68
Education
For these disciples the mission of Christ finally accomplished its
purpose. Little by little His example and His lessons of self-abnegation
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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
back to them His parting promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world.”
Matthew 28:20
.
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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
.