holy, and Hisglory and perfection must be represented by theearthly service. Nothing but perfection couldproperly represent the sacredness of the heavenlyservice. Finite man might rend his own heart byshowing a contrite and humble spirit. This Godwould discern. But no rent must be made in thepriestly robes, for this would mar therepresentation of heavenly things. The high priestwho dared to appear in holy office, and engage inthe service of the sanctuary, with a rent robe, waslooked upon as having severed himself from God.By rending his garment he cut himself off frombeing a representative character. He was nolonger accepted by God as an officiating priest.This course of action, as exhibited by Caiaphas,showed human passion, human imperfection.

By rending his garments, Caiaphas made of noeffect the law of God, to follow the tradition ofmen. A man-made law provided that in case ofblasphemy a priest might rend his garments in

horror at the sin, and be guiltless. Thus the law ofGod was made void by the laws of men.

Each action of the high priest was watched withinterest by the people; and Caiaphas thought foreffect to display his piety. But in this act, designedas an accusation against Christ, he was revilingthe One of whom God had said, "My name is inHim." Exodus 23:21. He himself was committingblasphemy. Standing under the condemnation ofGod, he pronounced sentence upon Christ as ablasphemer.

When Caiaphas rent his garment, his act wassignificant of the place that the Jewish nation as anation would thereafter occupy toward God. Theonce favored people of God were separatingthemselves from Him, and were fast becoming apeople disowned by Jehovah. When Christ uponthe cross cried out, "It is finished" (John 19:30),and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, theHoly Watcher declared that the Jewish people hadrejected Him who was the antitype of all theirtypes, the substance of all their shadows. Israel

was divorced from God. Well might Caiaphas thenrend his official robes, which signified that heclaimed to be a representative of the great HighPriest; for no longer had they any meaning for himor for the people. Well might the high priest rendhis robes in horror for himself and for the nation.

The Sanhedrin had pronounced Jesus worthyof death; but it was contrary to the Jewish law totry a prisoner by night. In legal condemnationnothing could be done except in the light of dayand before a full session of the council.Notwithstanding this, the Saviour was now treatedas a condemned criminal, and given up to beabused by the lowest and vilest of humankind. Thepalace of the high priest surrounded an open courtin which the soldiers and the multitude hadgathered. Through this court, Jesus was taken tothe guardroom, on every side meeting withmockery of His claim to be the Son of God. Hisown words, "sitting on the right hand of power,"and, "coming in the clouds of heaven," werejeeringly repeated. While in the guardroom,

awaiting His legal trial, He was not protected. Theignorant rabble had seen the cruelty with which Hewas treated before the council, and from this theytook license to manifest all the satanic elements oftheir nature. Christ's very nobility and godlikebearing goaded them to madness. His meekness,His innocence, His majestic patience, filled themwith hatred born of Satan. Mercy and justice weretrampled upon. Never was criminal treated in soinhuman a manner as was the Son of God.

But a keener anguish rent the heart of Jesus;the blow that inflicted the deepest pain no enemy'shand could have dealt. While He was undergoingthe mockery of an examination before Caiaphas,Christ had been denied by one of His owndisciples.

After deserting their Master in the garden, twoof the disciples had ventured to follow, at adistance, the mob that had Jesus in charge. Thesedisciples were Peter and John. The priestsrecognized John as a well-known disciple ofJesus, and admitted him to the hall, hoping that as

he witnessed the humiliation of his Leader, hewould scorn the idea of such a one being the Sonof God. John spoke in favor of Peter, and gainedan entrance for him also.

In the court a fire had been kindled; for it wasthe coldest hour of the night, being just before thedawn. A company drew about the fire, and Peterpresumptuously took his place with them. He didnot wish to be recognized as a disciple of Jesus.By mingling carelessly with the crowd, he hoped tobe taken for one of those who had brought Jesusto the hall.

But as the light flashed upon Peter's face, thewoman who kept the door cast a searching glanceupon him. She had noticed that he came in withJohn, she marked the look of dejection on hisface, and thought that he might be a disciple ofJesus. She was one of the servants of Caiaphas'household, and was curious to know. She said toPeter, "Art not thou also one of this Man'sdisciples?" Peter was startled and confused; theeyes of the company instantly fastened upon him.

He pretended not to understand her; but she waspersistent, and said to those around her that thisman was with Jesus. Peter felt compelled toanswer, and said angrily, "Woman, I know Himnot." This was the first denial, and immediately thecock crew. O Peter, so soon ashamed of thyMaster! so soon to deny thy Lord!

The disciple John, upon entering the judgmenthall, did not try to conceal the fact that he was afollower of Jesus. He did not mingle with the roughcompany who were reviling his Master. He wasnot questioned, for he did not assume a falsecharacter, and thus lay himself liable to suspicion.He sought a retired corner secure from the noticeof the mob, but as near Jesus as it was possiblefor him to be. Here he could see and hear all thattook place at the trial of his Lord.

Peter had not designed that his real charactershould be known. In assuming an air ofindifference he had placed himself on the enemy'sground, and he became an easy prey totemptation. If he had been called to fight for his

Master, he would have been a courageous soldier;but when the finger of scorn was pointed at him,he proved himself a coward. Many who do notshrink from active warfare for their Lord are drivenby ridicule to deny their faith. By associating withthose whom they should avoid, they placethemselves in the way of temptation. They invitethe enemy to tempt them, and are led to say anddo that of which under other circumstances theywould never have been guilty. The disciple ofChrist who in our day disguises his faith throughdread of suffering or reproach denies his Lord asreally as did Peter in the judgment hall.

Peter tried to show no interest in the trial of hisMaster, but his heart was wrung with sorrow as heheard the cruel taunts, and saw the abuse He wassuffering. More than this, he was surprised andangry that Jesus should humiliate Himself and Hisfollowers by submitting to such treatment. In orderto conceal his true feelings, he endeavored to joinwith the persecutors of Jesus in their untimelyjests. But his appearance was unnatural. He was

acting a lie, and while seeking to talkunconcernedly he could not restrain expressionsof indignation at the abuse heaped upon hisMaster.

Attention was called to him the second time,and he was again charged with being a follower ofJesus. He now declared with an oath, "I do notknow the Man." Still another opportunity was givenhim. An hour had passed, when one of theservants of the high priest, being a near kinsmanof the man whose ear Peter had cut off, askedhim, "Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?""Surely thou art one of them: for thou art aGalilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto." At thisPeter flew into a rage. The disciples of Jesus werenoted for the purity of their language, and in orderfully to deceive his questioners, and justify hisassumed character, Peter now denied his Masterwith cursing and swearing. Again the cock crew.Peter heard it then, and he remembered the wordsof Jesus, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shaltdeny Me thrice." Mark 14:30.

While the degrading oaths were fresh uponPeter's lips, and the shrill crowing of the cock wasstill ringing in his ears, the Saviour turned from thefrowning judges, and looked full upon His poordisciple. At the same time Peter's eyes weredrawn to his Master. In that gentle countenance heread deep pity and sorrow, but there was no angerthere.

The sight of that pale, suffering face, thosequivering lips, that look of compassion andforgiveness, pierced his heart like an arrow.Conscience was aroused. Memory was active.Peter called to mind his promise of a few shorthours before that he would go with his Lord toprison and to death. He remembered his griefwhen the Saviour told him in the upper chamberthat he would deny his Lord thrice that same night.Peter had just declared that he knew not Jesus,but he now realized with bitter grief how well hisLord knew him, and how accurately He had readhis heart, the falseness of which was unknowneven to himself.

A tide of memories rushed over him. TheSaviour's tender mercy, His kindness and long-suffering, His gentleness and patience toward Hiserring disciples,--all was remembered. He recalledthe caution, "Simon, behold, Satan hath desired tohave you, that he may sift you as wheat: but Ihave prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Luke22:31, 32. He reflected with horror upon his owningratitude, his falsehood, his perjury. Once morehe looked at his Master, and saw a sacrilegioushand raised to smite Him in the face. Unablelonger to endure the scene, he rushed,heartbroken, from the hall.

He pressed on in solitude and darkness, heknew not and cared not whither. At last he foundhimself in Gethsemane. The scene of a few hoursbefore came vividly to his mind. The suffering faceof his Lord, stained with bloody sweat andconvulsed with anguish, rose before him. Heremembered with bitter remorse that Jesus hadwept and agonized in prayer alone, while thosewho should have united with Him in that trying

hour were sleeping. He remembered His solemncharge, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not intotemptation." Matthew 26:41. He witnessed againthe scene in the judgment hall. It was torture to hisbleeding heart to know that he had added theheaviest burden to the Saviour's humiliation andgrief. On the very spot where Jesus had pouredout His soul in agony to His Father, Peter fell uponhis face, and wished that he might die.

It was in sleeping when Jesus bade him watchand pray that Peter had prepared the way for hisgreat sin. All the disciples, by sleeping in thatcritical hour, sustained a great loss. Christ knewthe fiery ordeal through which they were to pass.He knew how Satan would work to paralyze theirsenses that they might be unready for the trial.Therefore it was that He gave them warning. Hadthose hours in the garden been spent in watchingand prayer, Peter would not have been left todepend upon his own feeble strength. He wouldnot have denied his Lord. Had the discipleswatched with Christ in His agony, they would have

been prepared to behold His suffering upon thecross. They would have understood in somedegree the nature of His overpowering anguish.They would have been able to recall His wordsthat foretold His sufferings, His death, and Hisresurrection. Amid the gloom of the most tryinghour, some rays of hope would have lighted up thedarkness and sustained their faith.

As soon as it was day, the Sanhedrin againassembled, and again Jesus was brought into thecouncil room. He had declared Himself the Son ofGod, and they had construed His words into acharge against Him. But they could not condemnHim on this, for many of them had not beenpresent at the night session, and they had notheard His words. And they knew that the Romantribunal would find in them nothing worthy ofdeath. But if from His own lips they could all hearthose words repeated, their object might begained. His claim to the Messiahship they mightconstrue into a seditious political claim.

"Art Thou the Christ?" they said, "tell us." ButChrist remained silent. They continued to ply Himwith questions. At last in tones of mournful pathosHe answered, "If I tell you, ye will not believe; andif I also ask you, ye will not answer Me, nor let Mego." But that they might be left without excuse Headded the solemn warning, "Hereafter shall theSon of man sit on the right hand of the power ofGod."

"Art Thou then the Son of God?" they askedwith one voice. He said unto them, "Ye say that Iam." They cried out, "What need we any furtherwitness? for we ourselves have heard of His ownmouth."

And so by the third condemnation of the Jewishauthorities, Jesus was to die. All that was nownecessary, they thought, was for the Romans toratify this condemnation, and deliver Him into theirhands.

Then came the third scene of abuse andmockery, worse even than that received from the

ignorant rabble. In the very presence of the priestsand rulers, and with their sanction, this took place.Every feeling of sympathy or humanity had goneout of their hearts. If their arguments were weak,and failed to silence His voice, they had otherweapons, such as in all ages have been used tosilence heretics,--suffering, and violence, anddeath.

When the condemnation of Jesus waspronounced by the judges, a satanic fury tookpossession of the people. The roar of voices waslike that of wild beasts. The crowd made a rushtoward Jesus, crying, He is guilty, put Him todeath! Had it not been for the Roman soldiers,Jesus would not have lived to be nailed to thecross of Calvary. He would have been torn inpieces before His judges, had not Roman authorityinterfered, and by force of arms restrained theviolence of the mob.

Heathen men were angry at the brutaltreatment of one against whom nothing had beenproved. The Roman officers declared that the

Jews in pronouncing condemnation upon Jesuswere infringing upon the Roman power, and that itwas even against the Jewish law to condemn aman to death upon his own testimony. Thisintervention brought a momentary lull in theproceedings; but the Jewish leaders were deadalike to pity and to shame.

Priests and rulers forgot the dignity of theiroffice, and abused the Son of God with foulepithets. They taunted Him with His parentage.They declared that His presumption in proclaimingHimself the Messiah made Him deserving of themost ignominious death. The most dissolute menengaged in infamous abuse of the Saviour. An oldgarment was thrown over His head, and Hispersecutors struck Him in the face, saying,"Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ, Who is he thatsmote Thee?" When the garment was removed,one poor wretch spat in His face.

The angels of God faithfully recorded everyinsulting look, word, and act against their belovedCommander. One day the base men who scorned

and spat upon the calm, pale face of Christ willlook upon it in its glory, shining brighter than thesun.

Chap. 3 - Judas

The history of Judas presents the sad ending ofa life that might have been honored of God. HadJudas died before his last journey to Jerusalem hewould have been regarded as a man worthy of aplace among the twelve, and one who would begreatly missed. The abhorrence which hasfollowed him through the centuries would not haveexisted but for the attributes revealed at the closeof his history. But it was for a purpose that hischaracter was laid open to the world. It was to bea warning to all who, like him, should betraysacred trusts.

A little before the Passover, Judas hadrenewed his contract with the priests to deliverJesus into their hands. Then it was arranged that

the Saviour should be taken at one of His resortsfor meditation and prayer. Since the feast at thehouse of Simon, Judas had had opportunity toreflect upon the deed which he had covenanted toperform, but his purpose was unchanged. Forthirty pieces of silver--the price of a slave--he soldthe Lord of glory to ignominy and death.

Judas had naturally a strong love for money;but he had not always been corrupt enough to dosuch a deed as this. He had fostered the evil spiritof avarice until it had become the ruling motive ofhis life. The love of mammon overbalanced hislove for Christ. Through becoming the slave of onevice he gave himself to Satan, to be driven to anylengths in sin.

Judas had joined the disciples when multitudeswere following Christ. The Saviour's teachingmoved their hearts as they hung entranced uponHis words, spoken in the synagogue, by theseaside, upon the mount. Judas saw the sick, thelame, the blind, flock to Jesus from the towns andcities. He saw the dying laid at His feet. He

witnessed the Saviour's mighty works in healingthe sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead.He felt in his own person the evidence of Christ'spower. He recognized the teaching of Christ assuperior to all that he had ever heard. He lovedthe Great Teacher, and desired to be with Him. Hefelt a desire to be changed in character and life,and he hoped to experience this throughconnecting himself with Jesus. The Saviour did notrepulse Judas. He gave him a place among thetwelve. He trusted him to do the work of anevangelist. He endowed him with power to healthe sick and to cast out devils. But Judas did notcome to the point of surrendering himself fully toChrist. He did not give up his worldly ambition orhis love of money. While he accepted the positionof a minister of Christ, he did not bring himselfunder the divine molding. He felt that he couldretain his own judgment and opinions, and hecultivated a disposition to criticize and accuse.

Judas was highly regarded by the disciples,and had great influence over them. He himself had

a high opinion of his own qualifications, andlooked upon his brethren as greatly inferior to himin judgment and ability. They did not see theiropportunities, he thought, and take advantage ofcircumstances. The church would never prosperwith such shortsighted men as leaders. Peter wasimpetuous; he would move without consideration.John, who was treasuring up the truths that fellfrom Christ's lips, was looked upon by Judas as apoor financier. Matthew, whose training had taughthim accuracy in all things, was very particular inregard to honesty, and he was ever contemplatingthe words of Christ, and became so absorbed inthem that, as Judas thought, he could not betrusted to do sharp, far-seeing business. ThusJudas summed up all the disciples, and flatteredhimself that the church would often be brought intoperplexity and embarrassment if it were not for hisability as a manager. Judas regarded himself asthe capable one, who could not be overreached. Inhis own estimation he was an honor to the cause,and as such he always represented himself.

Judas was blinded to his own weakness ofcharacter, and Christ placed him where he wouldhave an opportunity to see and correct this. Astreasurer for the disciples, he was called upon toprovide for the needs of the little company, and torelieve the necessities of the poor. When in thePassover chamber Jesus said to him, "That thoudoest, do quickly" (John 13:27), the disciplesthought He had bidden himbuy what was neededfor the feast, or give something to the poor. Inministering to others, Judas might have developedan unselfish spirit. But while listening daily to thelessons of Christ and witnessing His unselfish life,Judas indulged his covetous disposition. The smallsums that came into his hands were a continualtemptation. Often when he did a little service forChrist, or devoted time to religious purposes, hepaid himself out of this meager fund. In his owneyes these pretexts served to excuse his action;but in God's sight he was a thief.

Christ's oft-repeated statement that Hiskingdom was not of this world offended Judas. He

had marked out a line upon which he expectedChrist to work. He had planned that John theBaptist should be delivered from prison. But lo,John was left to be beheaded. And Jesus, insteadof asserting His royal right and avenging the deathof John, retired with His disciples into a countryplace. Judas wanted more aggressive warfare. Hethought that if Jesus would not prevent thedisciples from carrying out their schemes, the workwould be more successful. He marked theincreasing enmity of the Jewish leaders, and sawtheir challenge unheeded when they demandedfrom Christ a sign from heaven. His heart wasopen to unbelief, and the enemy supplied thoughtsof questioning and rebellion. Why did Jesus dwellso much upon that which was discouraging? Whydid He predict trial and persecution for Himself andfor His disciples? The prospect of having a highplace in the new kingdom had led Judas toespouse the cause of Christ. Were his hopes to bedisappointed? Judas had not decided that Jesuswas not the Son of God; but he was questioning,

and seeking to find some explanation of Hismighty works.

Notwithstanding the Saviour's own teaching,Judas was continually advancing the idea thatChrist would reign as king in Jerusalem. At thefeeding of the five thousand he tried to bring thisabout. On this occasion Judas assisted indistributing the food to the hungry multitude. Hehad an opportunity to see the benefit which it wasin his power to impart to others. He felt thesatisfaction that always comes in service to God.He helped to bring the sick and suffering fromamong the multitude to Christ. He saw what relief,what joy and gladness, come to human heartsthrough the healing power of the Restorer. Hemight have comprehended the methods of Christ.But he was blinded by his own selfish desires.Judas was first to take advantage of theenthusiasm excited by the miracle of the loaves. Itwas he who set on foot the project to take Christby force and make Him king. His hopes were high.His disappointment was bitter.

Christ's discourse in the synagogue concerningthe bread of life was the turning point in the historyof Judas. He heard the words, "Except ye eat theflesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, yehave no life in you." John 6:53. He saw that Christwas offering spiritual rather than worldly good. Heregarded himself as farsighted, and thought hecould see that Jesus would have no honor, andthat He could bestow no high position upon Hisfollowers. He determined not to unite himself soclosely to Christ but that he could draw away. Hewould watch. And he did watch.

From that time he expressed doubts thatconfused the disciples. He introducedcontroversies and misleading sentiments,repeating the arguments urged by the scribes andPharisees against the claims of Christ. All the littleand large troubles and crosses, the difficulties andthe apparent hindrances to the advancement ofthe gospel, Judas interpreted as evidencesagainst its truthfulness. He would introduce textsof Scripture that had no connection with the truths

Christ was presenting. These texts, separatedfrom their connection, perplexed the disciples, andincreased the discouragement that was constantlypressing upon them. Yet all this was done byJudas in such a way as to make it appear that hewas conscientious. And while the disciples weresearching for evidence to confirm the words of theGreat Teacher, Judas would lead them almostimperceptibly on another track. Thus in a veryreligious, and apparently wise, way he waspresenting matters in a different light from that inwhich Jesus had given them, and attaching to Hiswords a meaning that He had not conveyed. Hissuggestions were constantly exciting an ambitiousdesire for temporal preferment, and thus turningthe disciples from the important things they shouldhave considered. The dissension as to which ofthem should be greatest was generally excited byJudas.

When Jesus presented to the rich young rulerthe condition of discipleship, Judas wasdispleased. He thought that a mistake had been

made. If such men as this ruler could beconnected with the believers, they would helpsustain Christ's cause. If Judas were only receivedas a counselor, he thought, he could suggestmany plans for the advantage of the little church.His principles and methods would differ somewhatfrom Christ's, but in these things he thoughthimself wiser than Christ.

In all that Christ said to His disciples, there wassomething with which, in heart, Judas disagreed.Under his influence the leaven of disaffection wasfast doing its work. The disciples did not see thereal agency in all this; but Jesus saw that Satanwas communicating his attributes to Judas, andthus opening up a channel through which toinfluence the other disciples. This, a year beforethe betrayal, Christ declared. "Have not I chosenyou twelve," He said, "and one of you is a devil?"John 6:70.

Yet Judas made no open opposition, norseemed to question the Saviour's lessons. Hemade no outward murmur until the time of the

feast in Simon's house. When Mary anointed theSaviour's feet, Judas manifested his covetousdisposition. At the reproof from Jesus his veryspirit seemed turned to gall. Wounded pride anddesire for revenge broke down the barriers, andthe greed so long indulged held him in control.This will be the experience of everyone whopersists in tampering with sin. The elements ofdepravity that are not resisted and overcome,respond to Satan's temptation, and the soul is ledcaptive at his will.

But Judas was not yet wholly hardened. Evenafter he had twice pledged himself to betray theSaviour, there was opportunity for repentance. Atthe Passover supper Jesus proved His divinity byrevealing the traitor's purpose. He tenderlyincluded Judas in the ministry to the disciples. Butthe last appeal of love was unheeded. Then thecase of Judas was decided, and the feet thatJesus had washed went forth to the betrayer'swork.

Judas reasoned that if Jesus was to becrucified, the event must come to pass. His ownact in betraying the Saviour would not change theresult. If Jesus was not to die, it would only forceHim to deliver Himself. At all events, Judas wouldgain something by his treachery. He counted thathe had made a sharp bargain in betraying hisLord.

Judas did not, however, believe that Christwould permit Himself to be arrested. In betrayingHim, it was his purpose to teach Him a lesson. Heintended to play a part that would make theSaviour careful thenceforth to treat him with duerespect. But Judas knew not that he was givingChrist up to death. How often, as the Saviourtaught in parables, the scribes and Pharisees hadbeen carried away with His striking illustrations!How often they had pronounced judgment againstthemselves! Often when the truth was broughthome to their hearts, they had been filled withrage, and had taken up stones to cast at Him;butagain and again He had made His escape. Since

He had escaped so many snares, thought Judas,He certainly would not now allow Himself to betaken.

Judas decided to put the matter to the test. IfJesus really was the Messiah, the people, forwhom He had done so much, would rally aboutHim, and would proclaim Him king. This wouldforever settle many minds that were now inuncertainty. Judas would have the credit of havingplaced the king on David's throne. And this actwould secure to him the first position, next toChrist, in the new kingdom.

The false disciple acted his part in betrayingJesus. In the garden, when he said to the leadersof the mob, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same isHe: hold Him fast" (Matthew 26:48), he fullybelieved that Christ would escape out of theirhands. Then if they should blame him, he couldsay, Did I not tell you to hold Him fast?

Judas beheld the captors of Christ, acting uponhis words, bind Him firmly. In amazement he saw

that the Saviour suffered Himself to be led away.Anxiously he followed Him from the garden to thetrial before the Jewish rulers. At every movementhe looked for Him to surprise His enemies, byappearing before them as the Son of God, andsetting at nought all their plots and power. But ashour after hour went by, and Jesus submitted to allthe abuse heaped upon Him, a terrible fear cameto the traitor that he had sold his Master to Hisdeath.

As the trial drew to a close, Judas could endurethe torture of his guilty conscience no longer.Suddenly a hoarse voice rang through the hall,sending a thrill of terror to all hearts: He isinnocent; spare Him, O Caiaphas!

The tall form of Judas was now seen pressingthrough the startled throng. His face was pale andhaggard, and great drops of sweat stood on hisforehead. Rushing to the throne of judgment, hethrew down before the high priest the pieces ofsilver that had been the price of his Lord'sbetrayal. Eagerly grasping the robe of Caiaphas,

he implored him to release Jesus, declaring thatHe had done nothing worthy of death. Caiaphasangrily shook him off, but was confused, and knewnot what to say. The perfidy of the priests wasrevealed. It was evident that they had bribed thedisciple to betray his Master.

"I have sinned," again cried Judas, "in that Ihave betrayed the innocent blood." But the highpriest, regaining his self-possession, answeredwith scorn, "What is that to us? see thou to that."Matthew 27:4. The priests had been willing tomake Judas their tool; but they despised hisbaseness. When he turned to them withconfession, they spurned him.

Judas now cast himself at the feet of Jesus,acknowledging Him to be the Son of God, andentreating Him to deliver Himself. The Saviour didnot reproach His betrayer. He knew that Judas didnot repent; his confession was forced from hisguilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation anda looking for of judgment, but he felt no deep,heartbreaking grief that he had betrayed the

spotless Son of God, and denied the Holy One ofIsrael. Yet Jesus spoke no word of condemnation.He looked pityingly upon Judas, and said, For thishour came I into the world.

A murmur of surprise ran through theassembly. With amazement they beheld theforbearance of Christ toward His betrayer. Againthere swept over them the conviction that this Manwas more than mortal. But if He was the Son ofGod, they questioned, why did He not free Himselffrom His bonds and triumph over His accusers?

Judas saw that his entreaties were in vain, andhe rushed from the hall exclaiming, It is too late! Itis too late! He felt that he could not live to seeJesus crucified, and in despair went out andhanged himself.

