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214
From Heaven With Love
steps were tending. Priests and rabbis were watching, spies hung
upon His steps, and plots for His ruin were multiplying.
News reached Herod of Jesus and His work. “This is John the
Baptist,” he said; “he is risen from the dead”; and he expressed a de-
sire to see Jesus. Herod was in constant fear lest a revolution unseat
him and break the Roman yoke from the Jewish nation. Among the
people the spirit of insurrection was rife. It was evident that Christ’s
public labors in Galilee could not long continue, 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 mu-
tilated body to its burial. Then “they went and told Jesus.” These
disciples had been envious of Christ and had doubted His divine
mission because He did not set the Baptist at liberty. But now 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.
At the northern end of the lake was a lonely region, beautiful
with the fresh green of spring. For this place they set out in their boat.
The scenes of nature were in themselves a rest, grateful to the senses.
Here they could listen to Christ without the angry interruptions,
retorts, and accusations of the scribes and Pharisees.
Rest Refreshed Them
The time Christ and His disciples spent in retirement was not
devoted to pleasure seeking. They talked together regarding the work
of God and the possibility of greater efficiency. Christ corrected
their errors and made plain to them the right way of approaching
the people. They were vitalized by divine power, and inspired with
hope and courage.
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When Jesus said that the harvest was great and the laborers
few, He did not urge ceaseless toil, but said, “Pray ye therefore
the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His
harvest.”
Matthew 9:38
. God 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,
“Come ye yourselves apart ... and rest a while.” It is not wise to
be always under the strain of ministering to men’s spiritual needs,