03.11. November

NOVEMBER November 1. Light Behind the Cloud

"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7 The disciples thought that Christ’s going away would be an irretrievable loss for them. It was the crushing of all their hopes. They thought they would be left in darkness and loneliness; for they had built up all their Messianic hopes on the idea of His remaining and ruling as a king over His people. Not only were they about to lose the dearest friend they had ever known — but they were to lose, also, the one in whom they had trusted as the promised Deliverer and Savior. They saw no silver lining whatever in the dark cloud that was gathering. But now Jesus says to them, "It is for your good that I am going away." There was a silver lining, after all, in that black cloud. What seemed an irreparable loss, would in the end prove a gain. The disciples did not understand it now — but there were the Master’s words for it. The same is true now in the case of all the Master’s disciples, when He calls away their human friends. We can readily see how it is well for our Christian friends — when Christ takes them. They exchange earth — for Heaven, sin and sorrow — for holiness and eternal joy. There is no doubt that death is gain for those who depart; but how about those who remain? How about the friends who are left with bleeding hearts to walk on lonely and sad over earth’s ways? This word of Christ applies: "It is for your good that I am going away." We cannot understand this; but neither could the disciples understand at the time, how Christ’s departure could be better for them — than His staying with them would have been. Afterward they knew; and afterward we shall know how even for us the going away of our friends will become a blessing, if we in faith submit ourselves to God. "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God."

November 2. The Comforter

"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7

Why did the coming of the Comforter depend on Christ’s going away? We may say, for one thing, that the Comforter could not come — until the great offering for sin had been made. The Father sent the Son to be the atoning sacrifice for sins. Without shedding of blood — there could be no remission of sins. There was, therefore, no redemption to be offered and applied — until Jesus had made His great sacrifice. It was necessary, therefore, that He should go away and should die — before the Comforter could come. The precious alabaster box of Christ’s humanity must be broken open — in order that the sacred ointment of His most blessed life might be poured out on the dead world.

It was necessary, also, that Christ should return to the Father as the Son of man, the representative of humanity, and be received into the Father’s bosom as such. "Humanity was to ascend to Heaven — before the Spirit could be sent to humanity on earth." Christ also says, that He will send the Comforter. He could not do this until He had returned to His glory and been exalted, in His humanity, to His throne of power.

These are hints of the reasons why Jesus had to go away before the Comforter could come. We live now under the blessed reign of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we wish we had lived in the time of Christ’s human presence in this world, and look back on the period of the incarnation as earth’s brightest and most glorious days; but really we have far richer privileges than those had, who knew Christ in the flesh. We have the same blessed Presence that they had, only without the limitations of flesh. Christ is now to millions everywhere, even far more than He was then to a few favored ones.

November 3. Life-Giving Knowledge

"And this is life eternal, that they might know you — the only true God; and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" John 17:3

Anyone, therefore, who truly knows God — has eternal life. Knowing God, however, is more than knowing about Him. One may have all the doctrinal knowledge of God’s character, attributes, and works which the Bible reveals — and yet not know God at all in the way that gives eternal life. We may know all about some great man biographically — and yet not know the man at all personally. But suppose we then meet him, and become intimately associated with him, and he becomes our dear friend, and we learn to love him and trust him; then we really know him. It is this personal knowledge of God, which is meant in these words. We first learn about Him, and then we seek Him and find Him; and He receives us into His family, and sheds abroad His love in our hearts, and gives us His Spirit. Then we learn to trust Him and to love Him. This is the knowing God which gives eternal life. But how can we meet God, and get personally acquainted with Him, and form this intimate friendship with Him? There is another word in this verse which helps us to the answer. "That they might know you . . . and Jesus Christ." We are clearly taught elsewhere that we can know God only through Jesus Christ. "No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Mat 11:27

Jesus Christ is the revelation of the Father to men: "He who has seen Me has seen the father." We can get acquainted with Christ in His humanity, and thus know God, and have Him for our nearest Friend. M’Cheyne said: "I seem to know more of the Lord Jesus Christ than of the most intimate friend I have on earth." Should we not all seek after Christ’s personal friendship? The more we trust Him — the more shall we know of Him, and the better shall we love Him.