Later that same day, on the road from Pilate'shall to Calvary, there came an interruption to theshouts and jeers of the wicked throng who wereleading Jesus to the place of crucifixion. As theypassed a retired spot, they saw at the foot of a

lifeless tree, the body of Judas. It was a mostrevolting sight. His weight had broken the cord bywhich he had hanged himself to the tree. In falling,his body had been horribly mangled, and dogswere now devouring it. His remains wereimmediately buried out of sight; but there was lessmockery among the throng, and many a pale facerevealed the thoughts within. Retribution seemedalready visiting those who were guilty of the bloodof Jesus.

Chap. 4 - In Pilate's Judgment Hall

In the judgment hall of Pilate, the Romangovernor, Christ stands bound as a prisoner.About Him are the guard of soldiers, and the hall isfast filling with spectators. Just outside theentrance are the judges of the Sanhedrin, priests,rulers, elders, and the mob.

After condemning Jesus, the council of theSanhedrin had come to Pilate to have the

sentence confirmed and executed. But theseJewish officials would not enter the Romanjudgment hall. According to their ceremonial lawthey would be defiled thereby, and thus preventedfrom taking part in the feast of the Passover. Intheir blindness they did not see that murderoushatred had defiled their hearts. They did not seethat Christ was the real Passover lamb, and that,since they had rejected Him, the great feast hadfor them lost its significance.

When the Saviour was brought into thejudgment hall, Pilate looked upon Him with nofriendly eyes. The Roman governor had beencalled from his bedchamber in haste, and hedetermined to do his work as quickly as possible.He was prepared to deal with the prisoner withmagisterial severity. Assuming his severestexpression, he turned to see what kind of man hehad to examine, that he had been called from hisrepose at so early an hour. He knew that it mustbe someone whom the Jewish authorities wereanxious to have tried and punished with haste.

Pilate looked at the men who had Jesus incharge, and then his gaze rested searchingly onJesus. He had had to deal with all kinds ofcriminals; but never before had a man bearingmarks of such goodness and nobility been broughtbefore him. On His face he saw no sign of guilt, noexpression of fear, no boldness or defiance. Hesaw a man of calm and dignified bearing, whosecountenance bore not the marks of a criminal, butthe signature of heaven.

Christ's appearance made a favorableimpression upon Pilate. His better nature wasroused. He had heard of Jesus and His works. Hiswife had told him something of the wonderfuldeeds performed by the Galilean prophet, whocured the sick and raised the dead. Now thisrevived as a dream in Pilate's mind. He recalledrumors that he had heard from several sources.He resolved to demand of the Jews their chargesagainst the prisoner.

Who is this Man, and wherefore have yebrought Him? he said. What accusation bring ye

against Him? The Jews were disconcerted.Knowing that they could not substantiate theircharges against Christ, they did not desire a publicexamination. They answered that He was adeceiver called Jesus of Nazareth.

Again Pilate asked, "What accusation bring yeagainst this Man?" The priests did not answer hisquestion, but in words that showed their irritation,they said, "If He were not a malefactor, we wouldnot have delivered Him up unto thee." When thosecomposing the Sanhedrin, the first men of thenation, bring to you a man they deem worthy ofdeath, is there need to ask for an accusationagainst him? They hoped to impress Pilate with asense of their importance, and thus lead him toaccede to their request without going throughmany preliminaries. They were eager to have theirsentence ratified; for they knew that the peoplewho had witnessed Christ's marvelous workscould tell a story very different from the fabricationthey themselves were now rehearsing.

The priests thought that with the weak andvacillating Pilate they could carry through theirplans without trouble. Before this he had signedthe death warrant hastily, condemning to deathmen they knew were not worthy of death. In hisestimation the life of a prisoner was of littleaccount; whether he were innocent or guilty was ofno special consequence. The priests hoped thatPilate would now inflict the death penalty on Jesuswithout giving Him a hearing. This they besoughtas a favor on the occasion of their great nationalfestival.

But there was something in the prisoner thatheld Pilate back from this. He dared not do it. Heread the purposes of the priests. He rememberedhow, not long before, Jesus had raised Lazarus, aman that had been dead four days; and hedetermined to know, before signing the sentenceof condemnation, what were the charges againstHim, and whether they could be proved.

If your judgment is sufficient, he said, why bringthe prisoner to me? "Take ye Him, and judge Him

according to your law." Thus pressed, the priestssaid that they had already passed sentence uponHim, but that they must have Pilate's sentence torender their condemnation valid. What is yoursentence? Pilate asked. The death sentence, theyanswered; but it is not lawful for us to put any manto death. They asked Pilate to take their word asto Christ's guilt, and enforce their sentence. Theywould take the responsibility of the result.

Pilate was not a just or a conscientious judge;but weak though he was in moral power, herefused to grant this request. He would notcondemn Jesus until a charge had been broughtagainst Him.

The priests were in a dilemma. They saw thatthey must cloak their hypocrisy under the thickestconcealment. They must not allow it to appear thatChrist had been arrested on religious grounds.Were this put forward as a reason, theirproceedings would have no weight with Pilate.They must make it appear that Jesus was workingagainst the common law; then He could be

punished as a political offender. Tumults andinsurrection against the Roman government wereconstantly arising among the Jews. With theserevolts the Romans had dealt very rigorously, andthey were constantly on the watch to represseverything that could lead to an outbreak.

Only a few days before this the Pharisees hadtried to entrap Christ with the question, "Is it lawfulfor us to give tribute unto Caesar?" But Christ hadunveiled their hypocrisy. The Romans who werepresent had seen the utter failure of the plotters,and their discomfiture at His answer, "Rendertherefore unto Caesar the things which beCaesar's." Luke 20:22-25.

Now the priests thought to make it appear thaton this occasion Christ had taught what theyhoped He would teach. In their extremity theycalled false witnesses to their aid, "and they beganto accuse Him, saying, We found this fellowperverting the nation, and forbidding to give tributeto Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ aKing." Three charges, each without foundation.

The priests knew this, but they were willing tocommit perjury could they but secure their end.

Pilate saw through their purpose. He did notbelieve that the prisoner had plotted against thegovernment. His meek and humble appearancewas altogether out of harmony with the charge.Pilate was convinced that a deep plot had beenlaid to destroy an innocent man who stood in theway of the Jewish dignitaries. Turning to Jesus heasked, "Art Thou the King of the Jews?" TheSaviour answered, "Thou sayest it." And as Hespoke, His countenance lighted up as if asunbeam were shining upon it.

When they heard His answer, Caiaphas andthose that were with him called Pilate to witnessthat Jesus had admitted the crime with which Hewas charged. With noisy cries, priests, scribes,and rulers demanded that He be sentenced todeath. The cries were taken up by the mob, andthe uproar was deafening. Pilate was confused.Seeing that Jesus made no answer to Hisaccusers, Pilate said to Him, "Answerest Thou

nothing? behold how many things they witnessagainst Thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing."

Standing behind Pilate, in view of all in thecourt, Christ heard the abuse; but to all the falsecharges against Him He answered not a word. Hiswhole bearing gave evidence of consciousinnocence. He stood unmoved by the fury of thewaves that beat about Him. It was as if the heavysurges of wrath, rising higher and higher, like thewaves of the boisterous ocean, broke about Him,but did not touch Him. He stood silent, but Hissilence was eloquence. It was as a light shiningfrom the inner to the outer man.

Pilate was astonished at His bearing. Does thisMan disregard the proceedings because He doesnot care to save His life? he asked himself. As helooked at Jesus, bearing insult and mockerywithout retaliation, he felt that He could not be asunrighteous and unjust as were the clamoringpriests. Hoping to gain the truth from Him and toescape the tumult of the crowd, Pilate took Jesus

aside with him, and again questioned, "Art Thouthe King of the Jews?"

Jesus did not directly answer this question. Heknew that the Holy Spirit was striving with Pilate,and He gave him opportunity to acknowledge hisconviction. "Sayest thou this thing of thyself," Heasked, "or did others tell it thee of Me?" That is,was it the accusations of the priests, or a desire toreceive light from Christ, that prompted Pilate'squestion? Pilate understood Christ's meaning; butpride arose in his heart. He would notacknowledge the conviction that pressed uponhim. "Am I a Jew?" he said. "Thine own nation andthe chief priests have delivered Thee unto me:what hast Thou done?"

Pilate's golden opportunity had passed. YetJesus did not leave him without further light. WhileHe did not directly answer Pilate's question, Heplainly stated His own mission. He gave Pilate tounderstand that He was not seeking an earthlythrone.

"My kingdom is not of this world," He said; "ifMy kingdom were of this world, then would Myservants fight, that I should not be delivered to theJews: but now is My kingdom not from hence.Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art Thou a kingthen? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am aking. To this end was I born, and for this causecame I into the world, that I should bear witnessunto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hearethMy voice."

Christ affirmed that His word was in itself a keywhich would unlock the mystery to those who wereprepared to receive it. It had a self-commendingpower, and this was the secret of the spread of Hiskingdom of truth. He desired Pilate to understandthat only by receiving and appropriating truth couldhis ruined nature be reconstructed.

Pilate had a desire to know the truth. His mindwas confused. He eagerly grasped the words ofthe Saviour, and his heart was stirred with a greatlonging to know what it really was, and how hecould obtain it. "What is truth?" he inquired. But he

did not wait for an answer. The tumult outsiderecalled him to the interests of the hour; for thepriests were clamorous for immediate action.Going out to the Jews, he declared emphatically, "Ifind in Him no fault at all."

These words from a heathen judge were ascathing rebuke to the perfidy and falsehood of therulers of Israel who were accusing the Saviour. Asthe priests and elders heard this from Pilate, theirdisappointment and rage knew no bounds. Theyhad long plotted and waited for this opportunity. Asthey saw the prospect of the release of Jesus,they seemed ready to tear Him in pieces. Theyloudly denounced Pilate, and threatened him withthe censure of the Roman government. Theyaccused him of refusing to condemn Jesus, who,they affirmed, had set Himself up against Caesar.

Angry voices were now heard, declaring thatthe seditious influence of Jesus was well knownthroughout the country. The priests said, "Hestirreth up the people, teaching throughout allJewry, beginning from Galilee to this place."

Pilate at this time had no thought ofcondemning Jesus. He knew that the Jews hadaccused Him through hatred and prejudice. Heknew what his duty was. Justice demanded thatChrist should be immediately released. But Pilatedreaded the ill will of the people. Should he refuseto give Jesus into their hands, a tumult would beraised, and this he feared to meet. When he heardthat Christ was from Galilee, he decided to sendHim to Herod, the ruler of that province, who wasthen in Jerusalem. By this course, Pilate thoughtto shift the responsibility of the trial from himself toHerod. He also thought this a good opportunity toheal an old quarrel between himself and Herod.And so it proved. The two magistrates madefriends over the trial of the Saviour.

Pilate delivered Jesus again to the soldiers,and amid the jeers and insults of the mob He washurried to the judgment hall of Herod. "WhenHerod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad." Hehad never before met the Saviour, but "he wasdesirous to see Him of a long season, because he

had heard many things of Him; and he hoped tohave seen some miracle done by Him." ThisHerod was he whose hands were stained with theblood of John the Baptist. When Herod first heardof Jesus, he was terror-stricken, and said, "It isJohn, whom I beheaded: he is risen from thedead;" "therefore mighty works do show forththemselves in him." Mark 6:16; Matthew 14:2. YetHerod desired to see Jesus. Now there wasopportunity to save the life of this prophet, and theking hoped to banish forever from his mind thememory of that bloody head brought to him in acharger. He also desired to have his curiositygratified, and thought that if Christ were given anyprospect of release, He would do anything thatwas asked of Him.

A large company of the priests and elders hadaccompanied Christ to Herod. And when theSaviour was brought in, these dignitaries, allspeaking excitedly, urged their accusationsagainst Him. But Herod paid little regard to theircharges. He commanded silence, desiring an

opportunity to question Christ. He ordered that thefetters of Christ should be unloosed, at the sametime charging His enemies with roughly treatingHim. Looking with compassion into the sereneface of the world's Redeemer, he read in it onlywisdom and purity. He as well as Pilate wassatisfied that Christ had been accused throughmalice and envy.

Herod questioned Christ in many words, butthroughout the Saviour maintained a profoundsilence. At the command of the king, the decrepitand maimed were then called in, and Christ wasordered to prove His claims by working a miracle.Men say that Thou canst heal the sick, said Herod.I am anxious to see that Thy widespread fame hasnot been belied. Jesus did not respond, and Herodstill continued to urge: If Thou canst work miraclesfor others, work them now for Thine own good,and it will serve Thee a good purpose. Again hecommanded, Show us a sign that Thou hast thepower with which rumor hath accredited Thee. ButChrist was as one who heard and saw not. The

Son of God had taken upon Himself man's nature.He must do as man must do in like circumstances.Therefore He would not work a miracle to saveHimself the pain and humiliation that man mustendure when placed in a similar position.

Herod promised that if Christ would performsome miracle in his presence, He should bereleased. Christ's accusers had seen with theirown eyes the mighty works wrought by His power.They had heard Him command the grave to giveup its dead. They had seen the dead come forthobedient to His voice. Fear seized them lest Heshould now work a miracle. Of all things they mostdreaded an exhibition of His power. Such amanifestation would prove a deathblow to theirplans, and would perhaps cost them their lives.Again the priests and rulers, in great anxiety,urged their accusations against Him. Raising theirvoices, they declared, He is a traitor, ablasphemer. He works His miracles through thepower given Him by Beelzebub, the prince of the

devils. The hall became a scene of confusion,some crying one thing and some another.

Herod's conscience was now far less sensitivethan when he had trembled with horror at therequest of Herodias for the head of John theBaptist. For a time he had felt the keen stings ofremorse for his terrible act; but his moralperceptions had become more and moredegraded by his licentious life. Now his heart hadbecome so hardened that he could even boast ofthe punishment he had inflicted upon John fordaring to reprove him. And he now threatenedJesus, declaring repeatedly that he had power torelease or to condemn Him. But no sign fromJesus gave evidence that He heard a word.

Herod was irritated by this silence. It seemed toindicate utter indifference to his authority. To thevain and pompous king, open rebuke would havebeen less offensive than to be thus ignored. Againhe angrily threatened Jesus, who still remainedunmoved and silent.

The mission of Christ in this world was not togratify idle curiosity. He came to heal thebrokenhearted. Could He have spoken any wordto heal the bruises of sin-sick souls, He would nothave kept silent. But He had no words for thosewho would but trample the truth under their unholyfeet.

Christ might have spoken words to Herod thatwould have pierced the ears of the hardened king.He might have stricken him with fear and tremblingby laying before him the full iniquity of his life, andthe horror of his approaching doom. But Christ'ssilence was the severest rebuke that He couldhave given. Herod had rejected the truth spoken tohim by the greatest of the prophets, and no othermessage was he to receive. Not a word had theMajesty of heaven for him. That ear that had everbeen open to human woe, had no room forHerod's commands. Those eyes that had everrested upon the penitent sinner in pitying, forgivinglove had no look to bestow upon Herod. Those lipsthat had uttered the most impressive truth, that in

tones of tenderest entreaty had pleaded with themost sinful and the most degraded, were closed tothe haughty king who felt no need of a Saviour.

Herod's face grew dark with passion. Turning tothe multitude, he angrily denounced Jesus as animpostor. Then to Christ he said, If You will giveno evidence of Your claim, I will deliver You up tothe soldiers and the people. They may succeed inmaking You speak. If You are an impostor, deathat their hands is only what You merit; if You arethe Son of God, save Yourself by working amiracle.

No sooner were these words spoken than arush was made for Christ. Like wild beasts, thecrowd darted upon their prey. Jesus was draggedthis way and that, Herod joining the mob inseeking to humiliate the Son of God. Had not theRoman soldiers interposed, and forced back themaddened throng, the Saviour would have beentorn in pieces.

"Herod with his men of war set Him at nought,and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeousrobe." The Roman soldiers joined in this abuse. Allthat these wicked, corrupt soldiers, helped on byHerod and the Jewish dignitaries, could instigatewas heaped upon the Saviour. Yet His divinepatience failed not.

Christ's persecutors had tried to measure Hischaracter by their own; they had represented Himas vile as themselves. But back of all the presentappearance another scene intruded itself,--ascene which they will one day see in all its glory.There were some who trembled in Christ'spresence. While the rude throng were bowing inmockery before Him, some who came forward forthat purpose turned back, afraid and silenced.Herod was convicted. The last rays of mercifullight were shining upon his sin-hardened heart. Hefelt that this was no common man; for divinity hadflashed through humanity. At the very time whenChrist was encompassed by mockers, adulterers,

and murderers, Herod felt that he was beholding aGod upon His throne.

Hardened as he was, Herod dared not ratify thecondemnation of Christ. He wished to relievehimself of the terrible responsibility, and he sentJesus back to the Roman judgment hall.

Pilate was disappointed and much displeased.When the Jews returned with their prisoner, heasked impatiently what they would have him do.He reminded them that he had already examinedJesus, and found no fault in Him; he told them thatthey had brought complaints against Him, but theyhad not been able to prove a single charge. Hehad sent Jesus to Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee,and one of their own nation, but he also had foundin Him nothing worthy of death. "I will thereforechastise Him," Pilate said, "and release Him."

Here Pilate showed his weakness. He haddeclared that Jesus was innocent, yet he waswilling for Him to be scourged to pacify Hisaccusers. He would sacrifice justice and principle

in order to compromise with the mob. This placedhim at a disadvantage. The crowd presumed uponhis indecision, and clamored the more for the lifeof the prisoner. If at the first Pilate had stood firm,refusing to condemn a man whom he foundguiltless, he would have broken the fatal chain thatwas to bind him in remorse and guilt as long as helived. Had he carried out his convictions of right,the Jews would not have presumed to dictate tohim. Christ would have been put to death, but theguilt would not have rested upon Pilate. But Pilatehad taken step after step in the violation of hisconscience. He had excused himself from judgingwith justice and equity, and he now found himselfalmost helpless in the hands of the priests andrulers. His wavering and indecision proved hisruin.

Even now Pilate was not left to act blindly. Amessage from God warned him from the deed hewas about to commit. In answer to Christ's prayer,the wife of Pilate had been visited by an angelfrom heaven, and in a dream she had beheld the

Saviour and conversed with Him. Pilate's wife wasnot a Jew, but as she looked upon Jesus in herdream, she had no doubt of His character ormission. She knew Him to be the Prince of God.She saw Him on trial in the judgment hall. Shesaw the hands tightly bound as the hands of acriminal. She saw Herod and his soldiers doingtheir dreadful work. She heard the priests andrulers, filled with envy and malice, madly accusing.She heard the words, "We have a law, and by ourlaw He ought to die." She saw Pilate give Jesus tothe scourging, after he had declared, "I find nofault in Him." She heard the condemnationpronounced by Pilate, and saw him give Christ upto His murderers. She saw the cross uplifted onCalvary. She saw the earth wrapped in darkness,and heard the mysterious cry, "It is finished." Stillanother scene met her gaze. She saw Christseated upon the great white cloud, while the earthreeled in space, and His murderers fled from thepresence of His glory. With a cry of horror she

awoke, and at once wrote to Pilate words ofwarning.

While Pilate was hesitating as to what heshould do, a messenger pressed through thecrowd, and handed him the letter from his wife,which read:

"Have thou nothing to do with that just Man: forI have suffered many things this day in a dreambecause of Him."

Pilate's face grew pale. He was confused by hisown conflicting emotions. But while he had beendelaying to act, the priests and rulers were stillfurther inflaming the minds of the people. Pilatewas forced to action. He now bethought himself ofa custom which might serve to secure Christ'srelease. It was customary at this feast to releasesome one prisoner whom the people mightchoose. This custom was of pagan invention;there was not a shadow of justice in it, but it wasgreatly prized by the Jews. The Roman authoritiesat this time held a prisoner named Barabbas, who

was under sentence of death. This man hadclaimed to be the Messiah. He claimed authority toestablish a different order of things, to set theworld right. Under satanic delusion he claimed thatwhatever he could obtain by theft and robbery washis own. He had done wonderful things throughsatanic agencies, he had gained a followingamong the people, and had excited seditionagainst the Roman government. Under cover ofreligious enthusiasm he was a hardened anddesperate villain, bent on rebellion and cruelty. Bygiving the people a choice between this man andthe innocent Saviour, Pilate thought to arousethem to a sense of justice. He hoped to gain theirsympathy for Jesus in opposition to the priests andrulers. So, turning to the crowd, he said with greatearnestness, "Whom will ye that I release untoyou? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?"

Like the bellowing of wild beasts came theanswer of the mob, "Release unto us Barabbas!"Louder and louder swelled the cry, Barabbas!Barabbas! Thinking that the people had not

understood his question, Pilate asked, "Will ye thatI release unto you the King of the Jews?" But theycried out again, "Away with this Man, and releaseunto us Barabbas"! "What shall I do then withJesus which is called Christ?" Pilate asked. Againthe surging multitude roared like demons. Demonsthemselves, in human form, were in the crowd,and what could be expected but the answer, "LetHim be crucified"?

Pilate was troubled. He had not thought itwould come to that. He shrank from delivering aninnocent man to the most ignominious and crueldeath that could be inflicted. After the roar ofvoices had ceased, he turned to the people,saying, "Why, what evil hath He done?" But thecase had gone too far for argument. It was notevidence of Christ's innocence that they wanted,but His condemnation.

Still Pilate endeavored to save Him. "He saidunto them the third time, Why, what evil hath Hedone? I have found no cause of death in Him: I willtherefore chastise Him, and let Him go." But the

very mention of His release stirred the people to atenfold frenzy. "Crucify Him, crucify Him," theycried. Louder and louder swelled the storm thatPilate's indecision had called forth.

Jesus was taken, faint with weariness andcovered with wounds, and scourged in the sight ofthe multitude. "And the soldiers led Him away intothe hall, called Praetorium, and they call togetherthe whole band. And they clothed Him with purple,and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about Hishead, and began to salute Him, Hail, King of theJews! And they . . . did spit upon Him, and bowingtheir knees worshiped Him." Occasionally somewicked hand snatched the reed that had beenplaced in His hand, and struck the crown upon Hisbrow, forcing the thorns into His temples, andsending the blood trickling down His face andbeard.

Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, Oearth! Behold the oppressor and the oppressed. Amaddened throng enclose the Saviour of theworld. Mocking and jeering are mingled with the

coarse oaths of blasphemy. His lowly birth andhumble life are commented upon by the unfeelingmob. His claim to be the Son of God is ridiculed,and the vulgar jest and insulting sneer are passedfrom lip to lip.

Satan led the cruel mob in its abuse of theSaviour. It was his purpose to provoke Him toretaliation if possible, or to drive Him to perform amiracle to release Himself, and thus break up theplan of salvation. One stain upon His human life,one failure of His humanity to endure the terribletest, and the Lamb of God would have been animperfect offering, and the redemption of man afailure. But He who by a command could bring theheavenly host to His aid--He who could havedriven that mob in terror from His sight by theflashing forth of His divine majesty--submitted withperfect calmness to the coarsest insult andoutrage.

Christ's enemies had demanded a miracle asevidence of His divinity. They had evidence fargreater than any they had sought. As their cruelty

degraded His torturers below humanity into thelikeness of Satan, so did His meekness andpatience exalt Jesus above humanity, and proveHis kinship to God. His abasement was the pledgeof His exaltation. The blood drops of agony thatfrom His wounded temples flowed down His faceand beard were the pledge of His anointing with"the oil of gladness" (Hebrews 1:9.) as our greathigh priest.

Satan's rage was great as he saw that all theabuse inflicted upon the Saviour had not forcedthe least murmur from His lips. Although He hadtaken upon Him the nature of man, He wassustained by a godlike fortitude, and departed inno particular from the will of His Father.

When Pilate gave Jesus up to be scourged andmocked, he thought to excite the pity of themultitude. He hoped they would decide that thiswas sufficient punishment. Even the malice of thepriests, he thought, would now be satisfied. Butwith keen perception the Jews saw the weaknessof thus punishing a man who had been declared

innocent. They knew that Pilate was trying to savethe life of the prisoner, and they were determinedthat Jesus should not be released. To please andsatisfy us, Pilate has scourged Him, they thought,and if we press the matter to a decided issue, weshall surely gain our end.

Pilate now sent for Barabbas to be brought intothe court. He then presented the two prisonersside by side, and pointing to the Saviour he said ina voice of solemn entreaty, "Behold the Man!" "Ibring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I findno fault in Him."

There stood the Son of God, wearing the robeof mockery and the crown of thorns. Stripped tothe waist, His back showed the long, cruel stripes,from which the blood flowed freely. His face wasstained with blood, and bore the marks ofexhaustion and pain; but never had it appearedmore beautiful than now. The Saviour's visagewas not marred before His enemies. Every featureexpressed gentleness and resignation and thetenderest pity for His cruel foes. In His manner

there was no cowardly weakness, but the strengthand dignity of long-suffering. In striking contrastwas the prisoner at His side. Every line of thecountenance of Barabbas proclaimed him thehardened ruffian that he was. The contrast spoketo every beholder. Some of the spectators wereweeping. As they looked upon Jesus, their heartswere full of sympathy. Even the priests and rulerswere convicted that He was all that He claimed tobe.

The Roman soldiers that surrounded Christwere not all hardened; some were lookingearnestly into His face for one evidence that Hewas a criminal or dangerous character. From timeto time they would turn and cast a look ofcontempt upon Barabbas. It needed no deepinsight to read him through and through. Againthey would turn to the One upon trial. They lookedat the divine sufferer with feelings of deep pity.The silent submission of Christ stamped upon theirminds the scene, never to be effaced until they

either acknowledged Him as the Christ, or byrejecting Him decided their own destiny.

