Latest / Philosophy and Faith / 83 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould

Transcript

83 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

• 0:00
  The walk to Amaeis. Late in the afternoon of the day of the Resurrection,
• 0:06
  two of the disciples were on their way to Ammaeas, a little town
• 0:09
  eight miles from Jerusalem. These disciples had had no prominent place in Christ's work,
• 0:14
  but they were earnest believers in him. They had come to the city
• 0:17
  to keep the passover and were greatly perplexed by the events that had recently taken
• 0:21
  place. They had heard the news of the morning in regard to the removal
• 0:25
  of Christ's body from the tomb, and also the report of women who had
• 0:29
  seen the angels and had met Jesus. They were now returning to their homes
• 0:33
  to meditate and pray. Sadly, they pursued their evening walk, talking over
• 0:38
  the scenes of the trial and the crucifixion. Never before had they been so
• 0:42
  utterly disenheartened, hopeless, and faithless. They were walking in the shadow of
• 0:47
  the Cross. They had not advanced far on their journey when they were joined
• 0:51
  by a stranger, but they were so absorbed in their gloom and disappointment that
• 0:55
  they did not observe him closely. They continued their conversation, expressing the thought
• 1:00
  of their hearts They were reasoning in regard to the lessons that Christ had given,
• 1:04
  which they seemed unable to comprehend. As they talked of the events that
• 1:07
  had taken place, Jesus longed to comfort them. He had seen their grief.
• 1:12
  He understood the conflicting, perplexing ideas that brought to their minds, the
• 1:17
  thought, can this man who suffered himself to be so humiliated be the Christ?
• 1:23
  Their grief could not be restrained, and they wept. Jesus knew that
• 1:26
  their hearts were bound up with him in love, and he longed to wipe
• 1:30
  away their tears and filled them with joy and gladness. But he must first
• 1:34
  give them lessons they would never forget. He said, unto them, what
• 1:38
  manner of communications are these? That you have one to another? As ye
• 1:42
  walk and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopus,
• 1:47
  answering, said, unto him, art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem,
• 1:51
  and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these
• 1:53
  days? They told him of their disappointment and regard to their master, which
• 1:57
  was a prophet mighty indeed and word before God and all the people. But
• 2:01
  the chief priest and our rulers, they said, delivered him to be condemned
• 2:06
  to death, and have crucified him with hearts sore, with disappointment, and
• 2:10
  with quivering lips. They added, we trusted that it had been he which
• 2:14
  should have redeemed isgral and beside all this to day's the third day. Since
• 2:19
  these things were done, strange that the disciples did not remember Christ's words and
• 2:24
  realized that he had foretold the events which had come to pass. They did
• 2:28
  not realize that the last part of his disclosure would be just as verily fulfilled
• 2:32
  as the first part, that the third day he would rise again. This
• 2:37
  was the part they should have remembered. The priest and rulers did not forget
• 2:40
  this. On the day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief
• 2:45
  priest and pharisees came together, and a pilot saying, sir, we remember
• 2:47
  that the deceiver said, while he was yet alive, after three days have
• 2:52
  will rise again Matthew twenty seven sixty two sixty three. But the disciples did
• 2:58
  not remember these words. Then he said, unto them, o fools and
• 3:02
  slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken, ought not Christ
• 3:07
  to have suffered these sayings and to enter into his glory. The disciples wondered
• 3:12
  who this stranger could be that he should penetrate to their very souls and speak
• 3:15
  with such earnestness, tenderness, and sympathy, and with such hopefulness. For
• 3:21
  the first time since Christ's betrayal, they began to feel hopeful. Often they
• 3:25
  looked earnestly at their companion and thought that his words were just the words that
• 3:30
  Christ would have spoken. They were filled with amazement, and their hearts began
• 3:35
  to throb with joyful expectation. Beginning at Moses, the very alpha of Bible
• 3:40
  history, Christ expounded in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Had he
• 3:46
  first made himself known to them, their hearts would have been satisfied. In
• 3:50
  the fullness of their joy. They would have hungered for nothing more. But
• 3:53
  it was necessary for them to understand the witness born to him by the types
• 3:57
  and prophecies of the Old Testament. Upon these their faith must be established.
• 4:01
  Christ performed no miracle to convince them, but it was his first work to
• 4:06
  explain the scriptures. They had looked upon his death as the destruction of all
• 4:11
  their hopes, now he showed from the prophets that this was the very strongest
• 4:15
  evidence for their faith. In teaching these disciples, Jesus showed the importance of
• 4:20
  the Old Testament as a witness to his mission. Many professed Christians now discard
• 4:26
  the Old Testament, claiming that it is no longer of any use. But
• 4:29
  such is not Christ's teaching. So highly did he value it that at one
• 4:33
  time he said, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will
• 4:38
  they be persuaded though one rose from the dead Luke, sixteen thirty one.
• 4:43
  It is the voice of Christ that speaks through patriarchs and prophets from the days
• 4:46
  of Adam even to the closing scenes of time. The Savior is revealed in
• 4:50
  the Old Testament as clearly as in the New. It is the light from
• 4:55
  the prophetic past that brings out the life of Christ and the teachings of the
• 4:59
  New Testament. The clearness and beauty the miracles of Christ are a proof of