November 4. Divine Protection

"Holy Father, keep through your own name, those whom you have given me — that they that they may be one, as we are." John 17:11

There is matchless tenderness in the picture which these words in our Lord’s intercessory prayer suggest. We think of a dying mother about to leave her children behind her in this world, exposed to all the world’s dangers. During her own life she has cared for them with all tenderness and fidelity. Now, however, she is dying, and can guard them no more. But she cannot leave them without securing for them shelter and protection. Looking up to God, therefore, she commends them to His care. She knows that He never goes away, that He is present everywhere, and that He will look after her motherless children. In like manner, Jesus, about to go away and leave His disciples, commends them in their peril and need — to His Father’s care. The prayer suggests two things. It gives us a glimpse of the heart of our Savior — and of His deep, tender, yearning love for His disciples. It ought to be a great comfort to us, to know that He has just the same love for us, if we are His. When we are going into any danger, He looks down upon us with deep affectionate longing, and intercedes for us as He did here for His disciples. The other suggestion here, is that if we belong to Christ — then we are divinely sheltered and kept. We cannot keep ourselves — but we have the Lord for our keeper; the wings of the Almighty cover us wherever we go. I have slept in camps in war time, when hostile forces pressed close upon the lines; but we all lay down at night in quiet confidence and peace, without fear, because all around the camps sentinels walked and watched. So always, the Lord keeps those who trust in Him. To have Christ for Savior — is to have the Divine protection and guardianship.

November 5. Life Worth Living "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world." John 17:15

It would be a great deal safer, in one sense, for believers to be taken at once to Heaven — as soon as they are saved. They would then have no temptations, no enemies to fight, no conflicts and struggles to pass through. But who would then do Christ’s work in the world? There would be . . .
none to tell sinners about the Savior,
none to show to men the beauty of Christ in a holy life,
none to witness for God and to fight His battles.

There is another reason why Christians are left here. They are not the most majestic trees, which grow in the sheltered valleys, where no storms break — but those rather which are found upon the hill-tops and on the mountains, where they must encounter the fierce gales. It is just so with men: the noblest men are grown amid difficulties and hardships — and not in pampered ease. Even Jesus Himself was trained in the school of conflict and struggle. It may be the easiest thing to have no battles in life, to grow in some sheltered plain where the storms never blow, to meet no hardships, to have no burdens to carry; but what sort of life comes in the end — from such a smooth career? If we would reach the heights of blessedness — we must be content to pass through the fields of struggle. When armies return from victorious war, the loudest cheers are not for those who have fought the fewest battles, nor for the flags which are cleanest — but for the regiments which are cut down to a few men, and for the colors that are shot to pieces. So it will be in Heaven, when the redeemed are welcomed home: those who have fought the most battles, and bear the most "marks of the Lord Jesus," will receive the highest honors. It is better, then, even for Christians themselves to stay in this world, and to grow to strength through duty and conflict.

November 6. Our Great Intercessor

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message" John 17:20

Thus in this wonderful intercessory prayer, our Lord reached out beyond the little circle of imperiled disciples who stood around Him that night, and gathered in His arms — all those who would believe on Him. It embraced us, therefore, who in these days believe on Christ. He looked down along the ages, and saw us and our dangers, and amid the deepening shadows of His cross — He prayed for us. How sweet to be prayed for by Christ!

Even that is not all, as precious as it is; for we are told elsewhere that Jesus ever lives to make intercession for His people. We are not to think of Him as losing interest in this earth when He went away. This intercessory prayer, whose sentences we catch as we read this chapter, is but a momentary revealing to us of Christ’s continual pleading for us in Heaven. We are to think of Him as in Heaven, watching us perpetually and praying for us in every time of danger. He sees each stealthy temptation as it approaches, and asks, "Father, keep your imperiled child!"

It is a very precious comfort even to know that a dear human friend is praying for us. Many a time in my youth, I was kept from doing wrong things, by the thought that in my quiet home far away, my father and my mother, every morning and every evening, stretched out holy hands in earnest, loving prayer — that God would keep their boy. I could not do the wrong thing, with this vision in my mind. Still more powerful in its restraining influence upon us — should be the assurance that day and night Jesus in Heaven is thinking of us, watching us from His holy height in glory, and at every appearance of evil, prays for us. How could we do the evil thing — if we but stopped long enough to think of this Divine intercession for us?