Pilate was filled with amazement at theuncomplaining patience of the Saviour. He did notdoubt that the sight of this Man, in contrast withBarabbas, would move the Jews to sympathy. Buthe did not understand the fanatical hatred of thepriests for Him, who, as the Light of the world, hadmade manifest their darkness and error. They hadmoved the mob to a mad fury, and again priests,rulers, and people raised that awful cry, "CrucifyHim, crucify Him." At last, losing all patience withtheir unreasoning cruelty, Pilate cried outdespairingly, "Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for Ifind no fault in Him."

The Roman governor, though familiar with cruelscenes, was moved with sympathy for thesuffering prisoner, who, condemned andscourged, with bleeding brow and lacerated back,still had the bearing of a king upon his throne. Butthe priests declared, "We have a law, and by our

law He ought to die, because He made Himselfthe Son of God."

Pilate was startled. He had no correct idea ofChrist and His mission; but he had an indistinctfaith in God and in beings superior to humanity. Athought that had once before passed through hismind now took more definite shape. Hequestioned whether it might not be a divine beingthat stood before him, clad in the purple robe ofmockery, and crowned with thorns.

Again he went into the judgment hall, and saidto Jesus, "Whence art Thou?" But Jesus gave himno answer. The Saviour had spoken freely toPilate, explaining His own mission as a witness tothe truth. Pilate had disregarded the light. He hadabused the high office of judge by yielding hisprinciples and authority to the demands of themob. Jesus had no further light for him. Vexed atHis silence, Pilate said haughtily:

"Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thounot that I have power to crucify Thee, and havepower to release Thee?"

Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have nopower at all against Me, except it were given theefrom above: therefore he that delivered Me untothee hath the greater sin."

Thus the pitying Saviour, in the midst of Hisintense suffering and grief, excused as far aspossible the act of the Roman governor who gaveHim up to be crucified. What a scene was this tohand down to the world for all time! What a light itsheds upon the character of Him who is the Judgeof all the earth!

"He that delivered Me unto thee," said Jesus,"hath the greater sin." By this Christ meantCaiaphas, who, as high priest, represented theJewish nation. They knew the principles thatcontrolled the Roman authorities. They had hadlight in the prophecies that testified of Christ, andin His own teachings and miracles. The Jewish

judges had received unmistakable evidence of thedivinity of Him whom they condemned to death.And according to their light would they be judged.

The greatest guilt and heaviest responsibilitybelonged to those who stood in the highest placesin the nation, the depositaries of sacred trusts thatthey were basely betraying. Pilate, Herod, and theRoman soldiers were comparatively ignorant ofJesus. They thought to please the priests andrulers by abusing Him. They had not the lightwhich the Jewish nation had so abundantlyreceived. Had the light been given to the soldiers,they would not have treated Christ as cruelly asthey did.

Again Pilate proposed to release the Saviour."But the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this mango, thou art not Caesar's friend." Thus thesehypocrites pretended to be jealous for theauthority of Caesar. Of all the opponents of theRoman rule, the Jews were most bitter. When itwas safe for them to do so, they were mosttyrannical in enforcing their own national and

religious requirements; but when they desired tobring about some purpose of cruelty, they exaltedthe power of Caesar. To accomplish thedestruction of Christ, they would profess loyalty tothe foreign rule which they hated.

"Whosoever maketh himself a king," theycontinued, "speaketh against Caesar." This wastouching Pilate in a weak point. He was undersuspicion by the Roman government, and he knewthat such a report would be ruin to him. He knewthat if the Jews were thwarted, their rage would beturned against him. They would leave nothingundone to accomplish their revenge. He hadbefore him an example of the persistence withwhich they sought the life of One whom they hatedwithout reason.

Pilate then took his place on the judgment seat,and again presented Jesus to the people, saying,"Behold your King!" Again the mad cry was heard,"Away with Him, crucify Him." In a voice that washeard far and near, Pilate asked, "Shall I crucifyyour King?" But from profane, blasphemous lips

went forth the words, "We have no king butCaesar."

Thus by choosing a heathen ruler, the Jewishnation had withdrawn from the theocracy. Theyhad rejected God as their king. Henceforth theyhad no deliverer. They had no king but Caesar. Tothis the priests and teachers had led the people.For this, with the fearful results that followed, theywere responsible. A nation's sin and a nation's ruinwere due to the religious leaders.

"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing,but that rather a tumult was made, he took water,and washed his hands before the multitude,saying, I am innocent of the blood of this justPerson: see ye to it." In fear and self-condemnation Pilate looked upon the Saviour. Inthe vast sea of upturned faces, His alone waspeaceful. About His head a soft light seemed toshine. Pilate said in his heart, He is a God.Turning to the multitude he declared, I am clear ofHis blood. Take ye Him, and crucify Him. But markye, priests and rulers, I pronounce Him a just man.

May He whom He claims as His Father judge youand not me for this day's work. Then to Jesus hesaid, Forgive me for this act; I cannot save You.And when he had again scourged Jesus, hedelivered Him to be crucified.

Pilate longed to deliver Jesus. But he saw thathe could not do this, and yet retain his ownposition and honor. Rather than lose his worldlypower, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life. Howmany, to escape loss or suffering, in like mannersacrifice principle. Conscience and duty point oneway, and self-interest points another. The currentsets strongly in the wrong direction, and he whocompromises with evil is swept away into the thickdarkness of guilt.

Pilate yielded to the demands of the mob.Rather than risk losing his position, he deliveredJesus up to be crucified. But in spite of hisprecautions, the very thing he dreaded afterwardcame upon him. His honors were stripped fromhim, he was cast down from his high office, and,stung by remorse and wounded pride, not long

after the crucifixion he ended his own life. So allwho compromise with sin will gain only sorrow andruin. "There is a way which seemeth right unto aman, but the end thereof are the ways of death."Proverbs 14:12.

When Pilate declared himself innocent of theblood of Christ, Caiaphas answered defiantly, "Hisblood be on us, and on our children." The awfulwords were taken up by the priests and rulers, andechoed by the crowd in an inhuman roar of voices.The whole multitude answered and said, "Hisblood be on us, and on our children."

The people of Israel had made their choice.Pointing to Jesus they had said, "Not this man, butBarabbas." Barabbas, the robber and murderer,was the representative of Satan. Christ was therepresentative of God. Christ had been rejected;Barabbas had been chosen. Barabbas they wereto have. In making this choice they accepted himwho from the beginning was a liar and a murderer.Satan was their leader. As a nation they would actout his dictation. His works they would do. His rule

they must endure. That people who choseBarabbas in the place of Christ were to feel thecruelty of Barabbas as long as time should last.

Looking upon the smitten Lamb of God, theJews had cried, "His blood be on us, and on ourchildren." That awful cry ascended to the throne ofGod. That sentence, pronounced uponthemselves, was written in heaven. That prayerwas heard. The blood of the Son of God was upontheir children and their children's children, aperpetual curse.

Terribly was it realized in the destruction ofJerusalem. Terribly has it been manifested in thecondition of the Jewish nation for eighteenhundred years,--a branch severed from the vine, adead, fruitless branch, to be gathered up andburned. From land to land throughout the world,from century to century, dead, dead in trespassesand sins!

Terribly will that prayer be fulfilled in the greatjudgment day. When Christ shall come to the earth

again, not as a prisoner surrounded by a rabblewill men see Him. They will see Him then asheaven's King. Christ will come in His own glory, inthe glory of His Father, and the glory of the holyangels. Ten thousand times ten thousand, andthousands of thousands of angels, the beautifuland triumphant sons of God, possessingsurpassing loveliness and glory, will escort Him onHis way. Then shall He sit upon the throne of Hisglory, and before Him shall be gathered allnations. Then every eye shall see Him, and theyalso that pierced Him. In the place of a crown ofthorns, He will wear a crown of glory,--a crownwithin a crown. In place of that old purple kinglyrobe, He will be clothed in raiment of whitest white,"so as no fuller on earth can white them." Mark9:3. And on His vesture and on His thigh a namewill be written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords."Revelation 19:16. Those who mocked and smoteHim will be there. The priests and rulers willbehold again the scene in the judgment hall. Everycircumstance will appear before them, as if written

in letters of fire. Then those who prayed, "Hisblood be on us, and on our children," will receivethe answer to their prayer. Then the whole worldwill know and understand. They will realize whoand what they, poor, feeble, finite beings, havebeen warring against. In awful agony and horrorthey will cry to the mountains and rocks, "Fall onus, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth onthe throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for thegreat day of His wrath is come; and who shall beable to stand?" Revelation 6:16, 17.

Chap. 5 - Calvary

"And when they were come to the place, whichis called Calvary, there they crucified Him."

"That He might sanctify the people with Hisown blood," Christ "suffered without the gate."Hebrews 13:12. For transgression of the law ofGod, Adam and Eve were banished from Eden.Christ, our substitute, was to suffer without the

boundaries of Jerusalem. He died outside thegate, where felons and murderers were executed.Full of significance are the words, "Christ hathredeemed us from the curse of the law, beingmade a curse for us." Galatians 3:13.

A vast multitude followed Jesus from thejudgment hall to Calvary. The news of Hiscondemnation had spread throughout Jerusalem,and people of all classes and all ranks flockedtoward the place of crucifixion. The priests andrulers had been bound by a promise not to molestChrist's followers if He Himself were delivered tothem, and the disciples and believers from the cityand the surrounding region joined the throng thatfollowed the Saviour.

As Jesus passed the gate of Pilate's court, thecross which had been prepared for Barabbas waslaid upon His bruised and bleeding shoulders. Twocompanions of Barabbas were to suffer death atthe same time with Jesus, and upon them alsocrosses were placed. The Saviour's burden wastoo heavy for Him in His weak and suffering

condition. Since the Passover supper with Hisdisciples, He had taken neither food nor drink. Hehad agonized in the garden of Gethsemane inconflict with satanic agencies. He had endured theanguish of the betrayal, and had seen Hisdisciples forsake Him and flee. He had been takento Annas, then to Caiaphas, and then to Pilate.From Pilate He had been sent to Herod, then sentagain to Pilate. From insult to renewed insult, frommockery to mockery, twice tortured by thescourge,--all that night there had been scene afterscene of a character to try the soul of man to theuttermost. Christ had not failed. He had spoken noword but that tended to glorify God. All through thedisgraceful farce of a trial He had borne Himselfwith firmness and dignity. But when after thesecond scourging the cross was laid upon Him,human nature could bear no more. He fell faintingbeneath the burden.

The crowd that followed the Saviour saw Hisweak and staggering steps, but they manifestedno compassion. They taunted and reviled Him

because He could not carry the heavy cross.Again the burden was laid upon Him, and againHe fell fainting to the ground. His persecutors sawthat it was impossible for Him to carry His burdenfarther. They were puzzled to find anyone whowould bear the humiliating load. The Jewsthemselves could not do this, because thedefilement would prevent them from keeping thePassover. None even of the mob that followedHim would stoop to bear the cross.

At this time a stranger, Simon a Cyrenian,coming in from the country, meets the throng. Hehears the taunts and ribaldry of the crowd; hehears the words contemptuously repeated, Makeway for the King of the Jews! He stops inastonishment at the scene; and as he expresseshis compassion, they seize him and place thecross upon his shoulders.

Simon had heard of Jesus. His sons werebelievers in the Saviour, but he himself was not adisciple. The bearing of the cross to Calvary was ablessing to Simon, and he was ever after grateful

for this providence. It led him to take upon himselfthe cross of Christ from choice, and evercheerfully stand beneath its burden.

Not a few women are in the crowd that followthe Uncondemned to His cruel death. Theirattention is fixed upon Jesus. Some of them haveseen Him before. Some have carried to Him theirsick and suffering ones. Some have themselvesbeen healed. The story of the scenes that havetaken place is related. They wonder at the hatredof the crowd toward Him for whom their ownhearts are melting and ready to break. Andnotwithstanding the action of the maddenedthrong, and the angry words of the priests andrulers, these women give expression to theirsympathy. As Jesus falls fainting beneath thecross, they break forth into mournful wailing.

This was the only thing that attracted Christ'sattention. Although full of suffering, while bearingthe sins of the world, He was not indifferent to theexpression of grief. He looked upon these womenwith tender compassion. They were not believers

in Him; He knew that they were not lamenting Himas one sent from God, but were moved by feelingsof human pity. He did not despise their sympathy,but it awakened in His heart a deeper sympathyfor them. "Daughters of Jerusalem," He said,"weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and foryour children." From the scene before Him, Christlooked forward to the time of Jerusalem'sdestruction. In that terrible scene, many of thosewho were now weeping for Him were to perishwith their children.

From the fall of Jerusalem the thoughts ofJesus passed to a wider judgment. In thedestruction of the impenitent city He saw a symbolof the final destruction to come upon the world. Hesaid, "Then shall they begin to say to themountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.For if they do these things in a green tree, whatshall be done in the dry?" By the green tree, Jesusrepresented Himself, the innocent Redeemer. Godsuffered His wrath against transgression to fall onHis beloved Son. Jesus was to be crucified for the

sins of men. What suffering, then, would the sinnerbear who continued in sin? All the impenitent andunbelieving would know a sorrow and misery thatlanguage would fail to express.

Of the multitude that followed the Saviour toCalvary, many had attended Him with joyfulhosannas and the waving of palm branches as Herode triumphantly into Jerusalem. But not a fewwho had then shouted His praise, because it waspopular to do so, now swelled the cry of "CrucifyHim, crucify Him." When Christ rode intoJerusalem, the hopes of the disciples had beenraised to the highest pitch. They had pressedclose about their Master, feeling that it was a highhonor to be connected with Him. Now in Hishumiliation they followed Him at a distance. Theywere filled with grief, and bowed down withdisappointed hopes. How were the words of Jesusverified: "All ye shall be offended because of Methis night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd,and the sheep of the flock shall be scatteredabroad." Matthew 26:31.

Arriving at the place of execution, the prisonerswere bound to the instruments of torture. The twothieves wrestled in the hands of those who placedthem on the cross; but Jesus made no resistance.The mother of Jesus, supported by John thebeloved disciple, had followed the steps of herSon to Calvary. She had seen Him fainting underthe burden of the cross, and had longed to place asupporting hand beneath His wounded head, andto bathe that brow which had once been pillowedupon her bosom. But she was not permitted thismournful privilege. With the disciples she stillcherished the hope that Jesus would manifest Hispower, and deliver Himself from His enemies.Again her heart would sink as she recalled thewords in which He had foretold the very scenesthat were then taking place. As the thieves werebound to the cross, she looked on with agonizingsuspense. Would He who had given life to thedead suffer Himself to be crucified? Would theSon of God suffer Himself to be thus cruelly slain?Must she give up her faith that Jesus was the

Messiah? Must she witness His shame andsorrow, without even the privilege of ministering toHim in His distress? She saw His hands stretchedupon the cross; the hammer and the nails werebrought, and as the spikes were driven throughthe tender flesh, the heart-stricken disciples boreaway from the cruel scene the fainting form of themother of Jesus.

The Saviour made no murmur of complaint. Hisface remained calm and serene, but great drops ofsweat stood upon His brow. There was no pityinghand to wipe the death dew from His face, norwords of sympathy and unchanging fidelity to stayHis human heart. While the soldiers were doingtheir fearful work, Jesus prayed for His enemies,"Father, forgive them; for they know not what theydo." His mind passed from His own suffering to thesin of His persecutors, and the terrible retributionthat would be theirs. No curses were called downupon the soldiers who were handling Him soroughly. No vengeance was invoked upon thepriests and rulers, who were gloating over the

accomplishment of their purpose. Christ pitiedthem in their ignorance and guilt. He breathed onlya plea for their forgiveness,--"for they know notwhat they do."

Had they known that they were putting totorture One who had come to save the sinful racefrom eternal ruin, they would have been seizedwith remorse and horror. But their ignorance didnot remove their guilt; for it was their privilege toknow and accept Jesus as their Saviour. Some ofthem would yet see their sin, and repent, and beconverted. Some by their impenitence would makeit an impossibility for the prayer of Christ to beanswered for them. Yet, just the same, God'spurpose was reaching its fulfillment. Jesus wasearning the right to become the advocate of menin the Father's presence.

That prayer of Christ for His enemies embracedthe world. It took in every sinner that had lived orshould live, from the beginning of the world to theend of time. Upon all rests the guilt of crucifyingthe Son of God. To all, forgiveness is freely

offered. "Whosoever will" may have peace withGod, and inherit eternal life.

As soon as Jesus was nailed to the cross, itwas lifted by strong men, and with great violencethrust into the place prepared for it. This causedthe most intense agony to the Son of God. Pilatethen wrote an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, andLatin, and placed it upon the cross, above thehead of Jesus. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth theKing of the Jews." This inscription irritated theJews. In Pilate's court they had cried, "CrucifyHim." "We have no king but Caesar." John 19:15.They had declared that whoever shouldacknowledge any other king was a traitor. Pilatewrote out the sentiment they had expressed. Nooffense was mentioned, except that Jesus was theKing of the Jews. The inscription was a virtualacknowledgment of the allegiance of the Jews tothe Roman power. It declared that whoever mightclaim to be the King of Israel would be judged bythem worthy of death. The priests hadoverreached themselves. When they were plotting

the death of Christ, Caiaphas had declared itexpedient that one man should die to save thenation. Now their hypocrisy was revealed. In orderto destroy Christ, they had been ready to sacrificeeven their national existence.

The priests saw what they had done, andasked Pilate to change the inscription. They said,"Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said,I am King of the Jews." But Pilate was angry withhimself because of his former weakness, and hethoroughly despised the jealous and artful priestsand rulers. He replied coldly, "What I have written Ihave written."

A higher power than Pilate or the Jews haddirected the placing of that inscription above thehead of Jesus. In the providence of God it was toawaken thought, and investigation of theScriptures. The place where Christ was crucifiedwas near to the city. Thousands of people from alllands were then at Jerusalem, and the inscriptiondeclaring Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah would

come to their notice. It was a living truth,transcribed by a hand that God had guided.

In the sufferings of Christ upon the crossprophecy was fulfilled. Centuries before thecrucifixion, the Saviour had foretold the treatmentHe was to receive. He said, "Dogs havecompassed Me: the assembly of the wicked haveenclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet.I may tell all My bones: they look and stare uponMe. They part My garments among them, and castlots upon My vesture." Psalm 22:16-18. Theprophecy concerning His garments was carriedout without counsel or interference from thefriends or the enemies of the Crucified One. To thesoldiers who had placed Him upon the cross, Hisclothing was given. Christ heard the men'scontention as they parted the garments amongthem. His tunic was woven throughout withoutseam, and they said, "Let us not rend it, but castlots for it, whose it shall be."

In another prophecy the Saviour declared,"Reproach hath broken My heart; and I am full of

heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, butthere was none; and for comforters, but I foundnone. They gave Me also gall for My meat; and inMy thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink." Psalm69:20, 21. To those who suffered death by thecross, it was permitted to give a stupefying potion,to deaden the sense of pain. This was offered toJesus; but when He had tasted it, He refused it.He would receive nothing that could becloud Hismind. His faith must keep fast hold upon God. Thiswas His only strength. To becloud His senseswould give Satan an advantage.

The enemies of Jesus vented their rage uponHim as He hung upon the cross. Priests, rulers,and scribes joined with the mob in mocking thedying Saviour. At the baptism and at thetransfiguration the voice of God had been heardproclaiming Christ as His Son. Again, just beforeChrist's betrayal, the Father had spoken,witnessing to His divinity. But now the voice fromheaven was silent. No testimony in Christ's favor

was heard. Alone He suffered abuse and mockeryfrom wicked men.

"If Thou be the Son of God," they said, "comedown from the cross." "Let Him save Himself, if Hebe Christ, the chosen of God." In the wilderness oftemptation Satan had declared, "If Thou be theSon of God, command that these stones be madebread." "If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyselfdown" from the pinnacle of the temple. Matthew4:3, 6. And Satan with his angels, in human form,was present at the cross. The archfiend and hishosts were co-operating with the priests andrulers. The teachers of the people had stimulatedthe ignorant mob to pronounce judgment againstOne upon whom many of them had never looked,until urged to bear testimony against Him. Priests,rulers, Pharisees, and the hardened rabble wereconfederated together in a satanic frenzy.Religious rulers united with Satan and his angels.They were doing his bidding.

Jesus, suffering and dying, heard every wordas the priests declared, "He saved others; Himself

He cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israeldescend now from the cross, that we may see andbelieve." Christ could have come down from thecross. But it is because He would not save Himselfthat the sinner has hope of pardon and favor withGod.

In their mockery of the Saviour, the men whoprofessed to be the expounders of prophecy wererepeating the very words which Inspiration hadforetold they would utter upon this occasion. Yet intheir blindness they did not see that they werefulfilling the prophecy. Those who in derisionuttered the words, "He trusted in God; let Himdeliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, Iam the Son of God," little thought that theirtestimony would sound down the ages. Butalthough spoken in mockery, these words led mento search the Scriptures as they had never donebefore. Wise men heard, searched, pondered, andprayed. There were those who never rested until,by comparing scripture with scripture, they saw themeaning of Christ's mission. Never before was

there such a general knowledge of Jesus as whenHe hung upon the cross. Into the hearts of manywho beheld the crucifixion scene, and who heardChrist's words, the light of truth was shining.

To Jesus in His agony on the cross there cameone gleam of comfort. It was the prayer of thepenitent thief. Both the men who were crucifiedwith Jesus had at first railed upon Him; and oneunder his suffering only became more desperateand defiant. But not so with his companion. Thisman was not a hardened criminal; he had been ledastray by evil associations, but he was less guiltythan many of those who stood beside the crossreviling the Saviour. He had seen and heardJesus, and had been convicted by His teaching,but he had been turned away from Him by thepriests and rulers. Seeking to stifle conviction, hehad plunged deeper and deeper into sin, until hewas arrested, tried as a criminal, and condemnedto die on the cross. In the judgment hall and on theway to Calvary he had been in company withJesus. He had heard Pilate declare, "I find no fault

in Him." John 19:4. He had marked His godlikebearing, and His pitying forgiveness of Histormentors. On the cross he sees the many greatreligionists shoot out the tongue with scorn, andridicule the Lord Jesus. He sees the waggingheads. He hears the upbraiding speeches takenup by his companion in guilt: "If Thou be Christ,save Thyself and us." Among the passers-by hehears many defending Jesus. He hears themrepeat His words, and tell of His works. Theconviction comes back to him that this is theChrist. Turning to his fellow criminal he says, "Dostnot thou fear God, seeing thou art in the samecondemnation?" The dying thieves have no longeranything to fear from man. But upon one of thempresses the conviction that there is a God to fear,a future to cause him to tremble. And now, all sin-polluted as it is, his life history is about to close."And we indeed justly," he moans; "for we receivethe due reward of our deeds: but this Man hathdone nothing amiss."

There is no question now. There are no doubts,no reproaches. When condemned for his crime,the thief had become hopeless and despairing; butstrange, tender thoughts now spring up. He callsto mind all he has heard of Jesus, how He hashealed the sick and pardoned sin. He has heardthe words of those who believed in Jesus andfollowed Him weeping. He has seen and read thetitle above the Saviour's head. He has heard thepassers-by repeat it, some with grieved, quiveringlips, others with jesting and mockery. The HolySpirit illuminates his mind, and little by little thechain of evidence is joined together. In Jesus,bruised, mocked, and hanging upon the cross, hesees the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin ofthe world. Hope is mingled with anguish in hisvoice as the helpless, dying soul casts himselfupon a dying Saviour. "Lord, remember me," hecries, "when Thou comest into Thy kingdom."

Quickly the answer came. Soft and melodiousthe tone, full of love, compassion, and power the

words: Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt bewith Me in paradise.

For long hours of agony, reviling and mockeryhave fallen upon the ears of Jesus. As He hangsupon the cross, there floats up to Him still thesound of jeers and curses. With longing heart Hehas listened for some expression of faith from Hisdisciples. He has heard only the mournful words,"We trusted that it had been He which should haveredeemed Israel." How grateful then to the Saviourwas the utterance of faith and love from the dyingthief! While the leading Jews deny Him, and eventhe disciples doubt His divinity, the poor thief,upon the brink of eternity, calls Jesus Lord. Manywere ready to call Him Lord when He wroughtmiracles, and after He had risen from the grave;but none acknowledged Him as He hung dyingupon the cross save the penitent thief who wassaved at the eleventh hour.

The bystanders caught the words as the thiefcalled Jesus Lord. The tone of the repentant manarrested their attention. Those who at the foot of

the cross had been quarreling over Christ'sgarments, and casting lots upon His vesture,stopped to listen. Their angry tones were hushed.With bated breath they looked upon Christ, andwaited for the response from those dying lips.

As He spoke the words of promise, the darkcloud that seemed to enshroud the cross waspierced by a bright and living light. To the penitentthief came the perfect peace of acceptance withGod. Christ in His humiliation was glorified. Hewho in all other eyes appeared to be conqueredwas a Conqueror. He was acknowledged as theSin Bearer. Men may exercise power over Hishuman body. They may pierce the holy templeswith the crown of thorns. They may strip from HimHis raiment, and quarrel over its division. But theycannot rob Him of His power to forgive sins. Indying He bears testimony to His own divinity andto the glory of the Father. His ear is not heavy thatit cannot hear, neither His arm shortened that itcannot save. It is His royal right to save unto theuttermost all who come unto God by Him.

