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The Desire of Ages
among the chief of the apostles; but he hardened his heart when his
defects were pointed out, and in pride and rebellion chose his own
selfish ambitions, and thus unfitted himself for the work that God
would have given him to do.
All the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His
service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek
and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He
and his brother were called “the sons of thunder.” While they were
with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and
combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all
in the beloved disciple. He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the
kingdom of God. But day by day, in contrast with his own violent
spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard
His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine
influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Saviour’s
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words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ
and to bear His burden.
Jesus reproved His disciples, He warned and cautioned them; but
John and his brethren did not leave Him; they chose Jesus, notwith-
standing the reproofs. The Saviour did not withdraw from them be-
cause of their weakness and errors. They continued to the end to share
His trials and to learn the lessons of His life. By beholding Christ,
they became transformed in character.
The apostles differed widely in habits and disposition. There were
the publican, Levi-Matthew, and the fiery zealot Simon, the uncom-
promising hater of the authority of Rome; the generous, impulsive
Peter, and the mean-spirited Judas; Thomas, truehearted, yet timid and
fearful, Philip, slow of heart, and inclined to doubt, and the ambitious,
outspoken sons of Zebedee, with their brethren. These were brought
together, with their different faults, all with inherited and cultivated
tendencies to evil; but in and through Christ they were to dwell in
the family of God, learning to become one in faith, in doctrine, in
spirit. They would have their tests, their grievances, their differences
of opinion; but while Christ was abiding in the heart, there could be no
dissension. His love would lead to love for one another; the lessons of
the Master would lead to the harmonizing of all differences, bringing
the disciples into unity, till they would be of one mind and one judg-