November 7. Songs in the Night "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." Mat 26:30 This is the only record of our Lord’s singing when He was on the earth. It is worthy of special notice, that it was just as He was starting out to Gethsemane, that He sang a hymn with His disciples. It would not have seemed so strange to us if He had sung that night on the Transfiguration Mount, or the day He entered Jerusalem amid the people’s hosannas, or on some other occasion of great gladness and triumph; but that the only time we hear Him singing, should be in the darkest night of His earthly life — is very suggestive.

It tells us of the deep gladness that was in the heart of Christ, under all His griefs and sorrows. He knew the agony into whose black shadows He was about to enter. He saw the cross, too, which stood just beyond Gethsemane. Yet He went out toward the darkness with songs of praise on His lips. There is a Scripture word which tells us that "for the joy set before him — he endured the cross, despising the shame." This was the joy that broke forth here in a hymn of praise. It was the joy of doing the Father’s will, and of saving lost souls. Thus, we get here another glimpse of Christ’s great heart of love.

We learn a lesson, too, for ourselves. We should go forward with joy — to meet sorrow and sacrifice when we are doing our Father’s will. We should learn to sing — as we enter life’s valleys of shadow. It is a great thing to be able to sing as we work, and sing as we suffer. The secret of Christ’s song here — was His looking beyond the garden and the cross; He saw the reward, the glory, the redemption accomplished. If we look only at the sorrow before us — we cannot sing; but if we look on to the joy of victory, and the blessedness of the reward, and the ripened fruits which will come from the suffering — then we too can sing, as we enter the sorest trial.

November 8. The Baffled Tempter "Satan has desired to have you — that he may sift you as wheat." Luk 22:31

Peter was put through Satan’s winnowing; but only the chaff in him was blown out. He was a smaller man after the winnowing, just as the bulk of the wheat pile is reduced when the chaff is blown out; but he was a better man. He lost his rashness, his self-confidence, his pride — and came again a humble man — but stronger, majestic — empowered to bless the world.

Thus through the grace of Christ — even the falls of believers are made to work for their good. Much of the grandeur and power of Peter’s after life, came out of that costly lesson. The oyster mends its broken shell — by forming a pearl where the break had been — hiding the scar, and making it a spot of lustrous beauty. So true repentance of sins changes the weakness of our lives, into strength. If we are Christ’s true followers, even our defeats become blessings.

November 9. Strength out of Weakness

"But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luk 22:32

Peter was not to be lost in the terrible experience through which he was to pass. Christ had made intercession for him, and he would come again from the trial humbled, bruised, defeated — but saved, and a better man. Our Lord tells him here, that after his restoration he should turn his experience to account in helping other souls. "And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." He would be able then to warn others of the dangers in which he had suffered so terribly.

We can imagine Peter in after days, counseling Christians against self-confidence and the other false steps which led to his own fall, and thus strengthening or establishing them in safe ways. Then there is no doubt that his experience of penitence, and of the grace and love of Christ in that experience — enabled him to be a wise and safe guide to many other disciples who had fallen into sin and were seeking to be restored. The lesson is important. All the lessons that God teaches to us — we should teach to others. When we are helped — it is that we may then help others. When God comforts us in any sorrow — He thereby ordains us to go forth to comfort others with the comfort with which we ourselves have been comforted of God. When we fall in temptation, and God lifts us up and restores us — He wants us to use our experience in helping other weak ones in their temptations.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Your hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

November 10. The Man of Sorrows "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death!" Mat 26:38

We ought often to sit down with our Lord in the garden of Gethsemane — and look upon Him while He suffers. We never can understand more than a very little of the anguish of that hour in the garden — yet we should often study it. Some hints of its meaning may be reverently mentioned.