I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with Me inParadise. Christ did not promise that the thiefshould be with Him in Paradise that day. HeHimself did not go that day to Paradise. He slept inthe tomb, and on the morning of the resurrectionHe said, "I am not yet ascended to My Father."John 20:17. But on the day of the crucifixion, theday of apparent defeat and darkness, the promisewas given. "Today" while dying upon the cross asa malefactor, Christ assures the poor sinner, Thoushalt be with Me in Paradise.

The thieves crucified with Jesus were placed"on either side one, and Jesus in the midst." Thiswas done by the direction of the priests and rulers.Christ's position between the thieves was toindicate that He was the greatest criminal of thethree. Thus was fulfilled the scripture, "He wasnumbered with the transgressors." Isaiah 53:12.But the full meaning of their act the priests did notsee. As Jesus, crucified with the thieves, wasplaced "in the midst," so His cross was placed inthe midst of a world lying in sin. And the words of

pardon spoken to the penitent thief kindled a lightthat will shine to the earth's remotest bounds.

With amazement the angels beheld the infinitelove of Jesus, who, suffering the most intenseagony of mind and body, thought only of others,and encouraged the penitent soul to believe. InHis humiliation He as a prophet had addressed thedaughters of Jerusalem; as priest and advocateHe had pleaded with the Father to forgive Hismurderers; as a loving Saviour He had forgiventhe sins of the penitent thief.

As the eyes of Jesus wandered over themultitude about Him, one figure arrested Hisattention. At the foot of the cross stood Hismother, supported by the disciple John. She couldnot endure to remain away from her Son; andJohn, knowing that the end was near, had broughther again to the cross. In His dying hour, Christremembered His mother. Looking into her grief-stricken face and then upon John, He said to her,"Woman, behold thy son!" then to John, "Beholdthy mother!" John understood Christ's words, and

accepted the trust. He at once took Mary to hishome, and from that hour cared for her tenderly. Opitiful, loving Saviour; amid all His physical painand mental anguish, He had a thoughtful care forHis mother! He had no money with which toprovide for her comfort; but He was enshrined inthe heart of John, and He gave His mother to himas a precious legacy. Thus He provided for herthat which she most needed,--the tender sympathyof one who loved her because she loved Jesus.And in receiving her as a sacred trust, John wasreceiving a great blessing. She was a constantreminder of his beloved Master.

The perfect example of Christ's filial love shinesforth with undimmed luster from the mist of ages.For nearly thirty years Jesus by His daily toil hadhelped bear the burdens of the home. And now,even in His last agony, He remembers to providefor His sorrowing, widowed mother. The samespirit will be seen in every disciple of our Lord.Those who follow Christ will feel that it is a part oftheir religion to respect and provide for their

parents. From the heart where His love ischerished, father and mother will never fail ofreceiving thoughtful care and tender sympathy.

And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransomfor the race. In yielding up His precious life, Christwas not upheld by triumphant joy. All wasoppressive gloom. It was not the dread of deaththat weighed upon Him. It was not the pain andignominy of the cross that caused Hisinexpressible agony. Christ was the prince ofsufferers; but His suffering was from a sense ofthe malignity of sin, a knowledge that throughfamiliarity with evil, man had become blinded to itsenormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sinupon the human heart, how few would be willing tobreak from its power. He knew that without helpfrom God, humanity must perish, and He sawmultitudes perishing within reach of abundanthelp.

Upon Christ as our substitute and surety waslaid the iniquity of us all. He was counted atransgressor, that He might redeem us from the

condemnation of the law. The guilt of everydescendant of Adam was pressing upon His heart.The wrath of God against sin, the terriblemanifestation of His displeasure because ofiniquity, filled the soul of His Son withconsternation. All His life Christ had beenpublishing to a fallen world the good news of theFather's mercy and pardoning love. Salvation forthe chief of sinners was His theme. But now withthe terrible weight of guilt He bears, He cannot seethe Father's reconciling face. The withdrawal ofthe divine countenance from the Saviour in thishour of supreme anguish pierced His heart with asorrow that can never be fully understood by man.So great was this agony that His physical pain washardly felt.

Satan with his fierce temptations wrung theheart of Jesus. The Saviour could not see throughthe portals of the tomb. Hope did not present toHim His coming forth from the grave a conqueror,or tell Him of the Father's acceptance of thesacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to

God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christfelt the anguish which the sinner will feel whenmercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. Itwas the sense of sin, bringing the Father's wrathupon Him as man's substitute, that made the cupHe drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Sonof God.

With amazement angels witnessed theSaviour's despairing agony. The hosts of heavenveiled their faces from the fearful sight. Inanimatenature expressed sympathy with its insulted anddying Author. The sun refused to look upon theawful scene. Its full, bright rays were illuminatingthe earth at midday, when suddenly it seemed tobe blotted out. Complete darkness, like a funeralpall, enveloped the cross. "There was darknessover all the land unto the ninth hour." There wasno eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness,which was as deep as midnight without moon orstars. It was a miraculous testimony given by Godthat the faith of after generations might beconfirmed.

In that thick darkness God's presence washidden. He makes darkness His pavilion, andconceals His glory from human eyes. God and Hisholy angels were beside the cross. The Fatherwas with His Son. Yet His presence was notrevealed. Had His glory flashed forth from thecloud, every human beholder would have beendestroyed. And in that dreadful hour Christ wasnot to be comforted with the Father's presence. Hetrod the wine press alone, and of the people therewas none with Him.

In the thick darkness, God veiled the lasthuman agony of His Son. All who had seen Christin His suffering had been convicted of His divinity.That face, once beheld by humanity, was neverforgotten. As the face of Cain expressed his guiltas a murderer, so the face of Christ revealedinnocence, serenity, benevolence,--the image ofGod. But His accusers would not give heed to thesignet of heaven. Through long hours of agonyChrist had been gazed upon by the jeering

multitude. Now He was mercifully hidden by themantle of God.

The silence of the grave seemed to have fallenupon Calvary. A nameless terror held the throngthat was gathered about the cross. The cursingand reviling ceased in the midst of half-utteredsentences. Men, women, and children fellprostrate upon the earth. Vivid lightningsoccasionally flashed forth from the cloud, andrevealed the cross and the crucified Redeemer.Priests, rulers, scribes, executioners, and the mob,all thought that their time of retribution had come.After a while some whispered that Jesus wouldnow come down from the cross. Some attemptedto grope their way back to the city, beating theirbreasts and wailing in fear.

At the ninth hour the darkness lifted from thepeople, but still enveloped the Saviour. It was asymbol of the agony and horror that weighed uponHis heart. No eye could pierce the gloom thatsurrounded the cross, and none could penetratethe deeper gloom that enshrouded the suffering

soul of Christ. The angry lightnings seemed to behurled at Him as He hung upon the cross. Then"Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi,lama sabachthani?" "My God, My God, why hastThou forsaken Me?" As the outer gloom settledabout the Saviour, many voices exclaimed: Thevengeance of heaven is upon Him. The bolts ofGod's wrath are hurled at Him, because Heclaimed to be the Son of God. Many who believedon Him heard His despairing cry. Hope left them. IfGod had forsaken Jesus, in what could Hisfollowers trust?

When the darkness lifted from the oppressedspirit of Christ, He revived to a sense of physicalsuffering, and said, "I thirst." One of the Romansoldiers, touched with pity as he looked at theparched lips, took a sponge on a stalk of hyssop,and dipping it in a vessel of vinegar, offered it toJesus. But the priests mocked at His agony. Whendarkness covered the earth, they had been filledwith fear; as their terror abated, the dread returnedthat Jesus would yet escape them. His words,

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" they hadmisinterpreted. With bitter contempt and scornthey said, "This man calleth for Elias." The lastopportunity to relieve His sufferings they refused."Let be," they said, "let us see whether Elias willcome to save Him."

The spotless Son of God hung upon the cross,His flesh lacerated with stripes; those hands sooften reached out in blessing, nailed to thewooden bars; those feet so tireless on ministries oflove, spiked to the tree; that royal head pierced bythe crown of thorns; those quivering lips shaped tothe cry of woe. And all that He endured--the blooddrops that flowed from His head, His hands, Hisfeet, the agony that racked His frame, and theunutterable anguish that filled His soul at thehiding of His Father's face--speaks to each child ofhumanity, declaring, It is for thee that the Son ofGod consents to bear this burden of guilt; for theeHe spoils the domain of death, and opens thegates of Paradise. He who stilled the angry wavesand walked the foam-capped billows, who made

devils tremble and disease flee, who opened blindeyes and called forth the dead to life,--offersHimself upon the cross as a sacrifice, and thisfrom love to thee. He, the Sin Bearer, endures thewrath of divine justice, and for thy sake becomessin itself.

In silence the beholders watched for the end ofthe fearful scene. The sun shone forth; but thecross was still enveloped in darkness. Priests andrulers looked toward Jerusalem; and lo, the densecloud had settled over the city and the plains ofJudea. The Sun of Righteousness, the Light of theworld, was withdrawing His beams from the oncefavored city of Jerusalem. The fierce lightnings ofGod's wrath were directed against the fated city.

Suddenly the gloom lifted from the cross, andin clear, trumpetlike tones, that seemed to resoundthroughout creation, Jesus cried, "It is finished.""Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." Alight encircled the cross, and the face of theSaviour shone with a glory like the sun. He thenbowed His head upon His breast, and died.

Amid the awful darkness, apparently forsakenof God, Christ had drained the last dregs in thecup of human woe. In those dreadful hours He hadrelied upon the evidence of His Father'sacceptance heretofore given Him. He wasacquainted with the character of His Father; Heunderstood His justice, His mercy, and His greatlove. By faith He rested in Him whom it had everbeen His joy to obey. And as in submission Hecommitted Himself to God, the sense of the loss ofHis Father's favor was withdrawn. By faith, Christwas victor.

Never before had the earth witnessed such ascene. The multitude stood paralyzed, and withbated breath gazed upon the Saviour. Againdarkness settled upon the earth, and a hoarserumbling, like heavy thunder, was heard. Therewas a violent earthquake. The people wereshaken together in heaps. The wildest confusionand consternation ensued. In the surroundingmountains, rocks were rent asunder, and wentcrashing down into the plains. Sepulchers were

broken open, and the dead were cast out of theirtombs. Creation seemed to be shivering to atoms.Priests, rulers, soldiers, executioners, and people,mute with terror, lay prostrate upon the ground.

When the loud cry, "It is finished," came fromthe lips of Christ, the priests were officiating in thetemple. It was the hour of the evening sacrifice.The lamb representing Christ had been brought tobe slain. Clothed in his significant and beautifuldress, the priest stood with lifted knife, as didAbraham when he was about to slay his son. Withintense interest the people were looking on. Butthe earth trembles and quakes; for the LordHimself draws near. With a rending noise the innerveil of the temple is torn from top to bottom by anunseen hand, throwing open to the gaze of themultitude a place once filled with the presence ofGod. In this place the Shekinah had dwelt. HereGod had manifested His glory above the mercyseat. No one but the high priest ever lifted the veilseparating this apartment from the rest of thetemple. He entered in once a year to make an

atonement for the sins of the people. But lo, thisveil is rent in twain. The most holy place of theearthly sanctuary is no longer sacred.

All is terror and confusion. The priest is aboutto slay the victim; but the knife drops from hisnerveless hand, and the lamb escapes. Type hasmet antitype in the death of God's Son. The greatsacrifice has been made. The way into the holiestis laid open. A new and living way is prepared forall. No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanityawait the coming of the high priest. Henceforth theSaviour was to officiate as priest and advocate inthe heaven of heavens. It was as if a living voicehad spoken to the worshipers: There is now anend to all sacrifices and offerings for sin. The Sonof God is come according to His word, "Lo, I come(in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) todo Thy will, O God." "By His own blood" Heentereth "in once into the holy place, havingobtained eternal redemption for us." Hebrews10:7; 9:12.

Chap. 6 - "It is Finished"

Christ did not yield up His life till He hadaccomplished the work which He came to do, andwith His parting breath He exclaimed, "It isfinished." John 19:30. The battle had been won.His right hand and His holy arm had gotten Himthe victory. As a Conqueror He planted His banneron the eternal heights. Was there not joy amongthe angels? All heaven triumphed in the Saviour'svictory. Satan was defeated, and knew that hiskingdom was lost.

To the angels and the unfallen worlds the cry,"It is finished," had a deep significance. It was forthem as well as for us that the great work ofredemption had been accomplished. They with usshare the fruits of Christ's victory.

Not until the death of Christ was the characterof Satan clearly revealed to the angels or to theunfallen worlds. The archapostate had so clothedhimself with deception that even holy beings had

not understood his principles. They had not clearlyseen the nature of his rebellion.

It was a being of wonderful power and glorythat had set himself against God. Of Lucifer theLord says, "Thou sealest up the sum, full ofwisdom, and perfect in beauty." Ezekiel 28:12.Lucifer had been the covering cherub. He hadstood in the light of God's presence. He had beenthe highest of all created beings, and had beenforemost in revealing God's purposes to theuniverse. After he had sinned, his power todeceive was the more deceptive, and the unveilingof his character was the more difficult, because ofthe exalted position he had held with the Father.

God could have destroyed Satan and hissympathizers as easily as one can cast a pebbleto the earth; but He did not do this. Rebellion wasnot to be overcome by force. Compelling power isfound only under Satan's government. The Lord'sprinciples are not of this order. His authority restsupon goodness, mercy, and love; and thepresentation of these principles is the means to be

used. God's government is moral, and truth andlove are to be the prevailing power.

It was God's purpose to place things on aneternal basis of security, and in the councils ofheaven it was decided that time must be given forSatan to develop the principles which were thefoundation of his system of government. He hadclaimed that these were superior to God'sprinciples. Time was given for the working ofSatan's principles, that they might be seen by theheavenly universe.

Satan led men into sin, and the plan ofredemption was put in operation. For fourthousand years, Christ was working for man'suplifting, and Satan for his ruin and degradation.And the heavenly universe beheld it all.

When Jesus came into the world, Satan'spower was turned against Him. From the timewhen He appeared as a babe in Bethlehem, theusurper worked to bring about His destruction. Inevery possible way he sought to prevent Jesus

from developing a perfect childhood, a faultlessmanhood, a holy ministry, and an unblemishedsacrifice. But he was defeated. He could not leadJesus into sin. He could not discourage Him, ordrive Him from a work He had come on earth todo. From the desert to Calvary, the storm ofSatan's wrath beat upon Him, but the moremercilessly it fell, the more firmly did the Son ofGod cling to the hand of His Father, and press onin the bloodstained path. All the efforts of Satan tooppress and overcome Him only brought out in apurer light His spotless character.

All heaven and the unfallen worlds had beenwitnesses to the controversy. With what intenseinterest did they follow the closing scenes of theconflict. They beheld the Saviour enter the gardenof Gethsemane, His soul bowed down with thehorror of a great darkness. They heard His bittercry, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass fromMe." Matthew 26:39. As the Father's presencewas withdrawn, they saw Him sorrowful with abitterness of sorrow exceeding that of the last

great struggle with death. The bloody sweat wasforced from His pores, and fell in drops upon theground. Thrice the prayer for deliverance waswrung from His lips. Heaven could no longerendure the sight, and a messenger of comfort wassent to the Son of God.

Heaven beheld the Victim betrayed into thehands of the murderous mob, and with mockeryand violence hurried from one tribunal to another.It heard the sneers of His persecutors because ofHis lowly birth. It heard the denial with cursing andswearing by one of His best-loved disciples. It sawthe frenzied work of Satan, and his power over thehearts of men. Oh, fearful scene! the Saviourseized at midnight in Gethsemane, dragged to andfro from palace to judgment hall, arraigned twicebefore the priests, twice before the Sanhedrin,twice before Pilate, and once before Herod,mocked, scourged, condemned, and led out to becrucified, bearing the heavy burden of the cross,amid the wailing of the daughters of Jerusalemand the jeering of the rabble.

Heaven viewed with grief and amazementChrist hanging upon the cross, blood flowing fromHis wounded temples, and sweat tinged with bloodstanding upon His brow. From His hands and feetthe blood fell, drop by drop, upon the rock drilledfor the foot of the cross. The wounds made by thenails gaped as the weight of His body draggedupon His hands. His labored breath grew quickand deep, as His soul panted under the burden ofthe sins of the world. All heaven was filled withwonder when the prayer of Christ was offered inthe midst of His terrible suffering,--"Father, forgivethem; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.Yet there stood men, formed in the image of God,joining to crush out the life of His only-begottenSon. What a sight for the heavenly universe!

The principalities and powers of darkness wereassembled around the cross, casting the hellishshadow of unbelief into the hearts of men. Whenthe Lord created these beings to stand before Histhrone, they were beautiful and glorious. Theirloveliness and holiness were in accordance with

their exalted station. They were enriched with thewisdom of God, and girded with the panoply ofheaven. They were Jehovah's ministers. But whocould recognize in the fallen angels the gloriousseraphim that once ministered in the heavenlycourts?

Satanic agencies confederated with evil men inleading the people to believe Christ the chief ofsinners, and to make Him the object ofdetestation. Those who mocked Christ as He hungupon the cross were imbued with the spirit of thefirst great rebel. He filled them with vile andloathsome speeches. He inspired their taunts. Butby all this he gained nothing.

Could one sin have been found in Christ, hadHe in one particular yielded to Satan to escape theterrible torture, the enemy of God and man wouldhave triumphed. Christ bowed His head and died,but He held fast His faith and His submission toGod. "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,Now is come salvation, and strength, and thekingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ:

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, whichaccused them before our God day and night."Revelation 12:10.

Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. Hisadministration was laid open before the unfallenangels and before the heavenly universe. He hadrevealed himself as a murderer. By shedding theblood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himselffrom the sympathies of the heavenly beings.Henceforth his work was restricted. Whateverattitude he might assume, he could no longerawait the angels as they came from the heavenlycourts, and before them accuse Christ's brethrenof being clothed with the garments of blacknessand the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathybetween Satan and the heavenly world wasbroken.

Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angelsdid not even then understand all that was involvedin the great controversy. The principles at stakewere to be more fully revealed. And for the sake ofman, Satan's existence must be continued. Man

as well as angels must see the contrast betweenthe Prince of light and the prince of darkness. Hemust choose whom he will serve.

In the opening of the great controversy, Satanhad declared that the law of God could not beobeyed, that justice was inconsistent with mercy,and that, should the law be broken, it would beimpossible for the sinner to be pardoned. Everysin must meet its punishment, urged Satan; and ifGod should remit the punishment of sin, He wouldnot be a God of truth and justice. When men brokethe law of God, and defied His will, Satan exulted.It was proved, he declared, that the law could notbe obeyed; man could not be forgiven. Becausehe, after his rebellion, had been banished fromheaven, Satan claimed that the human race mustbe forever shut out from God's favor. God couldnot be just, he urged, and yet show mercy to thesinner.

But even as a sinner, man was in a differentposition from that of Satan. Lucifer in heaven hadsinned in the light of God's glory. To him as to no

other created being was given a revelation ofGod's love. Understanding the character of God,knowing His goodness, Satan chose to follow hisown selfish, independent will. This choice wasfinal. There was no more that God could do tosave him. But man was deceived; his mind wasdarkened by Satan's sophistry. The height anddepth of the love of God he did not know. For himthere was hope in a knowledge of God's love. Bybeholding His character he might be drawn backto God.

Through Jesus, God's mercy was manifested tomen; but mercy does not set aside justice. The lawreveals the attributes of God's character, and not ajot or tittle of it could be changed to meet man inhis fallen condition. God did not change His law,but He sacrificed Himself, in Christ, for man'sredemption. "God was in Christ, reconciling theworld unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19.

The law requires righteousness,--a righteouslife, a perfect character; and this man has not togive. He cannot meet the claims of God's holy law.

But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived aholy life, and developed a perfect character. TheseHe offers as a free gift to all who will receive them.His life stands for the life of men. Thus they haveremission of sins that are past, through theforbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbuesmen with the attributes of God. He builds up thehuman character after the similitude of the divinecharacter, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength andbeauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law isfulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can "be just,and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."Romans 3:26.

God's love has been expressed in His justiceno less than in His mercy. Justice is the foundationof His throne, and the fruit of His love. It had beenSatan's purpose to divorce mercy from truth andjustice. He sought to prove that the righteousnessof God's law is an enemy to peace. But Christshows that in God's plan they are indissolublyjoined together; the one cannot exist without theother. "Mercy and truth are met together;

righteousness and peace have kissed each other."Psalm 85:10.

By His life and His death, Christ proved thatGod's justice did not destroy His mercy, but thatsin could be forgiven, and that the law is righteous,and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan's chargeswere refuted. God had given man unmistakableevidence of His love.

Another deception was now to be broughtforward. Satan declared that mercy destroyedjustice, that the death of Christ abrogated theFather's law. Had it been possible for the law to bechanged or abrogated, then Christ need not havedied. But to abrogate the law would be toimmortalize transgression, and place the worldunder Satan's control. It was because the law waschangeless, because man could be saved onlythrough obedience to its precepts, that Jesus waslifted up on the cross. Yet the very means bywhich Christ established the law Satanrepresented as destroying it. Here will come the

last conflict of the great controversy betweenChrist and Satan.

That the law which was spoken by God's ownvoice is faulty, that some specification has beenset aside, is the claim which Satan now putsforward. It is the last great deception that he willbring upon the world. He needs not to assail thewhole law; if he can lead men to disregard oneprecept, his purpose is gained. For "whosoevershall keep the whole law, and yet offend in onepoint, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. Byconsenting to break one precept, men are broughtunder Satan's power. By substituting human lawfor God's law, Satan will seek to control the world.This work is foretold in prophecy. Of the greatapostate power which is the representative ofSatan, it is declared, "He shall speak great wordsagainst the Most High, and shall wear out thesaints of the Most High, and think to change timesand laws: and they shall be given into his hand."Daniel 7:25.

Men will surely set up their laws to counterworkthe laws of God. They will seek to compel theconsciences of others, and in their zeal to enforcethese laws they will oppress their fellow men.

The warfare against God's law, which wasbegun in heaven, will be continued until the end oftime. Every man will be tested. Obedience ordisobedience is the question to be decided by thewhole world. All will be called to choose betweenthe law of God and the laws of men. Here thedividing line will be drawn. There will be but twoclasses. Every character will be fully developed;and all will show whether they have chosen theside of loyalty or that of rebellion.

Then the end will come. God will vindicate Hislaw and deliver His people. Satan and all whohave joined him in rebellion will be cut off. Sin andsinners will perish, root and branch, (Malachi4:1),--Satan the root, and his followers thebranches. The word will be fulfilled to the prince ofevil, "Because thou hast set thine heart as theheart of God; . . . I will destroy thee, O covering

cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. . . .Thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be anymore." Then "the wicked shall not be: yea, thoushalt diligently consider his place, and it shall notbe;" "they shall be as though they had not been."Ezekiel 28:6-19; Psalm 37:10; Obadiah 16.

This is not an act of arbitrary power on the partof God. The rejecters of His mercy reap that whichthey have sown. God is the fountain of life; andwhen one chooses the service of sin, he separatesfrom God, and thus cuts himself off from life. He is"alienated from the life of God." Christ says, "Allthey that hate Me love death." Ephesians 4:18;Proverbs 8:36. God gives them existence for atime that they may develop their character andreveal their principles. This accomplished, theyreceive the results of their own choice. By a life ofrebellion, Satan and all who unite with him placethemselves so out of harmony with God that Hisvery presence is to them a consuming fire. Theglory of Him who is love will destroy them.

At the beginning of the great controversy, theangels did not understand this. Had Satan and hishost then been left to reap the full result of theirsin, they would have perished; but it would nothave been apparent to heavenly beings that thiswas the inevitable result of sin. A doubt of God'sgoodness would have remained in their minds asevil seed, to produce its deadly fruit of sin andwoe.

But not so when the great controversy shall beended. Then, the plan of redemption having beencompleted, the character of God is revealed to allcreated intelligences. The precepts of His law areseen to be perfect and immutable. Then sin hasmade manifest its nature, Satan his character.Then the extermination of sin will vindicate God'slove and establish His honor before a universe ofbeings who delight to do His will, and in whoseheart is His law.

Well, then, might the angels rejoice as theylooked upon the Saviour's cross; for though theydid not then understand all, they knew that the

destruction of sin and Satan was forever madecertain, that the redemption of man was assured,and that the universe was made eternally secure.Christ Himself fully comprehended the results ofthe sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these Helooked forward when upon the cross He cried out,"It is finished."

Chap. 7 - In Joseph's Tomb

At last Jesus was at rest. The long day ofshame and torture was ended. As the last rays ofthe setting sun ushered in the Sabbath, the Son ofGod lay in quietude in Joseph's tomb. His workcompleted, His hands folded in peace, He restedthrough the sacred hours of the Sabbath day.

