ment and opinions, his disposition to criticize
and condemn. Christ’s motives and movements, often so far above
his comprehension, excited doubt and disapproval, and his own
questionings and ambitions were insinuated to the disciples. Many [92]
of their contentions for supremacy, much of their dissatisfaction with
Christ’s methods, originated with Judas.
Jesus, seeing that to antagonize was but to harden, refrained
from direct conflict. The narrowing selfishness of Judas’ life, Christ
sought to heal through contact with His own self-sacrificing love.
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In His teaching He unfolded principles that struck at the root of
the disciple’s self-centered ambitions. Lesson after lesson was thus
given, and many a time Judas realized that his character had been
portrayed, and his sin pointed out; but he would not yield.
Mercy’s pleading resisted, the impulse of evil bore final sway.
Judas, angered at an implied rebuke and made desperate by the
disappointment of his ambitious dreams, surrendered his soul to the
demon of greed and determined upon the betrayal of his Master.
From the Passover chamber, the joy of Christ’s presence, and the
light of immortal hope, he went forth to his evil work—into the outer
darkness, where hope was not.
“Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed
not, and who should betray Him.” John 6:64. Yet, knowing all, He
had withheld no pleading of mercy or gift of love.
Seeing the danger of Judas, He had brought him close to Himself,
within the inner circle of His chosen and trusted disciples. Day after
day, when the burden lay heaviest upon His own heart, He had
borne the pain of continual contact with that stubborn, suspicious,
brooding spirit; He had witnessed and labored to counteract among
[93] His disciples that continuous, secret, and subtle antagonism. And
all this that no possible saving influence might be lacking to that
imperiled soul!
“Many waters cannot quench love,
Neither can the floods drown it;” “
For love is strong as death.”
Song of Solomon
8:7, 6.
So far as Judas himself was concerned, Christ’s work of love had
been without avail. But not so as regards his fellow disciples. To
them it was a lesson of lifelong influence. Ever would its example
of tenderness and long-suffering mold their intercourse with the
tempted and the erring. And it had other lessons. At the ordination
of the Twelve the disciples had greatly desired that Judas should
become one of their number, and they had counted his accession
an event of much promise to the apostolic band. He had come
more into contact with the world than they, he was a man of good
Chapter 9—An Illustration of His Methods 69
address, of discernment and executive ability, and, having a high
estimate of his own qualifications, he had led the disciples to hold
him in the same regard. But the methods he desired to introduce
into Christ’s work were based upon worldly principles and were
controlled by worldly policy. They looked to the securing of worldly
recognition and honor—to the obtaining of the kingdom of this
world. The working out of these desires in the life of Judas, helped
the disciples to understand the antagonism between the principle
of self-aggrandizement and Christ’s principle of humility and selfsacrifice—the
principle of the spiritual kingdom. In the fate of Judas
they saw the end to which self-serving tends.
For these disciples the mission of Christ finally accomplished
its purpose. Little by little His example and His lessons of self- [94]
abnegation molded their characters. His death destroyed their hope
of worldly greatness. The fall of Peter, the apostasy of Judas, their
own failure in forsaking Christ in His anguish and peril, swept
away their self-sufficiency. They saw their own weakness; they saw
something of the greatness of the work committed to them; they felt
their need of their Master’s guidance at every step.
They knew that His personal presence was no longer to be with
them, and they recognized, as they had never recognized before, the
value of the opportunities that had been theirs to walk and talk with
the Sent of God. Many of His lessons, when spoken, they had not
appreciated or understood; now they longed to recall these lessons,
to hear again His words. With what joy now came back to them His
assurance:
“It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him.”
“All things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto
you.” And “the Comforter, ... whom the Father will send in My
name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 16:7; 15:15;
14:26.
“All things that the Father hath are Mine.” “When He, the Spirit
of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.... He shall receive
of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 16:15, 13, 14.
The disciples had seen Christ ascend from among them on the
Mount of Olives. And as the heavens received Him, there had come
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back to them His parting promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even
[95] unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20.
They knew that His sympathies were with them still. They knew
that they had a representative, an advocate, at the throne of God.
In the name of Jesus they presented their petitions, repeating His
promise, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will
give it you.” John 16:23.
Higher and higher they extended the hand of faith, with the
mighty argument, “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us.” Romans 8:34.
Faithful to his promise, the Divine One, exalted in the heavenly
courts, imparted of His fullness to His followers on earth. His
enthronement at God’s right hand was signalized by the outpouring
of the Spirit upon His disciples.
By the work of Christ these disciples had been led to feel their
need of the Spirit; under the Spirit’s teaching they received their
final preparation and went forth to their lifework.
No longer were they ignorant and uncultured. No longer were
they a collection of independent units or of discordant and conflicting
elements. No longer were their hopes set on worldly greatness. They
were of “one accord,” of one mind and one soul. Christ filled their
thoughts. The advancement of His kingdom was their aim. In mind
and character they had become like their Master; and men “took
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knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13.
Then was there such a revelation of the glory of Christ as had
never before been witnessed by mortal man. Multitudes who had
reviled His name and despised His power confessed themselves
disciples of the Crucified. Through the co-operation of the divine
[96] Spirit the labors of the humble men whom Christ had chosen stirred
the world. To every nation under heaven was the gospel carried in a
single generation.
The same Spirit that in His stead was
