the desire of ages-第75部分

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〃And　He　said　unto　them；　Come　ye　yourselves　apart　into　a　desert　place；　and　rest　awhile。〃　Christ　is　full　of　tenderness　and　compassion　for　all　in　His　service。　He　would　show　His　disciples　that　God　does　not　require　sacrifice；　but　mercy。　They　had　been　putting　their　whole　souls　into　labor　for　the　people；　and　this　was　exhausting　their　physical　and　mental　strength。　It　was　their　duty　to　rest。

As　the　disciples　had　seen　the　success　of　their　labors；　they　were　in　danger　of　taking　credit　to　themselves；　in　danger　of　cherishing　spiritual　pride；　and　thus　falling　under　Satan's　temptations。　A　great　work　was　before　them；　and　first　of　all　they　must　learn　that　their　strength　was　not　in　self；　but　in　God。　Like　Moses　in　the　wilderness　of　Sinai；　like　David　among　the　hills　of　Judea；　or　Elijah　by　the　brook　Cherith；　the　disciples　needed　to　come　apart　from　the　scenes　of　their　busy　activity；　to　commune　with　Christ；　with　nature；　and　with　their　own　hearts。

While　the　disciples　had　been　absent　on　their　missionary　tour；　Jesus　had　visited　other　towns　and　villages；　preaching　the　gospel　of　the　kingdom。　It　was　about　this　time　that　He　received　tidings　of　the　Baptist's　death。　This　event　brought　vividly　before　Him　the　end　to　which　His　own　steps　were　tending。　The　shadows　were　gathering　thickly　about　His　path。　Priests　and　rabbis　were　watching　to　compass　His　death；　spies　hung　upon　His　steps；　and　on　every　hand　plots　for　His　ruin　were　multiplying。　News　of　the　preaching　of　the　apostles　throughout　Galilee　reached　Herod；　calling　his　attention　to　Jesus　and　His　work。　〃This　is　John　the　Baptist；〃　he　said；　〃he　is　risen　from　the　dead；〃　and　he　expressed　a　desire　to　see　Jesus。　Herod　was　in　constant　fear　lest　a　revolution　might　be　secretly　carried　forward；　with　the　object　of　unseating　him　from　the　throne；　and　breaking　the　Roman　yoke　from　the　Jewish　nation。　Among　the　people　the　spirit

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of　discontent　and　insurrection　was　rife。　It　was　evident　that　Christ's　public　labors　in　Galilee　could　not　be　long　continued。　The　scenes　of　His　suffering　were　drawing　near；　and　He　longed　to　be　apart　for　a　season　from　the　confusion　of　the　multitude。

With　saddened　hearts　the　disciples　of　John　had　borne　his　mutilated　body　to　its　burial。　Then　they　〃went　and　told　Jesus。〃　These　disciples　had　been　envious　of　Christ　when　He　seemed　to　be　drawing　the　people　away　from　John。　They　had　sided　with　the　Pharisees　in　accusing　Him　when　He　sat　with　the　publicans　at　Matthew's　feast。　They　had　doubted　His　divine　mission　because　He　did　not　set　the　Baptist　at　liberty。　But　now　that　their　teacher　was　dead；　and　they　longed　for　consolation　in　their　great　sorrow；　and　for　guidance　as　to　their　future　work；　they　came　to　Jesus；　and　united　their　interest　with　His。　They　too　needed　a　season　of　quiet　for　communion　with　the　Saviour。

Near　Bethsaida；　at　the　northern　end　of　the　lake；　was　a　lonely　region；　now　beautiful　with　the　fresh　green　of　spring；　that　offered　a　welcome　retreat　to　Jesus　and　His　disciples。　For　this　place　they　set　out；　going　in　their　boat　across　the　water。　Here　they　would　be　away　from　the　thoroughfares　of　travel；　and　the　bustle　and　agitation　of　the　city。　The　scenes　of　nature　were　in　themselves　a　rest；　a　change　grateful　to　the　senses。　Here　they　could　listen　to　the　words　of　Christ　without　hearing　the　angry　interruptions；　the　retorts　and　accusations　of　the　scribes　and　Pharisees。　Here　they　could　enjoy　a　short　season　of　precious　fellowship　in　the　society　of　their　Lord。

The　rest　which　Christ　and　His　disciples　took　was　not　self…indulgent　rest。　The　time　they　spent　in　retirement　was　not　devoted　to　pleasure　seeking。　They　talked　together　regarding　the　work　of　God；　and　the　possibility　of　bringing　greater　efficiency　to　the　work。　The　disciples　had　been　with　Christ；　and　could　understand　Him；　to　them　He　need　not　talk　in　parables。　He　corrected　their　errors；　and　made　plain　to　them　the　right　way　of　approaching　the　people。　He　opened　more　fully　to　them　the　precious　treasures　of　divine　truth。　They　were　vitalized　by　divine　power；　and　inspired　with　hope　and　courage。

Though　Jesus　could　work　miracles；　and　had　empowered　His　disciples　to　work　miracles；　He　directed　His　worn　servants　to　go　apart　into　the　country　and　rest。　When　He　said　that　the　harvest　was　great；　and　the　laborers　were　few；　He　did　not　urge　upon　His　disciples　the　necessity　of　ceaseless　toil；　but　said；　〃Pray　ye　therefore　the　Lord　of　the　harvest；　that　He　will　send　forth　laborers　into　His　harvest。〃　Matt。　9：38。　God　has

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appointed　to　every　man　his　work；　according　to　his　ability　（Eph。　4：11…13）；　and　He　would　not　have　a　few　weighted　with　responsibilities　while　others　have　no　burden；　no　travail　of　soul。