In the beginning the Father and the Son hadrested upon the Sabbath after Their work ofcreation. When "the heavens and the earth werefinished, and all the host of them" (Genesis 2:1),the Creator and all heavenly beings rejoiced in

contemplation of the glorious scene. "The morningstars sang together, and all the sons of Godshouted for joy." Job 38:7. Now Jesus rested fromthe work of redemption; and though there wasgrief among those who loved Him on earth, yetthere was joy in heaven. Glorious to the eyes ofheavenly beings was the promise of the future. Arestored creation, a redeemed race, that havingconquered sin could never fall,--this, the result toflow from Christ's completed work, God andangels saw. With this scene the day upon whichJesus rested is forever linked. For "His work isperfect;" and "whatsoever God doeth, it shall beforever." Deuteronomy 32:4; Ecclesiastes 3:14.When there shall be a "restitution of all things,which God hath spoken by the mouth of all Hisholy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21),the creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus layat rest in Joseph's tomb, will still be a day of restand rejoicing. Heaven and earth will unite inpraise, as "from one Sabbath to another" (Isaiah

66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyfulworship to God and the Lamb.

In the closing events of the crucifixion day,fresh evidence was given of the fulfillment ofprophecy, and new witness borne to Christ'sdivinity. When the darkness had lifted from thecross, and the Saviour's dying cry had beenuttered, immediately another voice was heard,saying, "Truly this was the Son of God." Matthew27:54.

These words were said in no whispered tones.All eyes were turned to see whence they came.Who had spoken? It was the centurion, the Romansoldier. The divine patience of the Saviour, andHis sudden death, with the cry of victory upon Hislips, had impressed this heathen. In the bruised,broken body hanging upon the cross, thecenturion recognized the form of the Son of God.He could not refrain from confessing his faith.Thus again evidence was given that ourRedeemer was to see of the travail of His soul.Upon the very day of His death, three men,

differing widely from one another, had declaredtheir faith,--he who commanded the Roman guard,he who bore the cross of the Saviour, and he whodied upon the cross at His side.

As evening drew on, an unearthly stillnesshung over Calvary. The crowd dispersed, andmany returned to Jerusalem greatly changed inspirit from what they had been in the morning.Many had flocked to the crucifixion from curiosity,and not from hatred toward Christ. Still theybelieved the accusations of the priests, and lookedupon Christ as a malefactor. Under an unnaturalexcitement they had united with the mob in railingagainst Him. But when the earth was wrapped inblackness, and they stood accused by their ownconsciences, they felt guilty of a great wrong. Nojest or mocking laughter was heard in the midst ofthat fearful gloom; and when it was lifted, theymade their way to their homes in solemn silence.They were convinced that the charges of thepriests were false, that Jesus was no pretender;and a few weeks later, when Peter preached upon

the day of Pentecost, they were among thethousands who became converts to Christ.

But the Jewish leaders were unchanged by theevents they had witnessed. Their hatred of Jesushad not abated. The darkness that had mantledthe earth at the crucifixion was not more densethan that which still enveloped the minds of thepriests and rulers. At His birth the star had knownChrist, and had guided the wise men to themanger where He lay. The heavenly hosts hadknown Him, and had sung His praise over theplains of Bethlehem. The sea had known Hisvoice, and had obeyed His command. Diseaseand death had recognized His authority, and hadyielded to Him their prey. The sun had known Him,and at the sight of His dying anguish, had hiddenits face of light. The rocks had known Him, andhad shivered into fragments at His cry. Inanimatenature had known Christ, and had borne witnessto His divinity. But the priests and rulers of Israelknew not the Son of God.

Yet the priests and rulers were not at rest. Theyhad carried out their purpose in putting Christ todeath; but they did not feel the sense of victorythey had expected. Even in the hour of theirapparent triumph, they were harassed with doubtsas to what would next take place. They had heardthe cry, "It is finished." "Father, into Thy hands Icommend My spirit." John 19:30; Luke 23:46.They had seen the rocks rent, and had felt themighty earthquake, and they were restless anduneasy.

They had been jealous of Christ's influencewith the people when living; they were jealous ofHim even in death. They dreaded the dead Christmore, far more, than they had ever feared theliving Christ. They dreaded to have the attention ofthe people directed any further to the eventsattending His crucifixion. They feared the results ofthat day's work. Not on any account would theyhave had His body remain on the cross during theSabbath. The Sabbath was now drawing on, and itwould be a violation of its sanctity for the bodies to

hang upon the cross. So, using this as a pretext,the leading Jews requested Pilate that the death ofthe victims might be hastened, and their bodies beremoved before the setting of the sun.

Pilate was as unwilling as they for the body ofJesus to remain upon the cross. His consenthaving been obtained, the legs of the two thieveswere broken to hasten their death; but Jesus wasfound to be already dead. The rude soldiers hadbeen softened by what they had heard and seenof Christ, and they were restrained from breakingHis limbs. Thus in the offering of the Lamb of Godwas fulfilled the law of the Passover, "They shallleave none of it unto the morning, nor break anybone of it: according to all the ordinances of thePassover they shall keep it." Numbers 9:12

The priests and rulers were amazed to find thatChrist was dead. Death by the cross was alingering process; it was difficult to determinewhen life had ceased. It was an unheard-of thingfor one to die within six hours of crucifixion. Thepriests wished to make sure of the death of Jesus,

and at their suggestion a soldier thrust a spear intothe Saviour's side. From the wound thus made,there flowed two copious and distinct streams, oneof blood, the other of water. This was noted by allthe beholders, and John states the occurrencevery definitely. He says, "One of the soldiers with aspear pierced His side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. And he that saw it barerecord, and his record is true: and he knoweth thathe saith true, that ye might believe. For thesethings were done, that the scripture should befulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken. Andagain another scripture saith, They shall look onHim whom they pierced." John 19:34-37.

After the resurrection the priests and rulerscirculated the report that Christ did not die uponthe cross, that He merely fainted, and wasafterward revived. Another report affirmed that itwas not a real body of flesh and bone, but thelikeness of a body, that was laid in the tomb. Theaction of the Roman soldiers disproves thesefalsehoods. They broke not His legs, because He

was already dead. To satisfy the priests, theypierced His side. Had not life been already extinct,this wound would have caused instant death.

But it was not the spear thrust, it was not thepain of the cross, that caused the death of Jesus.That cry, uttered "with a loud voice" (Matthew27:50; Luke 23:46), at the moment of death, thestream of blood and water that flowed from Hisside, declared that He died of a broken heart. Hisheart was broken by mental anguish. He was slainby the sin of the world.

With the death of Christ the hopes of Hisdisciples perished. They looked upon His closedeyelids and drooping head, His hair matted withblood, His pierced hands and feet, and theiranguish was indescribable. Until the last they hadnot believed that He would die; they could hardlybelieve that He was really dead. Overwhelmedwith sorrow, they did not recall His wordsforetelling this very scene. Nothing that He hadsaid now gave them comfort. They saw only thecross and its bleeding Victim. The future seemed

dark with despair. Their faith in Jesus hadperished; but never had they loved their Lord asnow. Never before had they so felt His worth, andtheir need of His presence.

Even in death, Christ's body was very preciousto His disciples. They longed to give Him anhonored burial, but knew not how to accomplishthis. Treason against the Roman government wasthe crime for which Jesus was condemned, andpersons put to death for this offense wereconsigned to a burial ground especially providedfor such criminals. The disciple John with thewomen from Galilee had remained at the cross.They could not leave the body of their Lord to behandled by the unfeeling soldiers, and buried in adishonored grave. Yet they could not prevent it.They could obtain no favors from the Jewishauthorities, and they had no influence with Pilate.

In this emergency, Joseph of Arimathaea andNicodemus came to the help of the disciples. Boththese men were members of the Sanhedrin, andwere acquainted with Pilate. Both were men of

wealth and influence. They were determined thatthe body of Jesus should have an honorableburial.

Joseph went boldly to Pilate, and begged fromhim the body of Jesus. For the first time, Pilatelearned that Jesus was really dead. Conflictingreports had reached him in regard to the eventsattending the crucifixion, but the knowledge ofChrist's death had been purposely kept from him.Pilate had been warned by the priests and rulersagainst deception by Christ's disciples in regard toHis body. Upon hearing Joseph's request, hetherefore sent for the centurion who had charge atthe cross, and learned for a certainty of the deathof Jesus. He also drew from him an account of thescenes of Calvary, confirming the testimony ofJoseph.

The request of Joseph was granted. WhileJohn was troubled about the burial of his Master,Joseph returned with Pilate's order for the body ofChrist; and Nicodemus came bringing a costlymixture of myrrh and aloes, of about a hundred

pounds' weight, for His embalming. The mosthonored in all Jerusalem could not have beenshown more respect in death. The disciples wereastonished to see these wealthy rulers as muchinterested as they themselves in the burial of theirLord.

Neither Joseph nor Nicodemus had openlyaccepted the Saviour while He was living. Theyknew that such a step would exclude them fromthe Sanhedrin, and they hoped to protect Him bytheir influence in its councils. For a time they hadseemed to succeed; but the wily priests, seeingtheir favor to Christ, had thwarted their plans. Intheir absence Jesus had been condemned anddelivered to be crucified. Now that He was dead,they no longer concealed their attachment to Him.While the disciples feared to show themselvesopenly as His followers, Joseph and Nicodemuscame boldly to their aid. The help of these rich andhonored men was greatly needed at this time.They could do for their dead Master what it wasimpossible for the poor disciples to do; and their

wealth and influence protected them, in a greatmeasure, from the malice of the priests and rulers.

Gently and reverently they removed with theirown hands the body of Jesus from the cross. Theirtears of sympathy fell fast as they looked upon Hisbruised and lacerated form. Joseph owned a newtomb, hewn in a rock. This he was reserving forhimself; but it was near Calvary, and he nowprepared it for Jesus. The body, together with thespices brought by Nicodemus, was carefullywrapped in a linen sheet, and the Redeemer wasborne to the tomb. There the three disciplesstraightened the mangled limbs, and folded thebruised hands upon the pulseless breast. TheGalilean women came to see that all had beendone that could be done for the lifeless form oftheir beloved Teacher. Then they saw the heavystone rolled against the entrance of the tomb, andthe Saviour was left at rest. The women were lastat the cross, and last at the tomb of Christ. Whilethe evening shades were gathering, MaryMagdalene and the other Marys lingered about the

resting place of their Lord, shedding tears ofsorrow over the fate of Him whom they loved. "Andthey returned, . . . and rested the Sabbath dayaccording to the commandment." Luke 23:56.

That was a never-to-be-forgotten Sabbath tothe sorrowing disciples, and also to the priests,rulers, scribes, and people. At the setting of thesun on the evening of the preparation day thetrumpets sounded, signifying that the Sabbath hadbegun. The Passover was observed as it hadbeen for centuries, while He to whom it pointedhad been slain by wicked hands, and lay inJoseph's tomb. On the Sabbath the courts of thetemple were filled with worshipers. The high priestfrom Golgotha was there, splendidly robed in hissacerdotal garments. White-turbaned priests, fullof activity, performed their duties. But somepresent were not at rest as the blood of bulls andgoats was offered for sin. They were notconscious that type had met antitype, that aninfinite sacrifice had been made for the sins of theworld. They knew not that there was no further

value in the performance of the ritual service. Butnever before had that service been witnessed withsuch conflicting feelings. The trumpets andmusical instruments and the voices of the singerswere as loud and clear as usual. But a sense ofstrangeness pervaded everything. One afteranother inquired about a strange event that hadtaken place. Hitherto the most holy place hadbeen sacredly guarded from intrusion. But now itwas open to all eyes. The heavy veil of tapestry,made of pure linen, and beautifully wrought withgold, scarlet, and purple, was rent from top tobottom. The place where Jehovah had met withthe high priest, to communicate His glory, theplace that had been God's sacred audiencechamber, lay open to every eye,--a place nolonger recognized by the Lord. With gloomypresentiments the priests ministered before thealtar. The uncovering of the sacred mystery of themost holy place filled them with dread of comingcalamity.

Many minds were busy with thoughts started bythe scenes of Calvary. From the crucifixion to theresurrection many sleepless eyes were constantlysearching the prophecies, some to learn the fullmeaning of the feast they were then celebrating,some to find evidence that Jesus was not what Heclaimed to be; and others with sorrowful heartswere searching for proofs that He was the trueMessiah. Though searching with different objectsin view, all were convicted of the same truth,--thatprophecy had been fulfilled in the events of thepast few days, and that the Crucified One was theworld's Redeemer. Many who at that time united inthe service never again took part in the paschalrites. Many even of the priests were convicted ofthe true character of Jesus. Their searching of theprophecies had not been in vain, and after Hisresurrection they acknowledged Him as the Son ofGod.

Nicodemus, when he saw Jesus lifted up onthe cross, remembered His words spoken by nightin the Mount of Olives: "As Moses lifted up the

serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son ofman be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Himshould not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14,15. On that Sabbath, when Christ lay in the grave,Nicodemus had opportunity for reflection. Aclearer light now illuminated his mind, and thewords which Jesus had spoken to him were nolonger mysterious. He felt that he had lost muchby not connecting himself with the Saviour duringHis life. Now he recalled the events of Calvary.The prayer of Christ for His murderers and Hisanswer to the petition of the dying thief spoke tothe heart of the learned councilor. Again he lookedupon the Saviour in His agony; again he heardthat last cry, "It is finished," spoken like the wordsof a conqueror. Again he beheld the reeling earth,the darkened heavens, the rent veil, the shiveredrocks, and his faith was forever established. Thevery event that destroyed the hopes of thedisciples convinced Joseph and Nicodemus of thedivinity of Jesus. Their fears were overcome bythe courage of a firm and unwavering faith.

Never had Christ attracted the attention of themultitude as now that He was laid in the tomb.According to their practice, the people broughttheir sick and suffering ones to the temple courts,inquiring, Who can tell us of Jesus of Nazareth?Many had come from far to find Him who hadhealed the sick and raised the dead. On everyside was heard the cry, We want Christ theHealer! Upon this occasion those who werethought to show indications of the leprosy wereexamined by the priests. Many were forced to heartheir husbands, wives, or children pronouncedleprous, and doomed to go forth from the shelterof their homes and the care of their friends, towarn off the stranger with the mournful cry,"Unclean, unclean!" The friendly hands of Jesus ofNazareth, that never refused to touch with healingthe loathsome leper, were folded on His breast.The lips that had answered his petition with thecomforting words, "I will; be thou clean" (Matthew8:3), were now silent. Many appealed to the chiefpriests and rulers for sympathy and relief, but in

vain. Apparently they were determined to have theliving Christ among them again. With persistentearnestness they asked for Him. They would notbe turned away. But they were driven from thetemple courts, and soldiers were stationed at thegates to keep back the multitude that came withtheir sick and dying, demanding entrance.

The sufferers who had come to be healed bythe Saviour sank under their disappointment. Thestreets were filled with mourning. The sick weredying for want of the healing touch of Jesus.Physicians were consulted in vain; there was noskill like that of Him who lay in Joseph's tomb.

The mourning cries of the suffering onesbrought home to thousands of minds theconviction that a great light had gone out of theworld. Without Christ, the earth was blackness anddarkness. Many whose voices had swelled the cryof "Crucify Him, crucify Him," now realized thecalamity that had fallen upon them, and would aseagerly have cried, Give us Jesus! had He stillbeen alive.

When the people learned that Jesus had beenput to death by the priests, inquiries were maderegarding His death. The particulars of His trialwere kept as private as possible; but during thetime when He was in the grave, His name was onthousands of lips, and reports of His mock trial,and of the inhumanity of the priests and rulers,were circulated everywhere. By men of intellectthese priests and rulers were called upon toexplain the prophecies of the Old Testamentconcerning the Messiah, and while trying to framesome falsehood in reply, they became like meninsane. The prophecies that pointed to Christ'ssufferings and death they could not explain, andmany inquirers were convinced that the Scriptureshad been fulfilled.

The revenge which the priests had thoughtwould be so sweet was already bitterness to them.They knew that they were meeting the severecensure of the people; they knew that the veryones whom they had influenced against Jesuswere now horrified by their own shameful work.

These priests had tried to believe Jesus adeceiver; but it was in vain. Some of them hadstood by the grave of Lazarus, and had seen thedead brought back to life. They trembled for fearthat Christ would Himself rise from the dead, andagain appear before them. They had heard Himdeclare that He had power to lay down His life andto take it again. They remembered that He hadsaid, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I willraise it up." John 2:19. Judas had told them thewords spoken by Jesus to the disciples while onthe last journey to Jerusalem: "Behold, we go upto Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall bebetrayed unto the chief priests and unto thescribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, andshall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and toscourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day Heshall rise again." Matthew 20:18, 19. When theyheard these words, they had mocked andridiculed. But now they remembered that Christ'spredictions had so far been fulfilled. He had saidthat He would rise again the third day, and who

could say that this also would not come to pass?They longed to shut out these thoughts, but theycould not. Like their father, the devil, they believedand trembled.

Now that the frenzy of excitement was past, theimage of Christ would intrude upon their minds.They beheld Him as He stood serene anduncomplaining before His enemies, sufferingwithout a murmur their taunts and abuse. All theevents of His trial and crucifixion came back tothem with an overpowering conviction that He wasthe Son of God. They felt that He might at anytime stand before them, the accused to becomethe accuser, the condemned to condemn, the slainto demand justice in the death of His murderers.

They could rest little upon the Sabbath. Thoughthey would not step over a Gentile's threshold forfear of defilement, yet they held a councilconcerning the body of Christ. Death and thegrave must hold Him whom they had crucified."The chief priests and Pharisees came togetherunto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that

deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After threedays I will rise again. Command therefore that thesepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest Hisdisciples come by night, and steal Him away, andsay unto the people, He is risen from the dead: sothe last error shall be worse than the first. Pilatesaid unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way,make it as sure as ye can." Matthew 27:62-65.

The priests gave directions for securing thesepulcher. A great stone had been placed beforethe opening. Across this stone they placed cords,securing the ends to the solid rock, and sealingthem with the Roman seal. The stone could not bemoved without breaking the seal. A guard of onehundred soldiers was then stationed around thesepulcher to prevent it from being tampered with.The priests did all they could to keep Christ's bodywhere it had been laid. He was sealed as securelyin His tomb as if He were to remain there throughall time.

So weak men counseled and planned. Little didthese murderers realize the uselessness of their

efforts. But by their action God was glorified. Thevery efforts made to prevent Christ's resurrectionare the most convincing arguments in its proof.The greater the number of soldiers placed aroundthe tomb, the stronger would be the testimony thatHe had risen. Hundreds of years before the deathof Christ, the Holy Spirit had declared through thepsalmist, "Why do the heathen rage, and thepeople imagine a vain thing? The kings of theearth set themselves, and the rulers take counseltogether, against the Lord, and against Hisanointed. . . . He that sitteth in the heavens shalllaugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." Psalm2:1-4. Roman guards and Roman arms werepowerless to confine the Lord of life within thetomb. The hour of His release was near.

Chap. 8 - "The Lord Is Risen"

The night of the first day of the week had wornslowly away. The darkest hour, just before

daybreak, had come. Christ was still a prisoner inHis narrow tomb. The great stone was in its place;the Roman seal was unbroken; the Roman guardswere keeping their watch. And there were unseenwatchers. Hosts of evil angels were gatheredabout the place. Had it been possible, the princeof darkness with his apostate army would havekept forever sealed the tomb that held the Son ofGod. But a heavenly host surrounded thesepulcher. Angels that excel in strength wereguarding the tomb, and waiting to welcome thePrince of life.

"And, behold, there was a great earthquake: forthe angel of the Lord descended from heaven."Clothed with the panoply of God, this angel left theheavenly courts. The bright beams of God's glorywent before him, and illuminated his pathway. "Hiscountenance was like lightning, and his raimentwhite as snow: and for fear of him the keepers didshake, and became as dead men."

Now, priests and rulers, where is the power ofyour guard? Brave soldiers that have never been

afraid of human power are now as captives takenwithout sword or spear. The face they look upon isnot the face of mortal warrior; it is the face of themightiest of the Lord's host. This messenger is hewho fills the position from which Satan fell. It is hewho on the hills of Bethlehem proclaimed Christ'sbirth. The earth trembles at his approach, thehosts of darkness flee, and as he rolls away thestone, heaven seems to come down to the earth.The soldiers see him removing the stone as hewould a pebble, and hear him cry, Son of God,come forth; Thy Father calls Thee. They seeJesus come forth from the grave, and hear Himproclaim over the rent sepulcher, "I am theresurrection, and the life." As He comes forth inmajesty and glory, the angel host bow low inadoration before the Redeemer, and welcome Himwith songs of praise.

An earthquake marked the hour when Christlaid down His life, and another earthquakewitnessed the moment when He took it up intriumph. He who had vanquished death and the

grave came forth from the tomb with the tread of aconqueror, amid the reeling of the earth, theflashing of lightning, and the roaring of thunder.When He shall come to the earth again, He willshake "not the earth only, but also heaven." "Theearth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shallbe removed like a cottage." "The heavens shall berolled together as a scroll;" "the elements shallmelt with fervent heat, the earth also and theworks that are therein shall be burned up." But"the Lord will be the hope of His people, and thestrength of the children of Israel." Hebrews 12:26;Isaiah 24:20; 34:4; 2 Peter 3:10; Joel 3:16.

At the death of Jesus the soldiers had beheldthe earth wrapped in darkness at midday; but atthe resurrection they saw the brightness of theangels illuminate the night, and heard theinhabitants of heaven singing with great joy andtriumph: Thou hast vanquished Satan and thepowers of darkness; Thou hast swallowed updeath in victory!

Christ came forth from the tomb glorified, andthe Roman guard beheld Him. Their eyes wereriveted upon the face of Him whom they had sorecently mocked and derided. In this glorifiedBeing they beheld the prisoner whom they hadseen in the judgment hall, the one for whom theyhad plaited a crown of thorns. This was the Onewho had stood unresisting before Pilate andHerod, His form lacerated by the cruel scourge.This was He who had been nailed to the cross, atwhom the priests and rulers, full of self-satisfaction, had wagged their heads, saying, "Hesaved others; Himself He cannot save." Matthew27:42. This was He who had been laid in Joseph'snew tomb. The decree of heaven had loosed thecaptive. Mountains piled upon mountains over Hissepulcher could not have prevented Him fromcoming forth.

At sight of the angels and the glorified Saviourthe Roman guard had fainted and become asdead men. When the heavenly train was hiddenfrom their view, they arose to their feet, and as

quickly as their trembling limbs could carry them,made their way to the gate of the garden.Staggering like drunken men, they hurried on tothe city, telling those whom they met the wonderfulnews. They were making their way to Pilate, buttheir report had been carried to the Jewishauthorities, and the chief priests and rulers sent forthem to be brought first into their presence. Astrange appearance those soldiers presented.Trembling with fear, their faces colorless, theybore testimony to the resurrection of Christ. Thesoldiers told all, just as they had seen it; they hadnot had time to think or speak anything but thetruth. With painful utterance they said, It was theSon of God who was crucified; we have heard anangel proclaiming Him as the Majesty of heaven,the King of glory.

The faces of the priests were as those of thedead. Caiaphas tried to speak. His lips moved, butthey uttered no sound. The soldiers were about toleave the council room, when a voice stayed them.

Caiaphas had at last found speech. Wait, wait, hesaid. Tell no one the things you have seen.

A lying report was then given to the soldiers."Say ye," said the priests, "His disciples came bynight, and stole Him away while we slept." Herethe priests overreached themselves. How couldthe soldiers say that the disciples had stolen thebody while they slept? If they were asleep, howcould they know? And if the disciples had beenproved guilty of stealing Christ's body, would notthe priests have been first to condemn them? Or ifthe sentinels had slept at the tomb, would not thepriests have been foremost in accusing them toPilate?

The soldiers were horrified at the thought ofbringing upon themselves the charge of sleepingat their post. This was an offense punishable withdeath. Should they bear false witness, deceivingthe people, and placing their own lives in peril?Had they not kept their weary watch with sleeplessvigilance? How could they stand the trial, even forthe sake of money, if they perjured themselves?

In order to silence the testimony they feared,the priests promised to secure the safety of theguard, saying that Pilate would not desire to havesuch a report circulated any more than they did.The Roman soldiers sold their integrity to the Jewsfor money. They came in before the priestsburdened with a most startling message of truth;they went out with a burden of money, and on theirtongues a lying report which had been framed forthem by the priests.

Meanwhile the report of Christ's resurrectionhad been carried to Pilate. Though Pilate wasresponsible for having given Christ up to die, hehad been comparatively unconcerned. While hehad condemned the Saviour unwillingly, and with afeeling of pity, he had felt no real compunctionuntil now. In terror he now shut himself within hishouse, determined to see no one. But the priestsmade their way into his presence, told the storywhich they had invented, and urged him tooverlook the sentinels' neglect of duty. Beforeconsenting to this, he himself privately questioned

the guard. They, fearing for their own safety, darednot conceal anything, and Pilate drew from theman account of all that had taken place. He did notprosecute the matter further, but from that timethere was no peace for him.

When Jesus was laid in the grave, Satantriumphed. He dared to hope that the Saviourwould not take up His life again. He claimed theLord's body, and set his guard about the tomb,seeking to hold Christ a prisoner. He was bitterlyangry when his angels fled at the approach of theheavenly messenger. When he saw Christ comeforth in triumph, he knew that his kingdom wouldhave an end, and that he must finally die.

