forth conquering and to conquer。
〃These things I have spoken unto you；〃 He said； 〃that in Me ye might have
peace。 In the world ye shall have tribulation： but be of good cheer； I have
overcome the world。〃 John 16：33。 Christ did not fail； neither was He
discouraged； and the disciples were to show a faith of the same enduring
nature。 They were to work as He had worked； depending on Him for strength。
Though their way would be obstructed by apparent impossibilities； yet by His
grace they were to go forward； despairing of nothing and hoping for
everything。
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Christ had finished the work that was given Him to do。 He had gathered out
those who were to continue His work among men。 And He said： 〃I am glorified
in them。 And now I am no more in the world； but these are in the world； and
I come to Thee。 Holy Father； keep through Thine own name those whom Thou
hast given Me； that they may be one； as We are。〃 〃Neither pray I for these
alone； but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word； that
they all may be one； 。 。 。 I in them and Thou in Me； that they may be made
perfect in one； and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me； and hast
loved them； as Thou hast loved Me。〃 John 17：10； 11； 20…23。
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Chapter 3
The Great Commission
After the death of Christ the disciples were well…nigh overcome by
discouragement。 Their Master had been rejected； condemned； and crucified。
The priests and rulers had declared scornfully； 〃He saved others； Himself He
cannot save。 If He be the King of Israel； let Him now come down from the
cross； and we will believe Him。〃 Matthew 27：42。 The sun of the disciples'
hope had set； and night settled down upon their hearts。 Often they repeated
the words； 〃We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed
Israel。〃 Luke 24：21。 Lonely and sick at heart； they remembered His words；
〃If they do these things in a green tree； what shall be done in the dry？〃
Luke 23：31。
Jesus had several times attempted to open the future to His disciples； but
they had not cared to think about what He said。 Because of this His death
had come to them as a surprise； and afterward； as they reviewed the past and
saw the result of their unbelief； they were filled with sorrow。
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When Christ was crucified； they did not believe that He would rise。 He had
stated plainly that He was to rise on the third day； but they were perplexed
to know what He meant。 This lack of comprehension left them at the time of
His death in utter hopelessness。 They were bitterly disappointed。 Their
faith did not penetrate beyond the shadow that Satan had cast athwart their
horizon。 All seemed vague and mysterious to them。 If they had believed the
Saviour's words； how much sorrow they might have been spared！
Crushed by despondency； grief； and despair； the disciples met together in
the upper chamber； and closed and fastened the doors； fearing that the fate
of their beloved Teacher might be theirs。 It was here that the Saviour；
after His resurrection； appeared to them。
For forty days Christ remained on the earth； preparing the disciples for the
work before them and explaining that which heretofore they had been unable
to comprehend。 He spoke of the prophecies concerning His advent； His
rejection by the Jews； and His death； showing that every specification of
these prophecies had been fulfilled。 He told them that they were to regard
this fulfillment of prophecy as an assurance of the power that would attend
them in their future labors。 〃Then opened He their understanding；〃 we read；
〃that they might understand the Scriptures； and said unto them； Thus it is
written； and thus it behooved Christ to suffer； and to rise from the dead
the third day： and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in His name among all nations； beginning at Jerusalem。〃
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And He added； 〃Ye are witnesses of these things。〃 Luke 24：45…48。
During these days that Christ spent with His disciples； they gained a new
experience。 As they heard their beloved Master explaining the Scriptures in
the light of all that had happened； their faith in Him was fully
established。 They reached the place where they could say； 〃I know whom I
have believed。〃 2 Timothy 1：12。 They began to realize the nature and extent
of their work； to see that they were to proclaim to the world the truths
entrusted to them。 The events of Christ's life； His death and resurrection；
the prophecies pointing to these events； the mysteries of the plan of
salvation； the power of Jesus for the remission of sinsto all these things
they had been witnesses； and they were to make them known to the world。 They
were to proclaim the gospel of peace and salvation through repentance and
the power of the Saviour。
Before ascending to heaven； Christ gave His disciples their commission。 He
told them that they were to be the executors of the will in which He