• 5:02
  his divinity. But a stronger proof that He is the world redeemer is found
• 5:08
  in comparing the prophecies of the Old Testament with the history of the New.
• 5:13
  Reasoning from prophecy, Christ gave his disciples a correct idea of what he was
• 5:16
  to be in humanity. Their expectation of a messiah who was to take his
• 5:21
  throne and kingly power in accordance with the desires of men had been misleading.
• 5:28
  It would interfere with the correct apprehension of his descent from the highest to the
• 5:31
  lowest position that could be occupied. Christ desired that the ideas of his disciples
• 5:38
  might be pure and true in every specification. They must understand as far as
• 5:42
  possible. In regard to the cup of suffering that had been appointed to him,
• 5:46
  he showed them that the awful conflict which they could not yet comprehend,
• 5:50
  was the fulfillment of the covenant made before the foundation of the world was laid.
• 5:55
  Christ must die, as every transgressor of the law must die if he
• 5:59
  count take news and sin. All this was to be, but it was
• 6:02
  not to end in defeat, but in glorious, eternal victory. Jesus told
• 6:08
  them that every effort must be made to save the world from sin. His
• 6:12
  followers must live as he lived, and work as he worked, with intense,
• 6:15
  persevering effort. Thus Christ discoursed to his disciples opening their minds that they
• 6:23
  might understand the scriptures. The disciples were weary, but the conversation did not
• 6:28
  flag. Words of life and assurance fell from the Savior's lips, but still
• 6:32
  their eyes were holden. As he told them of the overthrow of Jerusalem.
• 6:36
  They looked upon the doomed city with weeping, But little did they yet suspect
• 6:41
  who their traveling companion was. They did not think that the subject of their
• 6:45
  conversation was walking by their side, for Christ referred to himself as though he
• 6:49
  were another person. They thought that he was one of those who had been
• 6:53
  in attendance at the Gray Feast, and who was now returning to his home.
• 6:58
  He walked as carefully as they over the rough stones, now and then
• 7:01
  halting with them for a little rest. Thus they proceeded along the mountainous road,
• 7:06
  while the one who was soon to take his position at God's right hand,
• 7:11
  and who could say, all power is given unto me in heaven and
• 7:14
  in earth, walked beside them Matthew twenty eight eighteen. During the journey,
• 7:19
  the sun had gone down, and before the travelers reached their place of rest,
• 7:24
  the laborers in the fields had left their work as the disciples were about
• 7:28
  to enter their home. The stranger appeared as though he would continue his journey,
• 7:31
  But the disciples felt drawn to him. Their souls hungered to hear more
• 7:35
  from him. Abide with us, they said. He did not seem to
• 7:40
  accept the invitation, but they pressed it upon him, urging it is toward
• 7:44
  evening and the day is far spent. Christ yielded to this entreaty and went
• 7:48
  in to tarry with them. Had the disciples failed to press their invitation,
• 7:54
  they would not have known that their traveling companion was the risen Lord. Christ
• 7:58
  never forces his company upon any one. He interests himself and those who need
• 8:03
  him gladly will he enter the humblest home and cheer the lowliest heart. But
• 8:07
  if men are too indifferent to think of the heavenly guest or ask him to
• 8:11
  abide with them, he passes on. Thus many meet with great loss.
• 8:16
  They do not know Christ any more than did the disciples as he walked with
• 8:20
  them. By the way. The simple evening meal of bread is soon prepared.
• 8:26
  It is placed before the guest, who has taken his seat at the
• 8:28
  head of the table. Now he puts forth his hands to bless the food.
• 8:33
  The disciples start back in astonishment. Their companion spreads forth his hands in
• 8:37
  exactly the same way as their master used to do. They look again,
• 8:43
  and lo they see in his hands the print of nails. Both exclaim at
• 8:48
  once it is the Lord Jesus. He has risen from the dead. They
• 8:52
  rise to cast themselves at his feet and worship him. But he has vanished
• 8:58
  out of their sight. They look at the place which had been occupied by
• 9:01
  one whose body had lately lain in the grave, and say to each other,
• 9:05
  did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the
• 9:09
  way, and while he opened to us as scriptures. But with this great
• 9:13
  news to communicate, they cannot sit and talk. Their weariness and hunger are
• 9:18
  gone. They leave their meal untasted and full of joy, immediately set out
• 9:22
  again on the same path by which they came, hurrying to tell the tidings
• 9:26
  of the disciples in the city. In some parts the road is not safe,
• 9:31
  but they climb over the steep places, slipping on the smooth rocks.
• 9:33
  They do not see. They do not know that they have the protection of
• 9:37
  him who has traveled the road with them. With their pilgrim staff in hand,
• 9:41
  they press on desiring to go faster than they dare, They lose their
• 9:46
  track, but find it again, sometimes running, sometimes stumbling. They press
• 9:50
  forward, their unseen companion close beside them. All the way. The night
• 9:56
  is dark, but the sun of righteousness is shining upon them. Their hearts
• 10:00
  leap for joy. They seem to be in a new world. Christ is
• 10:03
  a living savior. They no longer mourn over him is dead. Christ has
• 10:07
  risen. Over and over again, they repeated, this is the message there
• 10:13
  carrying to the sorrowing ones. They must tell them the wonderful story of the
• 10:16
  walk to Amaeas. They must tell who join them by the way. They
• 10:20
  carry the greatest message ever given to the world, a message of glad tidings
• 10:24
  upon which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend.
• 10:31
  Into Chapter eighty three,