Before our Lord, there lay the betrayal, the arrest, the trial with all its mockery and humiliation; and then death amid the ignominy of the cross. These physical sufferings alone made an anguish that was terrible to endure. Another element of our Lord’s suffering was the falseness of the human hearts about Him. There were the traitorous kiss of Judas, the sad denial of Peter, the flight and desertion of the other disciples, the rejection and crucifixion by the people He had come to save. All of this, He foresaw from Gethsemane. But that which made the very essence of the anguish of Gethsemane, was the fact that Jesus was bearing our sins. What that meant to Him — we never can know. We know only what is most dimly shadowed for us in the deep words of Holy Scripture, which speak of His vicarious sacrifice. They are such words as these: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" "The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." "He bore our sins in his own body on the tree." "He has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."

We are sure, at least, that the death of Jesus — was not like the death of any other man, even though the other could endure all the physical suffering which attended our Lord’s agony. In some way, though innocent and holy Himself, and without sin — He died for sinners. The mystery, we never can fathom — but the fact, we must remember as we watch with our Lord in Gethsemane.

November 11. Watch With Me "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death! Stay here and keep watch with me." Mat 26:38 This request shows the humanness of our Lord. As He entered the darkness — He craved sympathy. He wanted His dearest friends near to Him. It was not because of anything they could really do to help Him. They could not lighten the awful load by so much as a feather’s weight. They could not in any way share the burden. But their presence would make Him stronger to endure. The consciousness of tender love close beside Him — would help sustain Him in the fearful anguish.

We all understand this from personal experience. A little child’s terror in the darkness, is instantly soothed by a word from the mother or by her touch. A sufferer can endure his pain better if a friend sits beside him and holds his hand. We all crave companionship in life’s great trials. These are hints of our Lord’s feeling and desire that night when He asked His three best beloved disciples to accompany Him, and begged them to watch with Him, while He entered into His agony.

Jesus no more suffers in any Gethsemane — yet He still calls us to watch with Him. Many of His people suffer, and He would have us come up close beside them and by loving sympathy and tenderness, sustain and strengthen them. He who thus watches with one of the least of Christ’s brethren in time of pain or sorrow — watches with Christ Himself.

We can also watch with Christ by being loyal and devoted to Him in every dark hour when His cause languishes, and when many are proving recreant and untrue. The time to be faithful to one’s friend — is when the popular clamor is against him. Our loyalty to Christ, in like manner, should be most emphatic when His enemies are most active, and when His friends are fewest. He wants us then to be true. He wants us to keep near Him. Surely we should never pain Him by coldness or lack of interest.

November 12. May Your Will Be Done

"O My Father, if it is possible — may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will — but as you will." Mat 26:39

Among other lessons which we learn from our Lord’s prayer in Gethsemane is this: that all our crying to God — should close in acquiescence to the Divine will. It is right to plead earnestly for what we want — earnestly — but never unsubmissively. We should recognize the fact that our Father has a plan for our lives, and that what we crave, may not be in accordance with His plan. We should never want, therefore, to press our will against God’s will.

There was an ignorant man who wished to pray — but did not know what he needed. Taking the letters of the alphabet, he laid them down and said: "Lord, I do not know what I need, or ought to ask for. Do take these letters and arrange them into the prayer I ought to make, and give me that." The best thing possible for us, is always what God wills for us. Sometimes it may be pain or worldly loss or sore bereavement; yet His will is always love, and in simple acquiescence to this will, we shall always find our highest good. No prayer, therefore, is pleasing to God — which does not end with this refrain of Gethsemane. This is the way also to peace: as we yield with love and joy, and merge our own will in our Father’s, the peace of God flows like a river into our souls.

November 13. Watch unto Prayer

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Mat 26:41

We must learn both to watch and pray. It is good to watch. There is danger everywhere. An army in an enemy’s country never rests a moment without its encircling line of sentinels, keeping watch against danger at every point, and reporting any hostile movement instantly. We are living in the enemy’s country — and cannot safely pass an hour without watching! But watching is not enough; for we are not able to keep ourselves, when the danger comes. Hence we need also to pray — asking God to keep us. But as watching without praying is not enough — so neither is praying without watching. God means us to use our eyes and to keep our wits about us — as well as to cry to Him for help.

