The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-09
SUNDAY MEDIATION.


indicated above.l
Our study is Christ's memorable prayer on
the night before his crucifxion. We notice its
length, specifcness, tenderness. 1t was the
plea of the Son with the Father. Many times
before Christ had said "My hour has not yet
come" but the last night at length arrived, the
Cruciixion was at hand, the event foreseen for
centuries was on the eve, the terrible struggle
looked forward to for 1871 years was beginning.
Suffering is the way to glory. The death of
Jesus was to magnify God and Christ. The
glory of is an honor to the father: the great
ness of a father is glory to son. 1t was the
wish of Christ that he might be glorifed, not
for personal qualification but rather out of re-
spect to his Father. The glory of both Father
and Son was to be the elevation of humanity.
We are children of God and he has sort of
family pride IN our promotion, goodness, moral
greatness. Heaven is interested in earth. Saliva
tion is a work so honorable to God and the Son
as to elicit the wonder and praise of angels and
all created intellgencies. The cross elevated,
by lifting up humanity, reflects eternal bril-
lance on Deity. When one is himself glorified
he is able 10 glOrify others. Glory spreads feed
ing on glory. 1t is proper subject for prayer.
Each should he anxious for the greatest excel
lencies, so balUmay be the most helpful to
the lowly.
We see the life mission of Christ. 1t was to
secure eternal happiness to mankind. He was
not by his death to make immortal, for we
are eternal in duration of existence. His OBJ
ject was to render such existence joyous. The
result of Christ's work was the salvation of all
who avail themselves of the benefits OF his suf-
fering, living as he did, dying as he did, saeri-
fcing- tOiling, praying as he did. 1t was not
the purpose of God, the Father and the Son, to
drive men to Heaven, but to open it for them
and give them all chance to be saved. There
is no limit of salvation save in the minds of the
lost There is no restriction except sin, a re-
strictiOn necessary to the very existence of
Heaven rs place of purity and happiness.
Christianity is being felt as power over all
the world {" all hesh"). 1t carries life every
where and to everyone.
knowledge is power in the matter of saliva
ton. We must know Christ III order to derive
benefit from his work, example and teachings.
Ignorance can help crime. 1t is always in the
way ofprogress, temporal and spiritual. Christi
anity Is a study; salvation is a science Christ
is Teacher.
There is utility in a correct creed. We must
know the Father as he is, viz, as the only true
God. There is only one God. There may be
many pretenders to Deity. There are many
who believe in false gods; but when we speak
of the true God we always refer to the same
God, and he stands alone as the pure God, the
only true Deity.
Jesus Christ was sent to earth by the Father
Hence he was before the incarnation in Heaven
lie existed before birth In Bethlehem. Christ
often spoke Of having been sent. In the case
of the man blind from birth Chap. 81 he said: :
II must work the works of him that sent me
while it is day; the night cOmeth when no
man can work" IVA, Chap. 81 So Christ was
| sent; sent from Heaven; sent TO earth; sent
with special mission to perform; sent with
authority. Tie was Jealous 10 effect his allotted
| work. He realized his responsibility as being
under obligations TO DO the work which he was
! sent to perform, and to render his account on
| return to Heaven. We see how important is
| the matter OF salvation, when we consider it
engaged the attention of God and could be ac-
| Ompished by his Son only. God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
| whOsoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have eternal life" e.: 49, Christ was sent,
but he did not need an order. He was not
| simply an Agent of the Father. lie was con-
| cerued for human salvation, and as willing to
come as God to send. Think not salvation Is a
trifing concern. 1t was worthy the thought
and effort of Heaven, important and weighty
| enough to engage the mind Of God.
| The presence OF Christ with his Disciples was
| help and protection. Now he was about to
leave them here he became very concerned as
to their welfare. (Ys. IL, 12.) For several
years he had been their Counselor and Guardian.
They were beset by enemies. So far he had
lost but one OF them. Judas had sold his Mas
ter, and was then absent on the very purpose to
deliver Christ TO his foes. Dark days were
coming. We find our Savior so interested in
the future OF his Disciples as TO pray for Hea-
VEINS protection.
But cause of alarm sprung not only from
enemies, but from the very body itself Great
est concern existed in Christ's mind and heart
as to the continuance of fraternal feeling among
his followers. ". H. He would have them as
one as were the Father and the Son. What
agreement that would be! But the more numer
Gus and diverse the persons the greater likeli-
hood or possibility of factions. The Church
has much to fear from within. We are IN the
world yet, ". ii, beset by temptations, gov
erned too much by sel6shness, too prone Il
initiate the ungodly in courses leading to di
vision. There is need that our Savior pray fol
Us. There is need that God help Us. And Their,
is need that each Christian pray for himself Il
be preserved from dissension.
But dangers beset the Disciples not only from
internal disruption, but also from the oppo
nents of Christ enemies Of the Cross, perse
cutOrs of Christianity, men who hated GU
Savior. ". H. men who despised Christians
The devOut differ from the ungodly. The ire
ligious are annoyed by pety. The good make:
the evil more apparent. To be popular will
men of the world persons must be worldly
Judas was lost through covetOusness, worldli
ness. He was product son " of evil per
dition.") (V. l2) The Scriptures had foretol(
his fate, as it has indeed the end of all tn
wicked. The sin of Judas was so great as Il
be specifically noted beforehand in the Oh
| Testament.
1t is pleasure to know another prays 70
you. ". 49, At the time il is gratifying, an'
in memory it is Joy. Many time after tn
Cruciixon the Disciples in their great peril
recalled the dying prayer of their Savior.
Christ rs a Teacher impaired moral iEstruc
ton to his Disciples; showed them Gods viii
rs to their conduct. And evidently they obeye,
the teachings of Christ. AS a consequence
they became different from the mass of thu
people, and as result were prosecuted an,
hated.
There is possibility of being in this wOrl
and yet not of the world of being in the wor
and yet not having the world in ourselves o
, being interested in this life and yet not maxim
existence here an end. Though Christ lived
really earnest life on earth, he still was able {
say, Il am not of the world" (V. H. S
Christ did not pray for the removal of his Dis
cipleS from earth to Heaven, but for their pres
ervation from the evils of this life.
We must keep in mind the reliability of tn
, Bible. (V. l7) 1t is so powerful because S
true. Being powerful and true, it leads it
readers to holiness of life. In addition to tn
Bible we have the advantage of Christ's ex
ample. (V. 49, We are to be like Christ. III
being sanctifed, we must be holy.
We have reason for eternal gratitude in Oh
: fact our SayiOur's prayer did not relate simpl
to his immediate Disciples. but included III
(Y. 20) Everywhere III all trials and ditheul
ties we have comfort in the fact we are th
, objects of Christs intercessiOnS.
4 Christians are to develop grace in their ow
hearts and spread abroad holy influences in tn
Il go -. - ~. 49, ~ MI.