Christ's　words　of　compassion　are　spoken　to　His　workers　today　just　as　surely　as　they　were　spoken　to　His　disciples。　〃Come　ye　yourselves　apart；　。　。　。　and　rest　awhile；〃　He　says　to　those　who　are　worn　and　weary。　It　is　not　wise　to　be　always　under　the　strain　of　work　and　excitement；　even　in　ministering　to　men's　spiritual　needs；　for　in　this　way　personal　piety　is　neglected；　and　the　powers　of　mind　and　soul　and　body　are　overtaxed。　Self…denial　is　required　of　the　disciples　of　Christ；　and　sacrifices　must　be　made；　but　care　must　also　be　exercised　lest　through　their　overzeal　Satan　take　advantage　of　the　weakness　of　humanity；　and　the　work　of　God　be　marred。

In　the　estimation　of　the　rabbis　it　was　the　sum　of　religion　to　be　always　in　a　bustle　of　activity。　They　depended　upon　some　outward　performance　to　show　their　superior　piety。　Thus　they　separated　their　souls　from　God；　and　built　themselves　up　in　self…sufficiency。　The　same　dangers　still　exist。　As　activity　increases　and　men　become　successful　in　doing　any　work　for　God；　there　is　danger　of　trusting　to　human　plans　and　methods。　There　is　a　tendency　to　pray　less；　and　to　have　less　faith。　Like　the　disciples；　we　are　in　danger　of　losing　sight　of　our　dependence　on　God；　and　seeking　to　make　a　savior　of　our　activity。　We　need　to　look　constantly　to　Jesus；　realizing　that　it　is　His　power　which　does　the　work。　While　we　are　to　labor　earnestly　for　the　salvation　of　the　lost；　we　must　also　take　time　for　meditation；　for　prayer；　and　for　the　study　of　the　word　of　God。　Only　the　work　accomplished　with　much　prayer；　and　sanctified　by　the　merit　of　Christ；　will　in　the　end　prove　to　have　been　efficient　for　good。

No　other　life　was　ever　so　crowded　with　labor　and　responsibility　as　was　that　of　Jesus；　yet　how　often　He　was　found　in　prayer！　How　constant　was　His　communion　with　God！　Again　and　again　in　the　history　of　His　earthly　life　are　found　records　such　as　these：　〃Rising　up　a　great　while　before　day；　He　went　out；　and　departed　into　a　solitary　place；　and　there　prayed。〃　〃Great　multitudes　came　together　to　hear；　and　to　be　healed　by　Him　of　their　infirmities。　And　He　withdrew　Himself　into　the　wilderness；　and　prayed。〃　〃And　it　came　to　pass　in　those　days；　that　He　went　out　into　a　mountain　to　pray；　and　continued　all　night　in　prayer　to　God。〃　Mark　1：35；　Luke　5：15；　16；　6：12。

In　a　life　wholly　devoted　to　the　good　of　others；　the　Saviour　found

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it　necessary　to　withdraw　from　the　thoroughfares　of　travel　and　from　the　throng　that　followed　Him　day　after　day。　He　must　turn　aside　from　a　life　of　ceaseless　activity　and　contact　with　human　needs；　to　seek　retirement　and　unbroken　communion　with　His　Father。　As　one　with　us；　a　sharer　in　our　needs　and　weaknesses；　He　was　wholly　dependent　upon　God；　and　in　the　secret　place　of　prayer　He　sought　divine　strength；　that　He　might　go　forth　braced　for　duty　and　trial。　In　a　world　of　sin　Jesus　endured　struggles　and　torture　of　soul。　In　communion　with　God　He　could　unburden　the　sorrows　that　were　crushing　Him。　Here　He　found　comfort　and　joy。

In　Christ　the　cry　of　humanity　reached　the　Father　of　infinite　pity。　As　a　man　He　supplicated　the　throne　of　God　till　His　humanity　was　charged　with　a　heavenly　current　that　should　connect　humanity　with　divinity。　Through　continual　communion　He　received　life　from　God；　that　He　might　impart　life　to　the　world。　His　experience　is　to　be　ours。

〃Come　ye　yourselves　apart；〃　He　bids　us。　If　we　would　give　heed　to　His　word；　we　should　be　stronger　and　more　useful。　The　disciples　sought　Jesus；　and　told　Him　all　things；　and　He　encouraged　and　instructed　them。　If　today　we　would　take　time　to　go　to　Jesus　and　tell　Him　our　needs；　we　should　not　be　disappointed；　He　would　be　at　our　right　hand　to　help　us。　We　need　more　simplicity；　more　trust　and　confidence　in　our　Saviour。　He　whose　name　is　called　〃The　mighty　God；　The　everlasting　Father；　The　Prince　of　Peace；〃　He　of　whom　it　is　written；　〃The　government　shall　be　upon　His　shoulder；〃　is　the　Wonderful　Counselor。　We　are　invited　to　ask　wisdom　of　Him。　He　〃giveth　to　all　men　liberally；　and　upbraideth　not。〃　Isa。　9：6；　James　1：5。

In　all　who　are　under　the　training　of　God　is　to　be　revealed　a　life　that　is　not　in　harmony　with　the　world；　its　customs；　or　its　practices；　and　everyone　needs　to　have　a　personal　experience　in　obtaining　a　knowledge　of　the　will　of　God。　We　must　individually　hear　Him　speaking　to　the　heart。　When　every　other　voice　is　hushed；　and　in　quietness　we　wait　before　Him；　the　silence　of　the　soul　makes　more　distinct　the　voice　of　God。　He　bids　us；　〃Be　still；　and　know　that　I　am　G