We must not say that everyone who makes a profession, and then fails — is insincere or a hypocrite. Peter was not a hypocrite, when he made his bold avowal that he would never deny Christ, and that he could die with Him. He loved Christ, and meant to be true to Him. Peter’s spirit was eager and earnest — but he was weak in himself; and because he relied only on himself — he was not able to hold out against the sore temptations which came upon him.

We are all just like Peter. If we are true Christians, we mean to be faithful to our Lord. But sincerity is not enough. "The flesh is weak," and we need to rest continually upon God for help to be true and faithful. If young Christians would learn this lesson — they would not fall so easily. No matter how good his intentions are, he is not able of himself to fulfill them. None of us are as good as we want to be and strive to be; and only through the mighty help of Christ — can any of us live a true and noble life amid all the world’s temptations and dangers.

November 14. Lost Opportunities

"Returning the third time, he said to them: Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners!" Mark 14:41 The time for watching is past. Jesus had now passed through His agony, and on His face was the radiance of peace. He no longer needed the help of the sympathy which in vain He had craved in the darkness. He looked toward the city gate, and there was the traitor coming. There was neither need nor use now, for the disciples’ waking and watching, and they might as well sleep on. The lesson is plain. Whatever we do for our friends — we must do when they are in need of our help. If one is sick, the time to show our sympathy is while the sickness continues. If we allow him to pass through his illness without showing him any attention — there is little use when he is swell again, for us to offer kindness.

If one of our friends is passing through some sore struggle with temptation — then is the time for us to come up close alongside of him and put the strength of our love under his weakness. If we fail him then — we may almost as well let him go on alone after that. Of what use is our help — when the battle has been fought through to the end and won without us? Or suppose the friend was not victorious; that he failed — failed because no one came to help him — is there any use in our hurrying up to him then to offer assistance? Thus on all sides, the lesson presses.

November 15. Never Despair "Rise up, let us go!" Mark 14:42

There seems to be a voice of hope in this call. The disciples had sadly failed in one great duty: they had slept — when the Master wanted them to watch with Him. He had just told them that they might as well sleep on, so far as that service was concerned, for the time to render it was gone forever. Yet there were other duties before them, and Jesus calls them to arise to meet these. Just because they had failed in one hour’s responsibility — they must not sink down in despair. They must arouse themselves to meet the responsibility just before them.

Again the lesson is plain: Because we have failed in one duty — we must not give up in despair. Because a young man has wasted his youth — he must not therefore lose heart and think all is lost. There are other opportunities waiting for him. The loss of youth is irreparable. The golden years can never be gotten back. The innocence, the abilities, the power — are gone forever. Yet why should a man squander all — because he has squandered the best? Because the morning has been thrown away — why should all the day be lost? The lesson is for all who have failed in any way. Christ ever calls to hope. He bids us rise again from the worst defeat. In the kingdom of grace — there is always margin enough to start again, and to build up a noble life. Even down to life’s last hour, this remains true. The door of opportunity opened to the penitent thief — even on the cross in his dying hour. There was no time to make anything good or beautiful of his life on the earth, except in his dying confession and testimony. But the eternity into which he passed is very long, with time enough for a glorious career. So it is always. In this world, blessed by divine love and grace — there is never any need for despair. The call after any defeat or failure still is, "Rise up, let us go!"

November 16. Pray Without Ceasing "Jesus often resorted there with his disciples." John 18:2

These words give us a glimpse of Jesus’ devotional habits. The deep quiet of the Olive garden was His prayer closet. Here He had been accustomed to go for seasons of prayer. There were other places, too, which were sacred resorts to Him. There were mountain-tops, where He often spent whole nights in communion with His Father. Our Lord’s example teaches us, that we should spend much time in devotion. Some people manage to get along without much praying; but it is always at the expense of their spiritual life. Not feeding their souls — they grow very lean. There really can be no beautiful, strong, helpful Christian life — without much closet work. Every tree has a root, which people do not see, which has no beauty — but which in secret, in the darkness, performs service for the tree, without which the tree could not live. What the root is to the tree — that is what the Christian’s secret devotional life is — to the external and visible life which the world sees. We shall flourish and be fruitful in spiritual life — just in proportion to the earnestness, the reality, and the intensity of our devotional life. A great deal of praying — needs to go with a very little working. Our Lord’s example teaches us also, the importance of regular habits of praying. Some people say that praying should be spontaneous, and that stated times and places make it formal, and take the life out of it. But we are such creatures of habit that if we do not pray at regular times each day — we shall very soon not pray at all. But if we always go to our closet at the same time, our devotions will become part of our daily life, and we shall never live a day without its moments of prayer. If our Lord’s holy life required regular habits of prayer and communion — then how much more do our broken, imperfect lives require the same!

