hould be fellow heirs” with the Jews and “partakers of His
promise in Christ by the gospel.” Ephesians 3:6. He rewarded the
faith of the centurion at Capernaum; He preached to the inhabitants
of Sychar; and on His visit to Phoenicia, He healed the daughter
of the Canaanite woman. Among those whom many regarded as
unworthy of salvation, there were souls hungering for truth.
Thus Christ sought to teach the disciples that in God’s kingdom
there are no territorial lines, no caste, no aristocracy. They must bear
to all nations the message of a Saviour’s love. But not until later did
they realize in its fullness that God “made of one blood all nations
of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” Acts 17:26.
These first disciples represented widely varied types of character.
Differing in natural characteristics, they needed to come into unity.
To this end Christ sought to bring them into unity with Himself. His
burden for them was expressed in His prayer to His Father, “That
they all may be one; ... that the world may know that Thou hast sent
Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” John 17:21-23.
He knew that truth would conquer in the battle with evil, and that
the blood-stained banner would one day wave triumphantly over His
followers.
As Christ realized that soon He must leave His disciples to carry [14]
on the work, He sought to prepare them for the future. He knew
that they would suffer persecution, be cast out of the synagogues,
and be thrown into prison. Some would suffer death. 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.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” He said. “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.” John 14:1-3. When I go away I shall still work earnestly
for you. I go to My Father and yours to cooperate with Him in your
behalf.
“He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall