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252
From Heaven With Love
But the disciples did not comprehend His words. Their eyes
were fixed on the poverty, humiliation, and suffering. Were they
not to see their Lord exalted to the throne of David? Could it be
that Christ was to be despised, rejected, and put to death? Sadness
oppressed their hearts, for it seemed incomprehensible that the Son
of God should be subjected to such cruel humiliation. Why should
He voluntarily go to Jerusalem to meet the treatment He was there to
receive? How could He resign Himself to such a fate, and leave them
in greater darkness than they were groping in before He revealed
Himself to them?
In the region of Caesarea Philippi, the disciples reasoned that
Christ had nothing to fear from the hatred of the Jews or from the
power of the Romans. Why not work there? Why give Himself up
to death? If He was to die, how could His kingdom be established
so firmly that the gates of hell should not prevail against it? This
was indeed a mystery.
They were even now journeying toward the city where all their
hopes were to be crushed. They talked together in low, sorrowful
tones in regard to the future. Perhaps some unforeseen circumstance
might avert the doom which seemed to await their Lord. Thus they
doubted, hoped, and feared for six long, gloomy days.
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