The priests, in putting Christ to death, hadmade themselves the tools of Satan. Now theywere entirely in his power. They were entangled ina snare from which they saw no escape but incontinuing their warfare against Christ. When theyheard the report of His resurrection, they fearedthe wrath of the people. They felt that their ownlives were in danger. The only hope for them was

to prove Christ an impostor by denying that Hehad risen. They bribed the soldiers, and securedPilate's silence. They spread their lying reports farand near. But there were witnesses whom theycould not silence. Many had heard of the soldiers'testimony to Christ's resurrection. And certain ofthe dead who came forth with Christ appeared tomany, and declared that He had risen. Reportswere brought to the priests of persons who hadseen these risen ones, and heard their testimony.The priests and rulers were in continual dread, lestin walking the streets, or within the privacy of theirown homes, they should come face to face withChrist. They felt that there was no safety for them.Bolts and bars were but poor protection againstthe Son of God. By day and by night that awfulscene in the judgment hall, when they had cried,"His blood be on us, and on our children," wasbefore them. Matthew 27:25. Nevermore wouldthe memory of that scene fade from their minds.Nevermore would peaceful sleep come to theirpillows.

When the voice of the mighty angel was heardat Christ's tomb, saying, Thy Father calls Thee,the Saviour came forth from the grave by the lifethat was in Himself. Now was proved the truth ofHis words, "I lay down My life, that I might take itagain. . . . I have power to lay it down, and I havepower to take it again." Now was fulfilled theprophecy He had spoken to the priests and rulers,"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raiseit up." John 10:17, 18; 2:19.

Over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Christ hadproclaimed in triumph, "I am the resurrection, andthe life." These words could be spoken only by theDeity. All created beings live by the will and powerof God. They are dependent recipients of the lifeof God. From the highest seraph to the humblestanimate being, all are replenished from the Sourceof life. Only He who is one with God could say, Ihave power to lay down My life, and I have powerto take it again. In His divinity, Christ possessedthe power to break the bonds of death.

Christ arose from the dead as the first fruits ofthose that slept. He was the antitype of the wavesheaf, and His resurrection took place on the veryday when the wave sheaf was to be presentedbefore the Lord. For more than a thousand yearsthis symbolic ceremony had been performed.From the harvest fields the first heads of ripenedgrain were gathered, and when the people wentup to Jerusalem to the Passover, the sheaf of firstfruits was waved as a thank offering before theLord. Not until this was presented could the sicklebe put to the grain, and it be gathered intosheaves. The sheaf dedicated to God representedthe harvest. So Christ the first fruits representedthe great spiritual harvest to be gathered for thekingdom of God. His resurrection is the type andpledge of the resurrection of all the righteousdead. "For if we believe that Jesus died and roseagain, even so them also which sleep in Jesus willGod bring with Him." 1 Thessalonians 4:14.

As Christ arose, He brought from the grave amultitude of captives. The earthquake at His death

had rent open their graves, and when He arose,they came forth with Him. They were those whohad been co-laborers with God, and who at thecost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth.Now they were to be witnesses for Him who hadraised them from the dead.

During His ministry, Jesus had raised the deadto life. He had raised the son of the widow of Nain,and the ruler's daughter and Lazarus. But thesewere not clothed with immortality. After they wereraised, they were still subject to death. But thosewho came forth from the grave at Christ'sresurrection were raised to everlasting life. Theyascended with Him as trophies of His victory overdeath and the grave. These, said Christ, are nolonger the captives of Satan; I have redeemedthem. I have brought them from the grave as thefirst fruits of My power, to be with Me where I am,nevermore to see death or experience sorrow.

These went into the city, and appeared untomany, declaring, Christ has risen from the dead,and we be risen with Him. Thus was immortalized

the sacred truth of the resurrection. The risensaints bore witness to the truth of the words, "Thydead men shall live, together with My dead bodyshall they arise." Their resurrection was anillustration of the fulfillment of the prophecy,"Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dewis as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast outthe dead." Isaiah 26:19.

To the believer, Christ is the resurrection andthe life. In our Saviour the life that was lost throughsin is restored; for He has life in Himself to quickenwhom He will. He is invested with the right to giveimmortality. The life that He laid down in humanity,He takes up again, and gives to humanity. "I amcome," He said, "that they might have life, and thatthey might have it more abundantly." "Whosoeverdrinketh of the water that I shall give him shallnever thirst; but the water that I shall give him shallbe in him a well of water springing up intoeverlasting life." "Whoso eateth My flesh, anddrinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise

him up at the last day." John 10:10; 4:14; John6:54.

To the believer, death is but a small matter.Christ speaks of it as if it were of little moment. "Ifa man keep My saying, he shall never see death,""he shall never taste of death." To the Christian,death is but a sleep, a moment of silence anddarkness. The life is hid with Christ in God, and"when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, thenshall ye also appear with Him in glory." John 8:51,52; Colossians 3:4.

The voice that cried from the cross, "It isfinished," was heard among the dead. It piercedthe walls of sepulchers, and summoned thesleepers to arise. Thus will it be when the voice ofChrist shall be heard from heaven. That voice willpenetrate the graves and unbar the tombs, andthe dead in Christ shall arise. At the Saviour'sresurrection a few graves were opened, but at Hissecond coming all the precious dead shall hearHis voice, and shall come forth to glorious,immortal life. The same power that raised Christ

from the dead will raise His church, and glorify itwith Him, above all principalities, above allpowers, above every name that is named, not onlyin this world, but also in the world to come.

Chap. 9 - "Why Weepest Thou?"

The women who had stood by the cross ofChrist waited and watched for the hours of theSabbath to pass. On the first day of the week, veryearly, they made their way to the tomb, taking withthem precious spices to anoint the Saviour's body.They did not think about His rising from the dead.The sun of their hope had set, and night hadsettled down on their hearts. As they walked, theyrecounted Christ's works of mercy and His wordsof comfort. But they remembered not His words, "Iwill see you again." John 16:22.

Ignorant of what was even then taking place,they drew near the garden, saying as they went,"Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of

the sepulcher?" They knew that they could notremove the stone, yet they kept on their way. Andlo, the heavens were suddenly alight with glorythat came not from the rising sun. The earthtrembled. They saw that the great stone was rolledaway. The grave was empty.

The women had not all come to the tomb fromthe same direction. Mary Magdalene was the firstto reach the place; and upon seeing that the stonewas removed, she hurried away to tell thedisciples. Meanwhile the other women came up. Alight was shining about the tomb, but the body ofJesus was not there. As they lingered about theplace, suddenly they saw that they were not alone.A young man clothed in shining garments wassitting by the tomb. It was the angel who had rolledaway the stone. He had taken the guise ofhumanity that he might not alarm these friends ofJesus. Yet about him the light of the heavenlyglory was still shining, and the women were afraid.They turned to flee, but the angel's words stayedtheir steps. "Fear not ye," he said; "for I know that

ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is nothere: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see theplace where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tellHis disciples that He is risen from the dead." Againthey look into the tomb, and again they hear thewonderful news. Another angel in human form isthere, and he says, "Why seek ye the living amongthe dead? He is not here, but is risen: rememberhow He spake unto you when He was yet inGalilee, saying, The Son of man must be deliveredinto the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, andthe third day rise again."

He is risen, He is risen! The women repeat thewords again and again. No need now for theanointing spices. The Saviour is living, and notdead. They remember now that when speaking ofHis death He said that He would rise again. Whata day is this to the world! Quickly the womendeparted from the sepulcher "with fear and greatjoy; and did run to bring His disciples word."

Mary had not heard the good news. She wentto Peter and John with the sorrowful message,

"They have taken away the Lord out of thesepulcher, and we know not where they have laidHim." The disciples hurried to the tomb, and foundit as Mary had said. They saw the shroud and thenapkin, but they did not find their Lord. Yet evenhere was testimony that He had risen. Thegraveclothes were not thrown heedlessly aside,but carefully folded, each in a place by itself. John"saw, and believed." He did not yet understand thescripture that Christ must rise from the dead; buthe now remembered the Saviour's wordsforetelling His resurrection.

It was Christ Himself who had placed thosegraveclothes with such care. When the mightyangel came down to the tomb, he was joined byanother, who with his company had been keepingguard over the Lord's body. As the angel fromheaven rolled away the stone, the other enteredthe tomb, and unbound the wrappings from thebody of Jesus. But it was the Saviour's hand thatfolded each, and laid it in its place. In His sightwho guides alike the star and the atom, there is

nothing unimportant. Order and perfection areseen in all His work.

Mary had followed John and Peter to the tomb;when they returned to Jerusalem, she remained.As she looked into the empty tomb, grief filled herheart. Looking in, she saw the two angels, one atthe head and the other at the foot where Jesushad lain. "Woman, why weepest thou?" they askedher. "Because they have taken away my Lord,"she answered, "and I know not where they havelaid Him."

Then she turned away, even from the angels,thinking that she must find someone who could tellher what had been done with the body of Jesus.Another voice addressed her, "Woman, whyweepest thou? whom seekest thou?" Through hertear-dimmed eyes, Mary saw the form of a man,and thinking that it was the gardener, she said,"Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me wherethou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away." Ifthis rich man's tomb was thought too honorable aburial place for Jesus, she herself would provide a

place for Him. There was a grave that Christ's ownvoice had made vacant, the grave where Lazarushad lain. Might she not there find a burial place forher Lord? She felt that to care for His preciouscrucified body would be a great consolation to herin her grief.

But now in His own familiar voice Jesus said toher, "Mary." Now she knew that it was not astranger who was addressing her, and turning shesaw before her the living Christ. In her joy sheforgot that He had been crucified. Springingtoward Him, as if to embrace His feet, she said,"Rabboni." But Christ raised His hand, saying,Detain Me not; "for I am not yet ascended to MyFather: but go to My brethren, and say unto them,I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and toMy God, and your God." And Mary went her wayto the disciples with the joyful message.

Jesus refused to receive the homage of Hispeople until He had the assurance that Hissacrifice was accepted by the Father. Heascended to the heavenly courts, and from God

Himself heard the assurance that His atonementfor the sins of men had been ample, that throughHis blood all might gain eternal life. The Fatherratified the covenant made with Christ, that Hewould receive repentant and obedient men, andwould love them even as He loves His Son. Christwas to complete His work, and fulfill His pledge to"make a man more precious than fine gold; even aman than the golden wedge of Ophir." Isaiah13:12. All power in heaven and on earth was givento the Prince of Life, and He returned to Hisfollowers in a world of sin, that He might impart tothem of His power and glory.

While the Saviour was in God's presence,receiving gifts for His church, the disciples thoughtupon His empty tomb, and mourned and wept.The day that was a day of rejoicing to all heavenwas to the disciples a day of uncertainty,confusion, and perplexity. Their unbelief in thetestimony of the women gives evidence of how lowtheir faith had sunk. The news of Christ'sresurrection was so different from what they had

anticipated that they could not believe it. It was toogood to be true, they thought. They had heard somuch of the doctrines and the so-called scientifictheories of the Sadducees that the impressionmade on their minds in regard to the resurrectionwas vague. They scarcely knew what theresurrection from the dead could mean. They wereunable to take in the great subject.

"Go your way," the angels had said to thewomen, "tell His disciples and Peter that He goethbefore you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him, asHe said unto you." These angels had been withChrist as guardian angels throughout His life onearth. They had witnessed His trial and crucifixion.They had heard His words to His disciples. Thiswas shown by their message to the disciples, andshould have convinced them of its truth. Suchwords could have come only from the messengersof their risen Lord.

"Tell His disciples and Peter," the angels said.Since the death of Christ, Peter had been boweddown with remorse. His shameful denial of the

Lord, and the Saviour's look of love and anguish,were ever before him. Of all the disciples he hadsuffered most bitterly. To him the assurance isgiven that his repentance is accepted and his sinforgiven. He is mentioned by name.

"Tell His disciples and Peter that He goethbefore you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him." Allthe disciples had forsaken Jesus, and the call tomeet Him again includes them all. He has not castthem off. When Mary Magdalene told them shehad seen the Lord, she repeated the call to themeeting in Galilee. And a third time the messagewas sent to them. After He had ascended to theFather, Jesus appeared to the other women,saying, "All hail. And they came and held Him bythe feet, and worshiped Him. Then said Jesusunto them, Be not afraid: go tell My brethren thatthey go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me."

Christ's first work on earth after His resurrectionwas to convince His disciples of His undiminishedlove and tender regard for them. To give themproof that He was their living Saviour, that He had

broken the fetters of the tomb, and could no longerbe held by the enemy death; to reveal that He hadthe same heart of love as when He was with themas their beloved Teacher, He appeared to themagain and again. He would draw the bonds of lovestill closer around them. Go tell My brethren, Hesaid, that they meet Me in Galilee.

As they heard this appointment, so definitelygiven, the disciples began to think of Christ'swords to them foretelling His resurrection. Buteven now they did not rejoice. They could not castoff their doubt and perplexity. Even when thewomen declared that they had seen the Lord, thedisciples would not believe. They thought themunder an illusion.

Trouble seemed crowding upon trouble. On thesixth day of the week they had seen their Masterdie; on the first day of the next week they foundthemselves deprived of His body, and they wereaccused of having stolen it away for the sake ofdeceiving the people. They despaired of evercorrecting the false impressions that were gaining

ground against them. They feared the enmity ofthe priests and the wrath of the people. Theylonged for the presence of Jesus, who had helpedthem in every perplexity.

Often they repeated the words, "We trustedthat it had been He which should have redeemedIsrael." Lonely and sick at heart they rememberedHis words, "If they do these things in a green tree,what shall be done in the dry?" Luke 24:21; 23:31.They met together in the upper chamber, andclosed and fastened the doors, knowing that thefate of their beloved Teacher might at any time betheirs.

And all the time they might have been rejoicingin the knowledge of a risen Saviour. In the garden,Mary had stood weeping, when Jesus was closebeside her. Her eyes were so blinded by tears thatshe did not discern Him. And the hearts of thedisciples were so full of grief that they did notbelieve the angels' message or the words of ChristHimself.

How many are still doing what these disciplesdid! How many echo Mary's despairing cry, "Theyhave taken away the Lord, . . . and we know notwhere they have laid Him"! To how many mightthe Saviour's words be spoken, "Why weepestthou? whom seekest thou?" He is close besidethem, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discernHim. He speaks to them, but they do notunderstand.

Oh that the bowed head might be lifted, that theeyes might be opened to behold Him, that the earsmight listen to His voice! "Go quickly, and tell Hisdisciples that He is risen." Bid them look not toJoseph's new tomb, that was closed with a greatstone, and sealed with the Roman seal. Christ isnot there. Look not to the empty sepulcher. Mournnot as those who are hopeless and helpless.Jesus lives, and because He lives, we shall livealso. From grateful hearts, from lips touched withholy fire, let the glad song ring out, Christ is risen!He lives to make intercession for us. Grasp thishope, and it will hold the soul like a sure, tried

anchor. Believe, and thou shalt see the glory ofGod.

Chap. 10 - The Walk to Emmaus

Late in the afternoon of the day of theresurrection, two of the disciples were on their wayto Emmaus, a little town eight miles fromJerusalem. These disciples had had no prominentplace in Christ's work, but they were earnestbelievers in Him. They had come to the city tokeep the Passover, and were greatly perplexed bythe events that had recently taken place. They hadheard the news of the morning in regard to theremoval of Christ's body from the tomb, and alsothe report of the women who had seen the angelsand had met Jesus. They were now returning totheir homes to meditate and pray. Sadly theypursued their evening walk, talking over thescenes of the trial and the crucifixion. Neverbefore had they been so utterly disheartened.

Hopeless and faithless, they were walking in theshadow of the cross.

They had not advanced far on their journeywhen they were joined by a stranger, but theywere so absorbed in their gloom anddisappointment that they did not observe himclosely. They continued their conversation,expressing the thoughts of their hearts. They werereasoning in regard to the lessons that Christ hadgiven, which they seemed unable to comprehend.As they talked of the events that had taken place,Jesus longed to comfort them. He had seen theirgrief; He understood the conflicting, perplexingideas that brought to their minds the thought, Canthis Man, who suffered Himself to be sohumiliated, be the Christ? Their grief could not berestrained, and they wept. Jesus knew that theirhearts were bound up with Him in love, and Helonged to wipe away their tears, and fill them withjoy and gladness. But He must first give themlessons they would never forget.

"He said unto them, What manner ofcommunications are these that ye have one toanother, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one ofthem, whose name was Cleopas, answering saidunto Him, Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem,and hast not known the things which are come topass there in these days?" They told Him of theirdisappointment in regard to their Master, "whichwas a prophet mighty in deed and word beforeGod and all the people;" but "the chief priests andour rulers," they said, "delivered Him to becondemned to death, and have crucified Him."With hearts sore with disappointment, and withquivering lips, they added, "We trusted that it hadbeen He which should have redeemed Israel: andbeside all this, today is the third day since thesethings were done."

Strange that the disciples did not rememberChrist's words, and realize that He had foretold theevents which had come to pass! They did notrealize that the last part of His disclosure would bejust as verily fulfilled as the first part, that the third

day He would rise again. This was the part theyshould have remembered. The priests and rulersdid not forget this. On the day "that followed theday of the preparation, the chief priests andPharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir,we remember that that deceiver said, while Hewas yet alive, After three days I will rise again."Matthew 27:62, 63. But the disciples did notremember these words.

"Then He said unto them, O fools, and slow ofheart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:ought not Christ to have suffered these things, andto enter into His glory?" The disciples wonderedwho this stranger could be, that He shouldpenetrate to their very souls, and speak with suchearnestness, tenderness, and sympathy, and withsuch hopefulness. For the first time since Christ'sbetrayal, they began to feel hopeful. Often theylooked earnestly at their companion, and thoughtthat His words were just the words that Christwould have spoken. They were filled with

amazement, and their hearts began to throb withjoyful expectation.

Beginning at Moses, the very Alpha of Biblehistory, Christ expounded in all the Scriptures thethings concerning Himself. Had He first madeHimself known to them, their hearts would havebeen satisfied. In the fullness of their joy theywould have hungered for nothing more. But it wasnecessary for them to understand the witnessborne to Him by the types and prophecies of theOld Testament. Upon these their faith must beestablished. Christ performed no miracle toconvince them, but it was His first work to explainthe Scriptures. They had looked upon His death asthe destruction of all their hopes. Now He showedfrom the prophets that this was the very strongestevidence for their faith.

In teaching these disciples, Jesus showed theimportance of the Old Testament as a witness toHis mission. Many professed Christians nowdiscard the Old Testament, claiming that it is nolonger of any use. But such is not Christ's

teaching. So highly did He value it that at one timeHe said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets,neither will they be persuaded, though one rosefrom the dead." Luke 16:31.

It is the voice of Christ that speaks throughpatriarchs and prophets, from the days of Adameven to the closing scenes of time. The Saviour isrevealed in the Old Testament as clearly as in theNew. It is the light from the prophetic past thatbrings out the life of Christ and the teachings ofthe New Testament with clearness and beauty.The miracles of Christ are a proof of His divinity;but a stronger proof that He is the world'sRedeemer is found in comparing the prophecies ofthe Old Testament with the history of the New.

Reasoning from prophecy, Christ gave Hisdisciples a correct idea of what He was to be inhumanity. Their expectation of a Messiah who wasto take His throne and kingly power in accordancewith the desires of men had been misleading. Itwould interfere with a correct apprehension of Hisdescent from the highest to the lowest position

that could be occupied. Christ desired that theideas of His disciples might be pure and true inevery specification. They must understand as faras possible in regard to the cup of suffering thathad been apportioned to Him. He showed themthat the awful conflict which they could not yetcomprehend was the fulfillment of the covenantmade before the foundation of the world was laid.Christ must die, as every transgressor of the lawmust die if he continues in sin. All this was to be,but it was not to end in defeat, but in glorious,eternal victory. Jesus told them that every effortmust be made to save the world from sin. Hisfollowers must live as He lived, and work as Heworked, with intense, persevering effort.

Thus Christ discoursed to His disciples,opening their minds that they might understandthe Scriptures. The disciples were weary, but theconversation did not flag. Words of life andassurance fell from the Saviour's lips. But still theireyes were holden. As He told them of theoverthrow of Jerusalem, they looked upon the

doomed city with weeping. But little did they yetsuspect who their traveling companion was. Theydid not think that the subject of their conversationwas walking by their side; for Christ referred toHimself as though He were another person. Theythought that He was one of those who had been inattendance at the great feast, and who was nowreturning to his home. He walked as carefully asthey over the rough stones, now and then haltingwith them for a little rest. Thus they proceededalong the mountainous road, while the One whowas soon to take His position at God's right hand,and who could say, "All power is given unto Me inheaven and in earth," walked beside them.Matthew 28:18.

During the journey the sun had gone down, andbefore the travelers reached their place of rest, thelaborers in the fields had left their work. As thedisciples were about to enter their home, thestranger appeared as though He would continueHis journey. But the disciples felt drawn to Him.Their souls hungered to hear more from Him.

"Abide with us," they said. He did not seem toaccept the invitation, but they pressed it upon Him,urging, "It is toward evening, and the day is farspent." Christ yielded to this entreaty and "went into tarry with them."

Had the disciples failed to press their invitation,they would not have known that their travelingcompanion was the risen Lord. Christ never forcesHis company upon anyone. He interests Himself inthose who need Him. Gladly will He enter thehumblest home, and cheer the lowliest heart. But ifmen are too indifferent to think of the heavenlyGuest, or ask Him to abide with them, He passeson. Thus many meet with great loss. They do notknow Christ any more than did the disciples as Hewalked with them by the way.

The simple evening meal of bread is soonprepared. It is placed before the guest, who hastaken His seat at the head of the table. Now Heputs forth His hands to bless the food. Thedisciples start back in astonishment. Theircompanion spreads forth His hands in exactly the

same way as their Master used to do. They lookagain, and lo, they see in His hands the print ofnails. Both exclaim at once, It is the Lord Jesus!He has risen from the dead!

They rise to cast themselves at His feet andworship Him, but He has vanished out of theirsight. They look at the place which had beenoccupied by One whose body had lately lain in thegrave, and say to each other, "Did not our heartburn within us, while He talked with us by the way,and while He opened to us the Scriptures?"

But with this great news to communicate theycannot sit and talk. Their weariness and hungerare gone. They leave their meal untasted, and fullof joy immediately set out again on the same pathby which they came, hurrying to tell the tidings tothe disciples in the city. In some parts the road isnot safe, but they climb over the steep places,slipping on the smooth rocks. They do not see,they do not know, that they have the protection ofHim who has traveled the road with them. Withtheir pilgrim staff in hand, they press on, desiring

to go faster than they dare. They lose their track,but find it again. Sometimes running, sometimesstumbling, they press forward, their unseenCompanion close beside them all the way.

The night is dark, but the Sun of Righteousnessis shining upon them. Their hearts leap for joy.They seem to be in a new world. Christ is a livingSaviour. They no longer mourn over Him as dead.Christ is risen--over and over again they repeat it.This is the message they are carrying to thesorrowing ones. They must tell them the wonderfulstory of the walk to Emmaus. They must tell whojoined them by the way. They carry the greatestmessage ever given to the world, a message ofglad tidings upon which the hopes of the humanfamily for time and for eternity depend.

Chap. 11 - "Peace Be Unto You"

On reaching Jerusalem the two disciples enterat the eastern gate, which is open at night on

festal occasions. The houses are dark and silent,but the travelers make their way through thenarrow streets by the light of the rising moon. Theygo to the upper chamber where Jesus spent thehours of the last evening before His death. Herethey know that their brethren are to be found. Lateas it is, they know that the disciples will not sleeptill they learn for a certainty what has become ofthe body of their Lord. They find the door of thechamber securely barred. They knock foradmission, but no answer comes. All is still. Thenthey give their names. The door is carefullyunbarred, they enter, and Another, unseen, enterswith them. Then the door is again fastened, tokeep out spies.

The travelers find all in surprised excitement.The voices of those in the room break out intothanksgiving and praise, saying, "The Lord is risenindeed, and hath appeared to Simon." Then thetwo travelers, panting with the haste with whichthey have made their journey, tell the wondrousstory of how Jesus has appeared to them. They

have just ended, and some are saying that theycannot believe it, for it is too good to be true, whenbehold, another Person stands before them. Everyeye is fastened upon the stranger. No one hasknocked for entrance. No footstep has beenheard. The disciples are startled, and wonder whatit means. Then they hear a voice which is no otherthan the voice of their Master. Clear and distinctthe words fall from His lips, "Peace be unto you."

"But they were terrified and affrighted, andsupposed that they had seen a spirit. And He saidunto them, Why are ye troubled? and why dothoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My handsand My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, andsee; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as yesee Me have. And when He had thus spoken, Heshowed them His hands and His feet."

They beheld the hands and feet marred by thecruel nails. They recognized His voice, like noother they had ever heard. "And while they yetbelieved not for joy, and wondered, He said untothem, Have ye here any meat? And they gave Him

a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.And He took it, and did eat before them." "Thenwere the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."Faith and joy took the place of unbelief, and withfeelings which no words could express theyacknowledged their risen Saviour.

At the birth of Jesus the angel announced,Peace on earth, and good will to men. And now atHis first appearance to the disciples after Hisresurrection, the Saviour addressed them with theblessed words, "Peace be unto you." Jesus is everready to speak peace to souls that are burdenedwith doubts and fears. He waits for us to open thedoor of the heart to Him, and say, Abide with us.He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: ifany man hear My voice, and open the door, I willcome in to him, and will sup with him, and he withMe." Revelation 3:20.

