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！
revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God。 Wherever hearts were open to
receive the divine message； He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation。
He did not command the disciples to do this or that； but said； 〃Follow Me。〃
On His journeys through country and cities； He took them with Him； that they
might see how He taught the people。 They traveled with Him from place to
place。 They shared His frugal fare； and like Him were sometimes hungry and
often weary。 On the crowded streets； by the lakeside； in the lonely desert；
they were with Him。 They saw Him in every phase of life。
It was at the ordination of the Twelve that the first step was taken in the
organization of the church that after Christ's departure was to carry on His
work on the earth。 Of this ordination the record says； 〃He goeth up into a
mountain； and calleth unto Him whom He would： and they came unto Him。 And He
ordained twelve； that they should be with Him； and that He might send them
forth to preach。〃 Mark 3：13； 14。
Look upon the touching scene。 Behold the Majesty of heaven surrounded by the
Twelve whom He has chosen。 He is about to set them apart for their work。 By
these feeble agencies； through His word and Spirit； He designs to place
salvation within the reach of all。
With gladness and rejoicing； God and the angels beheld this scene。 The
Father knew that from these men the light of heaven would shine forth； that
the words spoken by
19
them as they witnessed for His Son； would echo from generation to generation
till the close of time。
The disciples were to go forth as Christ's witnesses； to declare to the
world what they had seen and heard of Him。 Their office was the most
important to which human beings had ever been called； second only to that of
Christ Himself。 They were to be workers together with God for the saving of
men。 As in the Old Testament the twelve patriarchs stood as representatives
of Israel； so the twelve apostles stand as representatives of the gospel
church。
During His earthly ministry Christ began to break down the partition wall
between Jew and Gentile； and to preach salvation to all mankind。 Though He
was a Jew； He mingled freely with the Samaritans； setting at nought the
Pharisaic customs of the Jews with regard to this despised people。 He slept
under their roofs； ate at their tables； and taught in their streets。
The Saviour longed to unfold to His disciples the truth regarding the
breaking down of the 〃middle wall of partition〃 between Israel and the other
nationsthe truth that 〃the Gentiles should be fellow heirs〃 with the Jews
and 〃partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel。〃 Ephesians 2：14； 3：6。
This truth was revealed in part at the time when He rewarded the faith of
the centurion at Capernaum； and also when He preached the gospel to the
inhabitants of Sychar。 Still more plainly was it revealed on the occasion of
His visit to Phoenicia； when He healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman。
These experiences helped the disciples to understand that among those whom
many regarded
20
as unworthy of salvation； there were souls hungering for the light of truth。
Thus Christ sought to teach the disciples the truth that in God's kingdom
there are no territorial lines； no caste； no aristocracy； that they must go
to all nations； bearing to them the message of a Saviour's love。 But not
until later did they realize in all its fullness that God 〃hath made of one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth； and hath
determined the times before appointed； and the bounds of their habitation；
that they should seek the Lord； if haply they might feel after Him； and find
Him； though He be not far from every one of us。〃 Acts 17：26； 27。
In these first disciples was presented marked diversity。 They were to be the
world's teachers； and they represented widely varied types of character。 In
order successfully to carry forward the work to which they had been called；
these men； differing in natural characteristics and in habits of life；
needed to come into unity of feeling； thought； and action。 This unity it was
Christ's object to secure。 To this end He sought to bring them into unity
with Himself。 The burden of His labor for them is expressed in His prayer to
His Father； 〃That they all may be one； as Thou； Father； art in Me； and I in
Thee； that they also may be one in Us；〃 〃that the world may know that Thou
has sent Me； and hast loved them； as Thou hast loved Me。〃 John 17：21； 23。
His constant prayer for them was that they might be sanctified through the
truth； and He prayed with assurance； knowing that an Almighty decree had
been given before the world was
21
made。 He knew that the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to all
nations for a witness； He knew that truth armed with the omnipotence of the
Holy Spirit； would conquer in the battle with evil； and that the
bloodstained banner would one day wave triumphantly over His followers。
As Christ's earthly ministry drew to a close； and He realized that He must
soon leave His disciples to carry on the work without His personal
supervision； He sought to encourage them and to prepare them for the future。
He did not deceive them with false hopes。 As an open book He read what was
to be。 He knew He was about to be separated from them； to leave them as
sheep among wolves。 He knew that they would suffer persecution； that they
would be cast out of the synagogues； and would be thrown into prison。 He
knew that for witnessing to Him as the Messiah； some of them would suffer
death。 And something of this He told them。 In speaking of their future； He
was plain and definite； that in their coming trial they might remember His
words and be strengthened to believe in Him as the Redeemer。
He spoke to them also words of hope and courage。 〃Let not your heart be
troubled；〃 He said； 〃ye believe in God； believe also in Me。 In My Father's
house are many mansions： if it were not so； I would have told you。 I go to
prepare a place for you。 And if I go and prepare a place for you； I will
come again； and receive you unto Myself； that where I am； there ye may be
also。 And whither I go ye know； and the way ye know。〃 John 14：1…4。 For your
sake I came into the world； for you I have been working。
22
When I go away I shall still work earnestly for you。 I came to the world to
reveal Myself to you； that you might believe。 I go to My Father and yours to
co…operate with Him in your behalf。
〃Verily； verily； I say unto you； He that believeth on Me； the works that I
do shall he do also； and greater works than these shall he do； because I go
unto My Father。〃 John 14：12。 By this； Christ did not mean that the disciples
would make more exalted exertions than He had made； but that their work
would have greater magnitude。 He did not refer merely to miracle working；
but to all that would take place under the agency of the Holy Spirit。 〃When
the Comforter is come；〃 He said； 〃whom I will send unto you from the Father；
even the Spirit of truth； which proceedeth f