702
The Desire of Ages
was stirred by the thrilling events of the past few weeks, the preaching
of the gospel would make the deepest impression.
But the work was not to stop here. It was to be extended to the
earth’s remotest bounds. To His disciples Christ said, You have been
witnesses of My life of self-sacrifice in behalf of the world. You have
witnessed My labors for Israel. Although they would not come unto
Me that they might have life, although priests and rulers have done to
Me as they listed, although they have rejected Me as the Scriptures
foretold, they shall have still another opportunity of accepting the Son
of God. You have seen that all who come to Me, confessing their sins,
I freely receive. Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise cast out. All
who will, may be reconciled to God, and receive everlasting life. To
you, My disciples, I commit this message of mercy. It is to be given
to Israel first, and then to all nations, tongues, and peoples. It is to be
given to Jews and Gentiles. All who believe are to be gathered into
one church.
Through the gift of the Holy Spirit the disciples were to receive a
marvelous power. Their testimony was to be confirmed by signs and
wonders. Miracles would be wrought, not only by the apostles, but
by those who received their message. Jesus said, “In My name shall
they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Mark 16:17,
18
.
At that time poisoning was often practiced. Unscrupulous men did
not hesitate to remove by this means those who stood in the way of
their ambition. Jesus knew that the life of His disciples would thus be
imperiled. Many would think it doing God service to put His witnesses
to death. He therefore promised them protection from this danger.
The disciples were to have the same power which Jesus had to heal
“all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”
By healing in His name the diseases of the body, they would testify to
His power for the healing of the soul.
Matthew 4:23
;
9:6
. And a new
endowment was now promised. The disciples were to preach among
other nations, and they would receive power to speak other tongues.
The apostles and their associates were unlettered men, yet through the
outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, their speech, whether