The resurrection of Jesus was a type of thefinal resurrection of all who sleep in Him. Thecountenance of the risen Saviour, His manner, Hisspeech, were all familiar to His disciples. As Jesus

arose from the dead, so those who sleep in Himare to rise again. We shall know our friends, evenas the disciples knew Jesus. They may have beendeformed, diseased, or disfigured, in this mortallife, and they rise in perfect health and symmetry;yet in the glorified body their identity will beperfectly preserved. Then shall we know even asalso we are known. 1 Corinthians 13:12. In theface radiant with the light shining from the face ofJesus, we shall recognize the lineaments of thosewe love.

When Jesus met with His disciples, Hereminded them of the words He had spoken tothem before His death, that all things must befulfilled which were written in the law of Moses,and in the prophets, and in the Psalm concerningHim. "Then opened He their understanding, thatthey might understand the Scriptures, and saidunto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoovedChrist to suffer, and to rise from the dead the thirdday: and that repentance and remission of sinsshould be preached in His name among all

nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye arewitnesses of these things."

The disciples began to realize the nature andextent of their work. They were to proclaim to theworld the wonderful truths which Christ hadentrusted to them. The events of His life, His deathand resurrection, the prophecies that pointed tothese events, the sacredness of the law of God,the mysteries of the plan of salvation, the power ofJesus for the remission of sins,--to all these thingsthey were witnesses, and they were to make themknown to the world. They were to proclaim thegospel of peace and salvation through repentanceand the power of the Saviour.

"And when He had said this, He breathed onthem, and saith unto them, Receive ye the HolyGhost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they areremitted unto them; and whosesoever sins yeretain, they are retained." The Holy Spirit was notyet fully manifested; for Christ had not yet beenglorified. The more abundant impartation of theSpirit did not take place till after Christ's

ascension. Not until this was received could thedisciples fulfill the commission to preach thegospel to the world. But the Spirit was now givenfor a special purpose. Before the disciples couldfulfill their official duties in connection with thechurch, Christ breathed His Spirit upon them. Hewas committing to them a most sacred trust, andHe desired to impress them with the fact thatwithout the Holy Spirit this work could not beaccomplished.

The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life inthe soul. The impartation of the Spirit is theimpartation of the life of Christ. It imbues thereceiver with the attributes of Christ. Only thosewho are thus taught of God, those who possessthe inward working of the Spirit, and in whose lifethe Christ-life is manifested, are to stand asrepresentative men, to minister in behalf of thechurch.

"Whosesoever sins ye remit," said Christ, "theyare remitted; . . . and whosesoever sins ye retain,they are retained." Christ here gives no liberty for

any man to pass judgment upon others. In theSermon on the Mount He forbade this. It is theprerogative of God. But on the church in itsorganized capacity He places a responsibility forthe individual members. Toward those who fall intosin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, andif possible to restore. "Reprove, rebuke, exhort,"the Lord says, "with all long-suffering anddoctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2. Deal faithfully withwrongdoing. Warn every soul that is in danger.Leave none to deceive themselves. Call sin by itsright name. Declare what God has said in regardto lying, Sabbathbreaking, stealing, idolatry, andevery other evil. "They which do such things shallnot inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:21. Ifthey persist in sin, the judgment you havedeclared from God's word is pronounced uponthem in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disownChrist; the church must show that she does notsanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors herLord. She must say about sin what God saysabout it. She must deal with it as God directs, and

her action is ratified in heaven. He who despisesthe authority of the church despises the authorityof Christ Himself.

But there is a brighter side to the picture."Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted."Let this thought be kept uppermost. In labor for theerring, let every eye be directed to Christ. Let theshepherds have a tender care for the flock of theLord's pasture. Let them speak to the erring of theforgiving mercy of the Saviour. Let themencourage the sinner to repent, and believe in Himwho can pardon. Let them declare, on theauthority of God's word, "If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and tocleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.All who repent have the assurance, "He will havecompassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities;and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths ofthe sea." Micah 7:19.

Let the repentance of the sinner be acceptedby the church with grateful hearts. Let therepenting one be led out from the darkness of

unbelief into the light of faith and righteousness.Let his trembling hand be placed in the lovinghand of Jesus. Such a remission is ratified inheaven.

Only in this sense has the church power toabsolve the sinner. Remission of sins can beobtained only through the merits of Christ. To noman, to no body of men, is given power to free thesoul from guilt. Christ charged His disciples topreach the remission of sins in His name amongall nations; but they themselves were notempowered to remove one stain of sin. The nameof Jesus is the only "name under heaven givenamong men, whereby we must be saved." Acts4:12.

When Jesus first met the disciples in the upperchamber, Thomas was not with them. He heardthe reports of the others, and received abundantproof that Jesus had risen; but gloom and unbelieffilled his heart. As he heard the disciples tell of thewonderful manifestations of the risen Saviour, itonly plunged him in deeper despair. If Jesus had

really risen from the dead, there could be nofurther hope of a literal earthly kingdom. And itwounded his vanity to think that his Master shouldreveal Himself to all the disciples except him. Hewas determined not to believe, and for a wholeweek he brooded over his wretchedness, whichseemed all the darker in contrast with the hopeand faith of his brethren.

During this time he repeatedly declared,"Except I shall see in His hands the print of thenails, and put my finger into the print of the nails,and thrust my hand into His side, I will notbelieve." He would not see through the eyes of hisbrethren, or exercise faith which was dependentupon their testimony. He ardently loved his Lord,but he had allowed jealousy and unbelief to takepossession of his mind and heart.

A number of the disciples now made thefamiliar upper chamber their temporary home, andat evening all except Thomas gathered here. Oneevening Thomas determined to meet with theothers. Notwithstanding his unbelief, he had a faint

hope that the good news was true. While thedisciples were taking their evening meal, theytalked of the evidences which Christ had giventhem in the prophecies. "Then came Jesus, thedoors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,Peace be unto you."

Turning to Thomas He said, "Reach hither thyfinger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thyhand, and thrust it into My side: and be notfaithless, but believing." These words showed thatHe was acquainted with the thoughts and words ofThomas. The doubting disciple knew that none ofhis companions had seen Jesus for a week. Theycould not have told the Master of his unbelief. Herecognized the One before him as his Lord. Hehad no desire for further proof. His heart leapedfor joy, and he cast himself at the feet of Jesuscrying, "My Lord and my God."

Jesus accepted his acknowledgment, butgently reproved his unbelief: "Thomas, becausethou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessedare they that have not seen, and yet have

believed." The faith of Thomas would have beenmore pleasing to Christ if he had been willing tobelieve upon the testimony of his brethren. Shouldthe world now follow the example of Thomas, noone would believe unto salvation; for all whoreceive Christ must do so through the testimony ofothers.

Many who are given to doubt excusethemselves by saying that if they had the evidencewhich Thomas had from his companions, theywould believe. They do not realize that they havenot only that evidence, but much more. Many who,like Thomas, wait for all cause of doubt to beremoved, will never realize their desire. Theygradually become confirmed in unbelief. Thosewho educate themselves to look on the dark side,and murmur and complain, know not what they do.They are sowing the seeds of doubt, and they willhave a harvest of doubt to reap. At a time whenfaith and confidence are most essential, many willthus find themselves powerless to hope andbelieve.

In His treatment of Thomas, Jesus gave alesson for His followers. His example shows howwe should treat those whose faith is weak, andwho make their doubts prominent. Jesus did notoverwhelm Thomas with reproach, nor did Heenter into controversy with him. He revealedHimself to the doubting one. Thomas had beenmost unreasonable in dictating the conditions ofhis faith, but Jesus, by His generous love andconsideration, broke down all the barriers.Unbelief is seldom overcome by controversy. It israther put upon self-defense, and finds newsupport and excuse. But let Jesus, in His love andmercy, be revealed as the crucified Saviour, andfrom many once unwilling lips will be heard theacknowledgment of Thomas, "My Lord and myGod."

Chap. 12 - By the Sea Once More

Jesus had appointed to meet His disciples inGalilee; and soon after the Passover week wasended, they bent their steps thither. Their absencefrom Jerusalem during the feast would have beeninterpreted as disaffection and heresy, thereforethey remained till its close; but this over, theygladly turned homeward to meet the Saviour asHe had directed.

Seven of the disciples were in company. Theywere clad in the humble garb of fishermen; theywere poor in worldly goods, but rich in theknowledge and practice of the truth, which in thesight of Heaven gave them the highest rank asteachers. They had not been students in theschools of the prophets, but for three years theyhad been taught by the greatest Educator theworld has ever known. Under His instruction theyhad become elevated, intelligent, and refined,agents through whom men might be led to aknowledge of the truth.

Much of the time of Christ's ministry had beenpassed near the Sea of Galilee. As the disciples

gathered in a place where they were not likely tobe disturbed, they found themselves surroundedby reminders of Jesus and His mighty works. Onthis sea, when their hearts were filled with terror,and the fierce storm was hurrying them todestruction, Jesus had walked upon the billows totheir rescue. Here the tempest had been hushedby His word. Within sight was the beach whereabove ten thousand persons had been fed from afew small loaves and fishes. Not far distant wasCapernaum, the scene of so many miracles. Asthe disciples looked upon the scene, their mindswere full of the words and deeds of their Saviour.

The evening was pleasant, and Peter, who stillhad much of his old love for boats and fishing,proposed that they should go out upon the seaand cast their nets. In this plan all were ready tojoin; they were in need of food and clothing, whichthe proceeds of a successful night's fishing wouldsupply. So they went out in their boat, but theycaught nothing. All night they toiled, withoutsuccess. Through the weary hours they talked of

their absent Lord, and recalled the wonderfulevents they had witnessed in His ministry besidethe sea. They questioned as to their own future,and grew sad at the prospect before them.

All the while a lone watcher upon the shorefollowed them with His eye, while He Himself wasunseen. At length the morning dawned. The boatwas but a little way from the shore, and thedisciples saw a stranger standing upon the beach,who accosted them with the question, "Children,have ye any meat?" When they answered, "No,""He said unto them, Cast the net on the right sideof the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore,and now they were not able to draw it for themultitude of fishes."

John recognized the stranger, and exclaimed toPeter, "It is the Lord." Peter was so elated and soglad that in his eagerness he cast himself into thewater and was soon standing by the side of hisMaster. The other disciples came in their boat,dragging the net with fishes. "As soon then as they

were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there,and fish laid thereon, and bread."

They were too much amazed to questionwhence came the fire and the food. "Jesus saithunto them, Bring of the fish which ye have nowcaught." Peter rushed for the net, which he haddropped, and helped his brethren drag it to theshore. After the work was done, and thepreparation made, Jesus bade the disciples comeand dine. He broke the food, and divided it amongthem, and was known and acknowledged by allthe seven. The miracle of feeding the fivethousand on the mountainside was now brought totheir minds; but a mysterious awe was upon them,and in silence they gazed upon the risen Saviour.

Vividly they recalled the scene beside the seawhen Jesus had bidden them follow Him. Theyremembered how, at His command, they hadlaunched out into the deep, and had let down theirnet, and the catch had been so abundant as to fillthe net, even to breaking. Then Jesus had calledthem to leave their fishing boats, and had

promised to make them fishers of men. It was tobring this scene to their minds, and to deepen itsimpression, that He had again performed themiracle. His act was a renewal of the commissionto the disciples. It showed them that the death oftheir Master had not lessened their obligation to dothe work He had assigned them. Though theywere to be deprived of His personalcompanionship, and of the means of support bytheir former employment, the risen Saviour wouldstill have a care for them. While they were doingHis work, He would provide for their needs. AndJesus had a purpose in bidding them cast their neton the right side of the ship. On that side He stoodupon the shore. That was the side of faith. If theylabored in connection with Him,--His divine powercombining with their human effort,--they could notfail of success.

Another lesson Christ had to give, relatingespecially to Peter. Peter's denial of his Lord hadbeen in shameful contrast to his formerprofessions of loyalty. He had dishonored Christ,

and had incurred the distrust of his brethren. Theythought he would not be allowed to take his formerposition among them, and he himself felt that hehad forfeited his trust. Before being called to takeup again his apostolic work, he must before themall give evidence of his repentance. Without this,his sin, though repented of, might have destroyedhis influence as a minister of Christ. The Saviourgave him opportunity to regain the confidence ofhis brethren, and, so far as possible, to removethe reproach he had brought upon the gospel.

Here is given a lesson for all Christ's followers.The gospel makes no compromise with evil. Itcannot excuse sin. Secret sins are to beconfessed in secret to God; but, for open sin, openconfession is required. The reproach of thedisciple's sin is cast upon Christ. It causes Satanto triumph, and wavering souls to stumble. Bygiving proof of repentance, the disciple, so far aslies in his power, is to remove this reproach.

While Christ and the disciples were eatingtogether by the seaside, the Saviour said to Peter,

"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more thanthese?" referring to his brethren. Peter had oncedeclared, "Though all men shall be offendedbecause of Thee, yet will I never be offended."Matthew 26:33. But he now put a truer estimateupon himself. "Yea, Lord," he said, "Thou knowestthat I love Thee." There is no vehement assurancethat his love is greater than that of his brethren. Hedoes not express his own opinion of his devotion.To Him who can read all the motives of the hearthe appeals to judge as to his sincerity,--"Thouknowest that I love Thee." And Jesus bids him,"Feed My lambs."

Again Jesus applied the test to Peter, repeatingHis former words: "Simon, son of Jonas, lovestthou Me?" This time He did not ask Peter whetherhe loved Him better than did his brethren. Thesecond response was like the first, free fromextravagant assurance: "Yea, Lord; Thou knowestthat I love Thee." Jesus said to him, "Feed Mysheep." Once more the Saviour put the tryingquestion: "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?"

Peter was grieved; he thought that Jesus doubtedhis love. He knew that his Lord had cause todistrust him, and with an aching heart heanswered, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thouknowest that I love Thee." Again Jesus said tohim, "Feed My sheep."

Three times Peter had openly denied his Lord,and three times Jesus drew from him theassurance of his love and loyalty, pressing homethat pointed question, like a barbed arrow to hiswounded heart. Before the assembled disciplesJesus revealed the depth of Peter's repentance,and showed how thoroughly humbled was theonce boasting disciple.

Peter was naturally forward and impulsive, andSatan had taken advantage of thesecharacteristics to overthrow him. Just before thefall of Peter, Jesus had said to him, "Satan hathdesired to have you, that he may sift you aswheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith failnot: and when thou art converted, strengthen thybrethren." Luke 22:31, 32. That time had now

come, and the transformation in Peter wasevident. The close, testing questions of the Lordhad not called out one forward, self-sufficientreply; and because of his humiliation andrepentance, Peter was better prepared than everbefore to act as shepherd to the flock.

The first work that Christ entrusted to Peter onrestoring him to the ministry was to feed thelambs. This was a work in which Peter had littleexperience. It would require great care andtenderness, much patience and perseverance. Itcalled him to minister to those who were young inthe faith, to teach the ignorant, to open theScriptures to them, and to educate them forusefulness in Christ's service. Heretofore Peterhad not been fitted to do this, or even tounderstand its importance. But this was the workwhich Jesus now called upon him to do. For thiswork his own experience of suffering andrepentance had prepared him.

Before his fall, Peter was always speakingunadvisedly, from the impulse of the moment. He

was always ready to correct others, and toexpress his mind, before he had a clearcomprehension of himself or of what he had tosay. But the converted Peter was very different.He retained his former fervor, but the grace ofChrist regulated his zeal. He was no longerimpetuous, self-confident, and self-exalted, butcalm, self-possessed, and teachable. He couldthen feed the lambs as well as the sheep ofChrist's flock.

The Saviour's manner of dealing with Peter hada lesson for him and for his brethren. It taughtthem to meet the transgressor with patience,sympathy, and forgiving love. Although Peter haddenied his Lord, the love which Jesus bore himnever faltered. Just such love should theundershepherd feel for the sheep and lambscommitted to his care. Remembering his ownweakness and failure, Peter was to deal with hisflock as tenderly as Christ had dealt with him.

The question that Christ had put to Peter wassignificant. He mentioned only one condition of

discipleship and service. "Lovest thou Me?" Hesaid. This is the essential qualification. ThoughPeter might possess every other, yet without thelove of Christ he could not be a faithful shepherdover the Lord's flock. Knowledge, benevolence,eloquence, gratitude, and zeal are all aids in thegood work; but without the love of Jesus in theheart, the work of the Christian minister is afailure.

Jesus walked alone with Peter, for there wassomething which He wished to communicate tohim only. Before His death, Jesus had said to him,"Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; butthou shalt follow Me afterwards." To this Peter hadreplied, "Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I willlay down my life for Thy sake." John 13:36, 37.When he said this, he little knew to what heightsand depths Christ's feet would lead the way. Peterhad failed when the test came, but again he wasto have opportunity to prove his love for Christ.That he might be strengthened for the final test ofhis faith, the Saviour opened to him his future. He

told him that after living a life of usefulness, whenage was telling upon his strength, he would indeedfollow his Lord. Jesus said, "When thou wastyoung, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whitherthou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thoushalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall girdthee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.This spake He, signifying by what death he shouldglorify God."

Jesus thus made known to Peter the verymanner of his death; He even foretold thestretching forth of his hands upon the cross. AgainHe bade His disciple, "Follow Me." Peter was notdisheartened by the revelation. He felt willing tosuffer any death for his Lord.

Heretofore Peter had known Christ after theflesh, as many know Him now; but he was nomore to be thus limited. He knew Him no more ashe had known Him in his association with Him inhumanity. He had loved Him as a man, as aheaven-sent teacher; he now loved Him as God.He had been learning the lesson that to him Christ

was all in all. Now he was prepared to share in hisLord's mission of sacrifice. When at last brought tothe cross, he was, at his own request, crucifiedwith his head downward. He thought it too greatan honor to suffer in the same way as his Masterdid.

To Peter the words "Follow Me" were full ofinstruction. Not only for his death, but for everystep of his life, was the lesson given. HithertoPeter had been inclined to act independently. Hehad tried to plan for the work of God, instead ofwaiting to follow out God's plan. But he could gainnothing by rushing on before the Lord. Jesus bidshim, "Follow Me." Do not run ahead of Me. Thenyou will not have the hosts of Satan to meet alone.Let Me go before you, and you will not beovercome by the enemy.

As Peter walked beside Jesus, he saw thatJohn was following. A desire came over him toknow his future, and he "saith to Jesus, Lord, andwhat shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If Iwill that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

follow thou Me." Peter should have consideredthat his Lord would reveal to him all that it wasbest for him to know. It is the duty of everyone tofollow Christ, without undue anxiety as to the workassigned to others. In saying of John, "If I will thathe tarry till I come," Jesus gave no assurance thatthis disciple should live until the Lord's secondcoming. He merely asserted His own supremepower, and that even if He should will this to beso, it would in no way affect Peter's work. Thefuture of both John and Peter was in the hands oftheir Lord. Obedience in following Him was theduty required of each.

How many today are like Peter! They areinterested in the affairs of others, and anxious toknow their duty, while they are in danger ofneglecting their own. It is our work to look to Christand follow Him. We shall see mistakes in the livesof others, and defects in their character. Humanityis encompassed with infirmity. But in Christ weshall find perfection. Beholding Him, we shallbecome transformed.

John lived to be very aged. He witnessed thedestruction of Jerusalem, and the ruin of thestately temple,--a symbol of the final ruin of theworld. To his latest days John closely followed hisLord. The burden of his testimony to the churcheswas, "Beloved, let us love one another;" "he thatdwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him."1 John 4:7, 16.

Peter had been restored to his apostleship, butthe honor and authority he received from Christhad not given him supremacy over his brethren.This Christ had made plain when in answer toPeter's question, "What shall this man do?" Hehad said, "What is that to thee? follow thou Me."Peter was not honored as the head of the church.The favor which Christ had shown him in forgivinghis apostasy, and entrusting him with the feedingof the flock, and Peter's own faithfulness infollowing Christ, won for him the confidence of hisbrethren. He had much influence in the church.But the lesson which Christ had taught him by theSea of Galilee Peter carried with him throughout

his life. Writing by the Holy Spirit to the churches,he said:

"The elders which are among you I exhort, whoam also an elder, and a witness of the sufferingsof Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shallbe revealed: Feed the flock of God which isamong you, taking the oversight thereof, not byconstraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of aready mind; neither as being lords over God'sheritage, but being ensamples to the flock. Andwhen the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shallreceive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1Peter 5:1-4.

Chap. 13 - Go Teach All Nations

Standing but a step from His heavenly throne,Christ gave the commission to His disciples. "Allpower is given unto Me in heaven and in earth,"He said. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.""Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to

every creature." Mark 16:15. Again and again thewords were repeated, that the disciples mightgrasp their significance. Upon all the inhabitants ofthe earth, high and low, rich and poor, was thelight of heaven to shine in clear, strong rays. Thedisciples were to be colaborers with theirRedeemer in the work of saving the world.

The commission had been given to the twelvewhen Christ met with them in the upper chamber;but it was now to be given to a larger number. Atthe meeting on a mountain in Galilee, all thebelievers who could be called together wereassembled. Of this meeting Christ Himself, beforeHis death, had designated the time and place. Theangel at the tomb reminded the disciples of Hispromise to meet them in Galilee. The promise wasrepeated to the believers who were gathered atJerusalem during the Passover week, and throughthem it reached many lonely ones who weremourning the death of their Lord. With intenseinterest all looked forward to the interview. Theymade their way to the place of meeting by

circuitous routes, coming in from every direction,to avoid exciting the suspicion of the jealous Jews.With wondering hearts they came, talkingearnestly together of the news that had reachedthem concerning Christ.

At the time appointed, about five hundredbelievers were collected in little knots on themountainside, eager to learn all that could belearned from those who had seen Christ since Hisresurrection. From group to group the disciplespassed, telling all they had seen and heard ofJesus, and reasoning from the Scriptures as Hehad done with them. Thomas recounted the storyof his unbelief, and told how his doubts had beenswept away. Suddenly Jesus stood among them.No one could tell whence or how He came. Manywho were present had never before seen Him; butin His hands and feet they beheld the marks of thecrucifixion; His countenance was as the face ofGod, and when they saw Him, they worshipedHim.

But some doubted. So it will always be. Thereare those who find it hard to exercise faith, andthey place themselves on the doubting side.These lose much because of their unbelief.

This was the only interview that Jesus had withmany of the believers after His resurrection. Hecame and spoke to them saying, "All power isgiven unto Me in heaven and in earth." Thedisciples had worshiped Him before He spoke, butHis words, falling from lips that had been closed indeath, thrilled them with peculiar power. He wasnow the risen Saviour. Many of them had seenHim exercise His power in healing the sick andcontrolling satanic agencies. They believed thatHe possessed power to set up His kingdom atJerusalem, power to quell all opposition, powerover the elements of nature. He had stilled theangry waters; He had walked upon the white-crested billows; He had raised the dead to life.Now He declared that "all power" was given toHim. His words carried the minds of His hearersabove earthly and temporal things to the heavenly

and eternal. They were lifted to the highestconception of His dignity and glory.

Christ's words on the mountainside were theannouncement that His sacrifice in behalf of manwas full and complete. The conditions of theatonement had been fulfilled; the work for whichHe came to this world had been accomplished. Hewas on His way to the throne of God, to behonored by angels, principalities, and powers. Hehad entered upon His mediatorial work. Clothedwith boundless authority, He gave His commissionto the disciples: "Go ye therefore, and teach allnations," "baptizing them into the name of theFather and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Icommanded you: and lo, I am with you always,even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:19,20, R. V.

The Jewish people had been made thedepositaries of sacred truth; but Pharisaism hadmade them the most exclusive, the most bigoted,of all the human race. Everything about the priests

and rulers--their dress, customs, ceremonies,traditions--made them unfit to be the light of theworld. They looked upon themselves, the Jewishnation, as the world. But Christ commissioned Hisdisciples to proclaim a faith and worship thatwould have in it nothing of caste or country, a faiththat would be adapted to all peoples, all nations,all classes of men.

Before leaving His disciples, Christ plainlystated the nature of His kingdom. He called to theirminds what He had previously told themconcerning it. He declared that it was not Hispurpose to establish in this world a temporal, but aspiritual kingdom. He was not to reign as anearthly king on David's throne. Again He openedto them the Scriptures, showing that all He hadpassed through had been ordained in heaven, inthe councils between the Father and Himself. Allhad been foretold by men inspired by the HolySpirit. He said, You see that all I have revealed toyou concerning My rejection as the Messiah hascome to pass. All I have said in regard to the

humiliation I should endure and the death I shoulddie, has been verified. On the third day I roseagain. Search the Scriptures more diligently, andyou will see that in all these things thespecifications of prophecy concerning Me havebeen fulfilled.

Christ commissioned His disciples to do thework He had left in their hands, beginning atJerusalem. Jerusalem had been the scene of Hisamazing condescension for the human race.There He had suffered, been rejected andcondemned. The land of Judea was His birthplace.There, clad in the garb of humanity, He hadwalked with men, and few had discerned how nearheaven came to the earth when Jesus was amongthem. At Jerusalem the work of the disciples mustbegin.