bequeathed to the world the treasures of eternal life。 You have been
witnesses of My life of sacrifice in behalf of the world； He said to them。
You have seen My labors for Israel。 And although My people would not come to
Me that they might have life； although priests and rulers have done unto Me
as they listed； although they have rejected Me； 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。
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Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out。 To you； My disciples； I
commit this message of mercy。 It is to be given to both Jews and
Gentilesto Israel； first； and then to all nations； tongues； and peoples。
All who believe are to be gathered into one church。
The gospel commission is the great missionary charter of Christ's kingdom。
The disciples were to work earnestly for souls； giving to all the invitation
of mercy。 They were not to wait for the people to come to them； they were to
go to the people with their message。
The disciples were to carry their work forward in Christ's name。 Their every
word and act was to fasten attention on His name； as possessing that vital
power by which sinners may be saved。 Their faith was to center in Him who is
the source of mercy and power。 In His name they were to present their
petitions to the Father； and they would receive answer。 They were to baptize
in the name of the Father； the Son； and the Holy Spirit。 Christ's name was
to be their watchword； their badge of distinction； their bond of union； the
authority for their course of action； and the source of their success。
Nothing was to be recognized in His kingdom that did not bear His name and
superscription。
When Christ said to the disciples； Go forth in My name to gather into the
church all who believe； He plainly set before them the necessity of
maintaining simplicity。 The less ostentation and show； the greater would be
their influence for good。 The disciples were to speak with the same
simplicity with which Christ had spoken。 They were to
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impress upon their hearers the lessons He had taught them。
Christ did not tell His disciples that their work would be easy。 He showed
them the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against them。 They would have to
fight 〃against principalities； against powers； against the rulers of the
darkness of this world； against spiritual wickedness in high places。〃
Ephesians 6：12。 But they would not be left to fight alone。 He assured them
that He would be with them； and that if they would go forth in faith； they
should move under the shield of Omnipotence。 He bade them be brave and
strong； for One mightier than angels would be in their ranksthe General of
the armies of heaven。 He made full provision for the prosecution of their
work and took upon Himself the responsibility of its success。 So long as
they obeyed His word； and worked in connection with Him； they could not
fail。 Go to all nations； He bade them。 Go to the farthest part of the
habitable globe and be assured that My presence will be with you even there。
Labor in faith and confidence； for the time will never come when I will
forsake you。 I will be with you always； helping you to perform your duty；
guiding； comforting； sanctifying； sustaining you； giving you success in
speaking words that shall draw the attention of others to heaven。
Christ's sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete。 The condition of
the atonement had been fulfilled。 The work for which He had come to this
world had been accomplished。 He had won the kingdom。 He had wrested it from
Satan and had become heir of all things。 He was on His way
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to the throne of God； to be honored by the heavenly host。 Clothed with
boundless authority； He gave His disciples their commission； 〃Go ye
therefore； and teach all nations； baptizing them in the name of the Father；
and of the Son； and of the Holy Ghost： teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you： and； lo； I am with you alway； even unto the
end。〃 Matthew 28：19； 20。
Just before leaving His disciples； Christ once more plainly stated the
nature of His kingdom。 He recalled to their remembrance things He had
previously told them regarding it。 He declared that it was not His purpose
to establish in this world a temporal kingdom。 He was not appointed to reign
as an earthly monarch on David's throne。 When the disciples asked Him；
〃Lord； wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel？〃 He
answered； 〃It is not for you to know the times or the seasons； which the
Father hath put in His own power。〃 Acts 1：6； 7。 It was not necessary for
them to see farther into the future than the revelations He had made enabled
them to see。 Their work was to proclaim the gospel message。
Christ's visible presence was about to be withdrawn from the disciples； but
a new endowment of power was to be theirs。 The Holy Spirit was to be given
them in its fullness； sealing them for their work。 〃Behold；〃 the Saviour
said； 〃I send the promise