按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
forth fruit as workers together with Christ must first fall into the ground and die。 The life must be cast into the furrow of the world's need。 Self…love； self…interest； must perish。 And the law of self…sacrifice is the law of self…preservation。 The husbandman preserves his grain by casting it away。 So in human life。 To give is to live。 The life that will be preserved is the life that is freely given in service to God and man。 Those who for
624
Christ's sake sacrifice their life in this world will keep it unto life eternal。
The life spent on self is like the grain that is eaten。 It disappears； but there is no increase。 A man may gather all he can for self； he may live and think and plan for self； but his life passes away； and he has nothing。 The law of self…serving is the law of self…destruction。
〃If any man serve Me；〃 said Jesus； 〃let him follow Me； and where I am； there shall also My servant be： if any man serve Me； him will My Father honor。〃 All who have borne with Jesus the cross of sacrifice will be sharers with Him of His glory。 It was the joy of Christ in His humiliation and pain that His disciples should be glorified with Him。 They are the fruit of His self…sacrifice。 The outworking in them of His own character and spirit is His reward； and will be His joy throughout eternity。 This joy they share with Him as the fruit of their labor and sacrifice is seen in other hearts and lives。 They are workers together with Christ； and the Father will honor them as He honors His Son。
The message of the Greeks； foreshadowing as it did the gathering in of the Gentiles； brought to the mind of Jesus His entire mission。 The work of redemption passed before Him； from the time when in heaven the plan was laid； to the death that was now so near at hand。 A mysterious cloud seemed to enshroud the Son of God。 Its gloom was felt by those near Him。 He sat rapt in thought。 At last the silence was broken by His mournful voice； 〃Now is My soul troubled； and what shall I say？ Father； save Me from this hour？〃 In anticipation Christ was already drinking the cup of bitterness。 His humanity shrank from the hour of abandonment； when to all appearance He would be deserted even by God； when all would see Him stricken； smitten of God； and afflicted。 He shrank from public exposure； from being treated as the worst of criminals； from a shameful and dishonored death。 A foreboding of His conflict with the powers of darkness； a sense of the awful burden of human transgression； and the Father's wrath because of sin caused the spirit of Jesus to faint； and the pallor of death to overspread His countenance。
Then came divine submission to His Father's will。 〃For this cause；〃 He said； 〃came I unto this hour。 Father； glorify Thy name。〃 Only through the death of Christ could Satan's kingdom be overthrown。 Only thus could man be redeemed； and God be glorified。 Jesus consented to the agony； He accepted the sacrifice。 The Majesty of heaven consented to suffer as the Sin Bearer。 〃Father； glorify Thy name；〃 He said。 As
625
Christ spoke these words； a response came from the cloud which hovered above His head： 〃I have both glorified it； and will glorify it again。〃 Christ's whole life； from the manger to the time when these words were spoken； had glorified God； and in the coming trial His divine…human sufferings would indeed glorify His Father's name。
As the voice was heard； a light darted from the cloud； and encircled Christ； as if the arms of Infinite Power were thrown about Him like a wall of fire。 The people beheld this scene with terror and amazement。 No one dared to speak。 With silent lips and bated breath all stood with eyes fixed upon Jesus。 The testimony of the Father having been given； the cloud lifted； and scattered in the heavens。 For the time the visible communion between the Father and the Son was ended。
〃The people therefore； that stood by； and heard it； said that it thundered： others said； An angel spake to Him。〃 But the inquiring Greeks saw the cloud； heard the voice； comprehended its meaning； and discerned Christ indeed； to them He was revealed as the Sent of God。
The voice of God had been heard at the baptism of Jesus at the beginning of His ministry； and again at His transfiguration on the mount。 Now at the close of His ministry it was heard for the third time； by a larger number of persons； and under peculiar circumstances。 Jesus had just spoken the most solemn truth regarding the condition of the Jews。 He had made His last appeal； and pronounced their doom。 Now God again set His seal to the mission of His Son。 He recognized the One whom Israel had rejected。 〃This voice came not because of Me；〃 said Jesus； 〃but for your sakes。〃 It was the crowning evidence of His Messiahship； the signal from the Father that Jesus had spoken the truth； and was the Son of God。
〃Now is the judgment of this world；〃 Christ continued； 〃now shall the prince of this world be cast out。 And I； if I be lifted up from the earth； will draw all unto Me。 This He said； signifying what death He should die。〃 This is the crisis of the world。 If I become the propitiation for the sins of men； the world will be lighted up。 Satan's hold upon the souls of men will be broken。 The defaced image of God will be restored in humanity； and a family of believing saints will finally inherit the heavenly home。 This is the result of Christ's death。 The Saviour is lost in contemplation of the scene of triumph called up before Him。 He sees the cross； the cruel； ignominious cross； with all its attending horrors； blazing with glory。
626
But the work of human redemption is not all that is accomplished by the cross。 The love of God is manifested to the universe。 The prince of this world is cast out。 The accusations which Satan has brought against God are refuted。 The reproach which he has cast upon heaven is forever removed。 Angels as well as men are drawn to the Redeemer。 〃I； if I be lifted up from the earth；〃 He said； 〃will draw all unto Me。〃
Many people were round about Christ as He spoke these words； and one said； 〃We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever： and how sayest Thou； The Son of man must be lifted up？ who is this Son of man？ Then Jesus said unto them； Yet a little while is the light with you。 Walk while ye have the light； lest darkness come upon you： for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth。 While ye have light； believe in the light； that ye may be the children of light。〃
〃But though He had done so many miracles before them； yet they believed not on Him。〃 They had once asked the Saviour； 〃What sign showest Thou then； that we may see； and believe Thee？〃 John 6：30。 Innumerable signs had been given； but they had closed their eyes and hardened their hearts。 Now that the Father Himself had spoken； and they could ask for no further sign； they still refused to believe。
〃Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him； but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him； lest they should be put out of the synagogue。〃 They loved the praise of men rather than the approval of God。 To save themselves from reproach and shame； they denied Christ