In view of all that Christ had suffered there, andthe unappreciated labor He had put forth, thedisciples might have pleaded for a more promisingfield; but they made no such plea. The veryground where He had scattered the seed of truth

was to be cultivated by the disciples, and the seedwould spring up and yield an abundant harvest. Intheir work the disciples would have to meetpersecution through the jealousy and hatred of theJews; but this had been endured by their Master,and they were not to flee from it. The first offers ofmercy must be made to the murderers of theSaviour.

And there were in Jerusalem many who hadsecretly believed on Jesus, and many who hadbeen deceived by the priests and rulers. To thesealso the gospel was to be presented. They were tobe called to repentance. The wonderful truth thatthrough Christ alone could remission of sins beobtained was to be made plain. While allJerusalem was stirred by the thrilling events of thepast few weeks, the preaching of the gospel wouldmake the deepest impression.

But the work was not to stop here. It was to beextended to the earth's remotest bounds. To Hisdisciples Christ said, You have been witnesses ofMy life of self-sacrifice in behalf of the world. You

have witnessed My labors for Israel. Although theywould not come unto Me that they might have life,although priests and rulers have done to Me asthey listed, although they have rejected Me as theScriptures foretold, they shall have still anotheropportunity of accepting the Son of God. You haveseen that all who come to Me, confessing theirsins, I freely receive. Him that cometh to Me I willin nowise cast out. All who will, may be reconciledto God, and receive everlasting life. To you, Mydisciples, I commit this message of mercy. It is tobe given to Israel first, and then to all nations,tongues, and peoples. It is to be given to Jews andGentiles. All who believe are to be gathered intoone church.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the discipleswere to receive a marvelous power. Theirtestimony was to be confirmed by signs andwonders. Miracles would be wrought, not only bythe apostles, but by those who received theirmessage. Jesus said, "In My name shall they castout devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they

shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadlything, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands onthe sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17, 18.

At that time poisoning was often practiced.Unscrupulous men did not hesitate to remove bythis means those who stood in the way of theirambition. Jesus knew that the life of His discipleswould thus be imperiled. Many would think it doingGod service to put His witnesses to death. Hetherefore promised them protection from thisdanger.

The disciples were to have the same powerwhich Jesus had to heal "all manner of sicknessand all manner of disease among the people." Byhealing in His name the diseases of the body, theywould testify to His power for the healing of thesoul. Matthew 4:23; 9:6. And a new endowmentwas now promised. The disciples were to preachamong other nations, and they would receivepower to speak other tongues. The apostles andtheir associates were unlettered men, yet throughthe outpouring of the Spirit on the day of

Pentecost, their speech, whether in their own or aforeign language, became pure, simple, andaccurate, both in word and in accent.

Thus Christ gave His disciples theircommission. He made full provision for theprosecution of the work, and took upon Himselfthe responsibility for its success. So long as theyobeyed His word, and worked in connection withHim, they could not fail. Go to all nations, He badethem. Go to the farthest part of the habitableglobe, but know that My presence will be there.Labor in faith and confidence, for the time willnever come when I will forsake you.

The Saviour's commission to the disciplesincluded all the believers. It includes all believersin Christ to the end of time. It is a fatal mistake tosuppose that the work of saving souls dependsalone on the ordained minister. All to whom theheavenly inspiration has come are put in trust withthe gospel. All who receive the life of Christ areordained to work for the salvation of their fellowmen. For this work the church was established,

and all who take upon themselves its sacred vowsare thereby pledged to be co-workers with Christ.

"The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And lethim that heareth say, Come." Revelation 22:17.Everyone who hears is to repeat the invitation.Whatever one's calling in life, his first interestshould be to win souls for Christ. He may not beable to speak to congregations, but he can workfor individuals. To them he can communicate theinstruction received from his Lord. Ministry doesnot consist alone in preaching. Those minister whorelieve the sick and suffering, helping the needy,speaking words of comfort to the desponding andthose of little faith. Nigh and afar off are soulsweighed down by a sense of guilt. It is nothardship, toil, or poverty that degrades humanity.It is guilt, wrongdoing. This brings unrest anddissatisfaction. Christ would have His servantsminister to sin-sick souls.

The disciples were to begin their work wherethey were. The hardest and most unpromising fieldwas not to be passed by. So every one of Christ's

workers is to begin where he is. In our ownfamilies may be souls hungry for sympathy,starving for the bread of life. There may bechildren to be trained for Christ. There are heathenat our very doors. Let us do faithfully the work thatis nearest. Then let our efforts be extended as faras God's hand may lead the way. The work ofmany may appear to be restricted bycircumstances; but, wherever it is, if performedwith faith and diligence it will be felt to theuttermost parts of the earth. Christ's work whenupon earth appeared to be confined to a narrowfield, but multitudes from all lands heard Hismessage. God often uses the simplest means toaccomplish the greatest results. It is His plan thatevery part of His work shall depend on every otherpart, as a wheel within a wheel, all acting inharmony. The humblest worker, moved by theHoly Spirit, will touch invisible chords, whosevibrations will ring to the ends of the earth, andmake melody through eternal ages.

But the command, "Go ye into all the world," isnot to be lost sight of. We are called upon to liftour eyes to the "regions beyond." Christ tearsaway the wall of partition, the dividing prejudice ofnationality, and teaches a love for all the humanfamily. He lifts men from the narrow circle whichtheir selfishness prescribes; He abolishes allterritorial lines and artificial distinctions of society.He makes no difference between neighbors andstrangers, friends and enemies. He teaches us tolook upon every needy soul as our brother, andthe world as our field.

When the Saviour said, "Go, . . . teach allnations," He said also, "These signs shall followthem that believe; In My name shall they cast outdevils; they shall speak with new tongues; theyshall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadlything, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands onthe sick, and they shall recover." The promise isas far-reaching as the commission. Not that all thegifts are imparted to each believer. The Spiritdivides "to every man severally as He will." 1

Corinthians 12:11. But the gifts of the Spirit arepromised to every believer according to his needfor the Lord's work. The promise is just as strongand trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles."These signs shall follow them that believe." Thisis the privilege of God's children, and faith shouldlay hold on all that it is possible to have as anindorsement of faith.

"They shall lay hands on the sick, and theyshall recover." This world is a vast lazar house, butChrist came to heal the sick, to proclaimdeliverance to the captives of Satan. He was inHimself health and strength. He imparted His lifeto the sick, the afflicted, those possessed ofdemons. He turned away none who came toreceive His healing power. He knew that thosewho petitioned Him for help had brought diseaseupon themselves; yet He did not refuse to healthem. And when virtue from Christ entered intothese poor souls, they were convicted of sin, andmany were healed of their spiritual disease, aswell as of their physical maladies. The gospel still

possesses the same power, and why should wenot today witness the same results?

Christ feels the woes of every sufferer. Whenevil spirits rend a human frame, Christ feels thecurse. When fever is burning up the life current,He feels the agony. And He is just as willing toheal the sick now as when He was personally onearth. Christ's servants are His representatives,the channels for His working. He desires throughthem to exercise His healing power.

In the Saviour's manner of healing there werelessons for His disciples. On one occasion Heanointed the eyes of a blind man with clay, andbade him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. . . . Hewent his way therefore, and washed, and cameseeing." John 9:7. The cure could be wrought onlyby the power of the Great Healer, yet Christ madeuse of the simple agencies of nature. While He didnot give countenance to drug medication, Hesanctioned the use of simple and naturalremedies.

To many of the afflicted ones who receivedhealing, Christ said, "Sin no more, lest a worsething come unto thee." John 5:14. Thus He taughtthat disease is the result of violating God's laws,both natural and spiritual. The great misery in theworld would not exist did men but live in harmonywith the Creator's plan.

Christ had been the guide and teacher ofancient Israel, and He taught them that health isthe reward of obedience to the laws of God. TheGreat Physician who healed the sick in Palestinehad spoken to His people from the pillar of cloud,telling them what they must do, and what Godwould do for them. "If thou wilt diligently hearkento the voice of the Lord thy God," He said, "andwilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt giveear to His commandments, and keep all Hisstatutes, I will put none of these diseases uponthee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: forI am the Lord that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26.Christ gave to Israel definite instruction in regardto their habits of life, and He assured them, "The

Lord will take away from thee all sickness."Deuteronomy 7:15. When they fulfilled theconditions, the promise was verified to them."There was not one feeble person among theirtribes." Psalm 105:37.

These lessons are for us. There are conditionsto be observed by all who would preserve health.All should learn what these conditions are. TheLord is not pleased with ignorance in regard to Hislaws, either natural or spiritual. We are to beworkers together with God for the restoration ofhealth to the body as well as to the soul.

And we should teach others how to preserveand to recover health. For the sick we should usethe remedies which God has provided in nature,and we should point them to Him who alone canrestore. It is our work to present the sick andsuffering to Christ in the arms of our faith. Weshould teach them to believe in the Great Healer.We should lay hold on His promise, and pray forthe manifestation of His power. The very essenceof the gospel is restoration, and the Saviour would

have us bid the sick, the hopeless, and theafflicted take hold upon His strength.

The power of love was in all Christ's healing,and only by partaking of that love, through faith,can we be instruments for His work. If we neglectto link ourselves in divine connection with Christ,the current of life-giving energy cannot flow in richstreams from us to the people. There were placeswhere the Saviour Himself could not do manymighty works because of their unbelief. So nowunbelief separates the church from her divineHelper. Her hold upon eternal realities is weak. Byher lack of faith, God is disappointed, and robbedof His glory.

It is in doing Christ's work that the church hasthe promise of His presence. Go teach all nations,He said; "and, lo, I am with you alway, even untothe end of the world." To take His yoke is one ofthe first conditions of receiving His power. Thevery life of the church depends upon herfaithfulness in fulfilling the Lord's commission. Toneglect this work is surely to invite spiritual

feebleness and decay. Where there is no activelabor for others, love wanes, and faith grows dim.

Christ intends that His ministers shall beeducators of the church in gospel work. They areto teach the people how to seek and save the lost.But is this the work they are doing? Alas, howmany are toiling to fan the spark of life in a churchthat is ready to die! How many churches aretended like sick lambs by those who ought to beseeking for the lost sheep! And all the time millionsupon millions without Christ are perishing.

Divine love has been stirred to its unfathomabledepths for the sake of men, and angels marvel tobehold in the recipients of so great love a meresurface gratitude. Angels marvel at man's shallowappreciation of the love of God. Heaven standsindignant at the neglect shown to the souls ofmen. Would we know how Christ regards it? Howwould a father and mother feel, did they know thattheir child, lost in the cold and the snow, had beenpassed by, and left to perish, by those who mighthave saved it? Would they not be terribly grieved,

wildly indignant? Would they not denounce thosemurderers with wrath hot as their tears, intense astheir love? The sufferings of every man are thesufferings of God's child, and those who reach outno helping hand to their perishing fellow beingsprovoke His righteous anger. This is the wrath ofthe Lamb. To those who claim fellowship withChrist, yet have been indifferent to the needs oftheir fellow men, He will declare in the greatJudgment day, "I know you not whence ye are;depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity." Luke13:27.

In the commission to His disciples, Christ notonly outlined their work, but gave them theirmessage. Teach the people, He said, "to observeall things whatsoever I have commanded you."The disciples were to teach what Christ hadtaught. That which He had spoken, not only inperson, but through all the prophets and teachersof the Old Testament, is here included. Humanteaching is shut out. There is no place for tradition,for man's theories and conclusions, or for church

legislation. No laws ordained by ecclesiasticalauthority are included in the commission. None ofthese are Christ's servants to teach. "The law andthe prophets," with the record of His own wordsand deeds, are the treasure committed to thedisciples to be given to the world. Christ's name istheir watchword, their badge of distinction, theirbond of union, the authority for their course ofaction, and the source of their success. Nothingthat does not bear His superscription is to berecognized in His kingdom.

The gospel is to be presented, not as a lifelesstheory, but as a living force to change the life. Goddesires that the receivers of His grace shall bewitnesses to its power. Those whose course hasbeen most offensive to Him He freely accepts;when they repent, He imparts to them His divineSpirit, places them in the highest positions of trust,and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyalto proclaim His boundless mercy. He would haveHis servants bear testimony to the fact thatthrough His grace men may possess

Christlikeness of character, and may rejoice in theassurance of His great love. He would have usbear testimony to the fact that He cannot besatisfied until the human race are reclaimed andreinstated in their holy privileges as His sons anddaughters.

In Christ is the tenderness of the shepherd, theaffection of the parent, and the matchless grace ofthe compassionate Saviour. His blessings Hepresents in the most alluring terms. He is notcontent merely to announce these blessings; Hepresents them in the most attractive way, to excitea desire to possess them. So His servants are topresent the riches of the glory of the unspeakableGift. The wonderful love of Christ will melt andsubdue hearts, when the mere reiteration ofdoctrines would accomplish nothing. "Comfort ye,comfort ye My people, saith your God." "O Zion,that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the highmountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings,lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be notafraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your

God! . . . He shall feed His flock like a shepherd:He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carrythem in His bosom." Isaiah 40:1, 9-11.

Tell the people of Him who is "the Chiefestamong ten thousand," and the One "altogetherlovely." The Song of Solomon 5:10, 16. Wordsalone cannot tell it. Let it be reflected in thecharacter and manifested in the life. Christ issitting for His portrait in every disciple. Every oneGod has predestinated to be "conformed to theimage of His Son." Romans 8:29. In every oneChrist's long-suffering love, His holiness,meekness, mercy, and truth are to be manifestedto the world.

The first disciples went forth preaching theword. They revealed Christ in their lives. And theLord worked with them, "confirming the word withsigns following." Mark 16:20. These disciplesprepared themselves for their work. Before the dayof Pentecost they met together, and put away alldifferences. They were of one accord. Theybelieved Christ's promise that the blessing would

be given, and they prayed in faith. They did notask for a blessing for themselves merely; theywere weighted with the burden for the salvation ofsouls. The gospel was to be carried to theuttermost parts of the earth, and they claimed theendowment of power that Christ had promised.Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out,and thousands were converted in a day.

So it may be now. Instead of man'sspeculations, let the word of God be preached. LetChristians put away their dissensions, and givethemselves to God for the saving of the lost. Letthem in faith ask for the blessing, and it will come.The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days wasthe "former rain," and glorious was the result. Butthe "latter rain" will be more abundant. Joel 2:23.

All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit toGod will be constantly receiving a new endowmentof physical and mental power. The inexhaustiblesupplies of heaven are at their command. Christgives them the breath of His own spirit, the life ofHis own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest

energies to work in heart and mind. The grace ofGod enlarges and multiplies their faculties, andevery perfection of the divine nature comes to theirassistance in the work of saving souls. Throughco-operation with Christ they are complete in Him,and in their human weakness they are enabled todo the deeds of Omnipotence.

The Saviour longs to manifest His grace andstamp His character on the whole world. It is Hispurchased possession, and He desires to makemen free, and pure, and holy. Though Satanworks to hinder this purpose, yet through the bloodshed for the world there are triumphs to beachieved that will bring glory to God and theLamb. Christ will not be satisfied till the victory iscomplete, and "He shall see of the travail of Hissoul, and shall be satisfied." Isaiah 53:11. All thenations of the earth shall hear the gospel of Hisgrace. Not all will receive His grace; but "a seedshall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lordfor a generation." Psalm 22:30. "The kingdom anddominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under

the whole heaven, shall be given to the people ofthe saints of the Most High," and "the earth shallbe full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waterscover the sea." "So shall they fear the name of theLord from the west, and His glory from the rising ofthe sun." Daniel 7:27; Isaiah 11:9; 59:19.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feetof him that bringeth good tidings, that publishethpeace; that bringeth good tidings of good, thatpublisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy Godreigneth! . . . Break forth into joy, sing together, yewaste places: . . . for the Lord hath comforted Hispeople. . . . The Lord hath made bare His holy armin the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends ofthe earth shall see the salvation of our God."Isaiah 52:7-10.

Chap. 14 - "To My Father, and Your Father"

The time had come for Christ to ascend to HisFather's throne. As a divine conqueror He was

about to return with the trophies of victory to theheavenly courts. Before His death He haddeclared to His Father, "I have finished the workwhich Thou gavest Me to do." John 17:4. After Hisresurrection He tarried on earth for a season, thatHis disciples might become familiar with Him in Hisrisen and glorified body. Now He was ready for theleave-taking. He had authenticated the fact thatHe was a living Saviour. His disciples need nolonger associate Him with the tomb. They couldthink of Him as glorified before the heavenlyuniverse.

As the place of His ascension, Jesus chose thespot so often hallowed by His presence while Hedwelt among men. Not Mount Zion, the place ofDavid's city, not Mount Moriah, the temple site,was to be thus honored. There Christ had beenmocked and rejected. There the waves of mercy,still returning in a stronger tide of love, had beenbeaten back by hearts as hard as rock. ThenceJesus, weary and heart-burdened, had gone forthto find rest in the Mount of Olives. The holy

Shekinah, in departing from the first temple, hadstood upon the eastern mountain, as if loath toforsake the chosen city; so Christ stood uponOlivet, with yearning heart overlooking Jerusalem.The groves and glens of the mountain had beenconsecrated by His prayers and tears. Its steepshad echoed the triumphant shouts of the multitudethat proclaimed Him king. On its sloping descentHe had found a home with Lazarus at Bethany. Inthe garden of Gethsemane at its foot He hadprayed and agonized alone. From this mountainHe was to ascend to heaven. Upon its summit Hisfeet will rest when He shall come again. Not as aman of sorrows, but as a glorious and triumphantking He will stand upon Olivet, while Hebrewhallelujahs mingle with Gentile hosannas, and thevoices of the redeemed as a mighty host shallswell the acclamation, Crown Him Lord of all!

Now with the eleven disciples Jesus made Hisway toward the mountain. As they passed throughthe gate of Jerusalem, many wondering eyeslooked upon the little company, led by One whom

a few weeks before the rulers had condemned andcrucified. The disciples knew not that this was tobe their last interview with their Master. Jesusspent the time in conversation with them,repeating His former instruction. As theyapproached Gethsemane, He paused, that theymight call to mind the lessons He had given themon the night of His great agony. Again He lookedupon the vine by which He had then representedthe union of His church with Himself and HisFather; again He repeated the truths He had thenunfolded. All around Him were reminders of Hisunrequited love. Even the disciples who were sodear to His heart, had, in the hour of Hishumiliation, reproached and forsaken Him.

Christ had sojourned in the world for thirty-three years; He had endured its scorn, insult, andmockery; He had been rejected and crucified.Now, when about to ascend to His throne ofglory,--as He reviews the ingratitude of the peopleHe came to save,--will He not withdraw from themHis sympathy and love? Will not His affections be

centered upon that realm where He is appreciated,and where sinless angels wait to do His bidding?No; His promise to those loved ones whom Heleaves on earth is, "I am with you alway, even untothe end of the world." Matthew 28:20.

Upon reaching the Mount of Olives, Jesus ledthe way across the summit, to the vicinity ofBethany. Here He paused, and the disciplesgathered about Him. Beams of light seemed toradiate from His countenance as He lookedlovingly upon them. He upbraided them not fortheir faults and failures; words of the deepesttenderness were the last that fell upon their earsfrom the lips of their Lord. With hands outstretchedin blessing, and as if in assurance of Hisprotecting care, He slowly ascended from amongthem, drawn heavenward by a power strongerthan any earthly attraction. As He passed upward,the awe-stricken disciples looked with strainingeyes for the last glimpse of their ascending Lord. Acloud of glory hid Him from their sight; and thewords came back to them as the cloudy chariot of

angels received Him, "Lo, I am with you alway,even unto the end of the world." At the same timethere floated down to them the sweetest and mostjoyous music from the angel choir.

While the disciples were still gazing upward,voices addressed them which sounded like richestmusic. They turned, and saw two angels in theform of men, who spoke to them, saying, "Ye menof Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?this same Jesus, which is taken up from you intoheaven, shall so come in like manner as ye haveseen Him go into heaven."

These angels were of the company that hadbeen waiting in a shining cloud to escort Jesus toHis heavenly home. The most exalted of the angelthrong, they were the two who had come to thetomb at Christ's resurrection, and they had beenwith Him throughout His life on earth. With eagerdesire all heaven had waited for the end of Histarrying in a world marred by the curse of sin. Thetime had now come for the heavenly universe toreceive their King. Did not the two angels long to

join the throng that welcomed Jesus? But insympathy and love for those whom He had left,they waited to give them comfort. "Are they not allministering spirits, sent forth to minister for themwho shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14.

Christ had ascended to heaven in the form ofhumanity. The disciples had beheld the cloudreceive Him. The same Jesus who had walkedand talked and prayed with them; who had brokenbread with them; who had been with them in theirboats on the lake; and who had that very daytoiled with them up the ascent of Olivet,--the sameJesus had now gone to share His Father's throne.And the angels had assured them that the veryOne whom they had seen go up into heaven,would come again even as He had ascended. Hewill come "with clouds; and every eye shall seeHim." "The Lord Himself shall descend fromheaven with a shout, with the voice of theArchangel, and with the trump of God: and thedead in Christ shall rise." "The Son of man shallcome in His glory, and all the holy angels with

Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of Hisglory." Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16;Matthew 25:31. Thus will be fulfilled the Lord'sown promise to His disciples: "If I go and preparea place for you, I will come again, and receive youunto Myself; that where I am, there ye may bealso." John 14:3. Well might the disciples rejoice inthe hope of their Lord's return.

When the disciples went back to Jerusalem,the people looked upon them with amazement.After the trial and crucifixion of Christ, it had beenthought that they would appear downcast andashamed. Their enemies expected to see upontheir faces an expression of sorrow and defeat.Instead of this there was only gladness andtriumph. Their faces were aglow with a happinessnot born of earth. They did not mourn overdisappointed hopes, but were full of praise andthanksgiving to God. With rejoicing they told thewonderful story of Christ's resurrection and Hisascension to heaven, and their testimony wasreceived by many.

The disciples no longer had any distrust of thefuture. They knew that Jesus was in heaven, andthat His sympathies were with them still. Theyknew that they had a friend at the throne of God,and they were eager to present their requests tothe Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awethey bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance,"Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name,He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothingin My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that yourjoy may be full." John 16:23, 24. They extendedthe hand of faith higher and higher, with the mightyargument, "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that isrisen again, who is even at the right hand of God,who also maketh intercession for us." Romans8:34. And Pentecost brought them fullness of joyin the presence of the Comforter, even as Christhad promised.

All heaven was waiting to welcome the Saviourto the celestial courts. As He ascended, He led theway, and the multitude of captives set free at Hisresurrection followed. The heavenly host, with

shouts and acclamations of praise and celestialsong, attended the joyous train.

As they drew near to the city of God, thechallenge is given by the escorting angels,--

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;

And the King of glory shall come in."

Joyfully the waiting sentinels respond,--

"Who is this King of glory?"

This they say, not because they know not whoHe is, but because they would hear the answer ofexalted praise,--

"The Lord strong and mighty,

The Lord mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O ye gates;

Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;

And the King of glory shall come in."

Again is heard the challenge, "Who is this Kingof glory?" for the angels never weary of hearingHis name exalted. The escorting angels makereply,--

"The Lord of hosts;

He is the King of glory." Psalm 24:7-10.

Then the portals of the city of God are openedwide, and the angelic throng sweep through thegates amid a burst of rapturous music.

There is the throne, and around it the rainbowof promise. There are cherubim and seraphim.The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons ofGod, the representatives of the unfallen worlds,

are assembled. The heavenly council before whichLucifer had accused God and His Son, therepresentatives of those sinless realms over whichSatan had thought to establish his dominion,--allare there to welcome the Redeemer. They areeager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify theirKing.

But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannotnow receive the coronet of glory and the royalrobe. He enters into the presence of His Father.He points to His wounded head, the pierced side,the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing theprint of nails. He points to the tokens of Histriumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf,those raised with Him as representatives of thatgreat multitude who shall come forth from thegrave at His second coming. He approaches theFather, with whom there is joy over one sinner thatrepents; who rejoices over one with singing.Before the foundations of the earth were laid, theFather and the Son had united in a covenant toredeem man if he should be overcome by Satan.

They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledgethat Christ should become the surety for thehuman race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. Whenupon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," Headdressed the Father. The compact had been fullycarried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished.I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completedthe work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "Iwill that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, bewith Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.

The voice of God is heard proclaiming thatjustice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ'stoiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted inthe Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenlyangels and the representatives of unfallen worlds,they are declared justified. Where He is, there Hischurch shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together;righteousness and peace have kissed each other."Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son,and the word is given, "Let all the angels of Godworship Him." Hebrews 1:6.

With joy unutterable, rulers and principalitiesand powers acknowledge the supremacy of thePrince of life. The angel host prostrate themselvesbefore Him, while the glad shout fills all the courtsof heaven, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain toreceive power, and riches, and wisdom, andstrength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."Revelation 5:12.

Songs of triumph mingle with the music fromangel harps, till heaven seems to overflow with joyand praise. Love has conquered. The lost is found.Heaven rings with voices in lofty strainsproclaiming, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, andpower, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Revelation5:13.

From that scene of heavenly joy, there comesback to us on earth the echo of Christ's ownwonderful words, "I ascend unto My Father, andyour Father; and to My God, and your God." John20:17. The family of heaven and the family ofearth are one. For us our Lord ascended, and for

us He lives. "Wherefore He is able also to savethem to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,seeing He ever liveth to make intercession forthem." Hebrews 7:25.

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