November 17. The Traitor!

"Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons!" John 18:2-3

Every new line in the story of the betrayal, shows new blackness in the heart of Judas. Going out from the supper-table, he hastened to the priests, and was quickly under way with his band of soldiers. He probably first hurried back to the upper room, where he had left Jesus; not finding Him there, he knew well where the Master had gone, and hastened to the sacred place of prayer. Then the manner in which he let the officers know which of the company was Jesus, shows the deepest blackness of all: he went up to Him as to a dear friend, and kissed Him — kissed Him over and over, and with feigned warmth and affection.

Let us remember how the treason grew in the heart of Judas, beginning in greed for money, growing into theft and falseness of life, and ending at last in the blackest crime the world ever saw! The lesson is, that we should watch the beginnings of evil in our hearts. A picture in the royal gallery of Brussels represents Judas wandering about on the night after the betrayal. He comes by chance upon the workmen who have been making the cross on which Christ shall be crucified tomorrow. A fire near by throws its light full on the faces of the workmen, who are sleeping peacefully while resting from their labor. Judas’s face is somewhat in the shade; but it is wonderfully expressive of awful remorse and agony, as he catches sight of the cross and the tools used in making it — the cross which his treachery had made possible. But still, though in the very torments of Hell, as it appears — he clutches his money-bag, and seems to hurry on into the night. That picture tells the story of the fruit of Judas’s victory — the money-bag with the thirty pieces of silver in it (and even that he could not long keep), carried off into the night of fiendish despair — that was all.

November 18. The Traitor’s Kiss!

"Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ’Greetings, Master!’ and kissed him!" Mat 26:49 The very reading of the words makes us shudder! A kiss has always been the token of affection, and the seal and pledge of fidelity. Judas’ going up to Christ and kissing Him, was a solemn protestation of sincere friendship. Yet the kiss was not only false — but was the sign of betrayal. No words are strong enough to characterize this crime.

We remember the fable of the poisonous reptile taken into the bosom of a kindly man to be warmed, rewarding the benefactor by striking its deadly fangs into his flesh. But even this does not illustrate the baseness of Judas’s act. It is no wonder that he is the execration of the world. A poet represents him as placed in the lowest circles of the lost, as the sole sharer with Satan himself of the very uttermost punishment, and shunned even there and even by the guiltiest. In studying the character and the sin of Judas, the following lessons may be brought out:

1. We must not be surprised if some evil men enter the Church, for even among the twelve apostles, was one Judas.

2. It is no proof that Christianity is untrue, when some of its professors prove hypocrites. The defection of Judas did not leave a stain on the name of Christ, not did it disprove the loyalty and fidelity of the other disciples.

3. One may be very near to Christ — and not be made holy in character. Judas was three years with Christ, heard His words, lived in the atmosphere of His love, and remained unchanged. An empty bottle, airtightly sealed, may lie long in the ocean and continue perfectly dry within. Just so, a heart sealed to Christ’s love may lie in His bosom for years, and not be blessed. Only when the heart is opened to receive His grace, does closeness to Him sanctify.

4. Sin grows, and we never can know to what terrible extent a wicked thought or desire may reach!

November 19. God’s Will is Best "The cup which my Father has given me — shall I not drink it?" John 18:11 The "cup" is our portion, embracing all the experiences of our earthly lives. Our Father gives us the cup — therefore it must be the very best that the wisest love can provide. When death enters a Christian home — there is sweetest comfort in the thought that God has really done the best possible thing for the friend whom He has taken away. We prayed Him to crown our loved one with His richest blessings, and is not that just what He has done? Here is a little poem which in a beautiful way illustrates this.

There is first a prayer for a friend:

Give her, I pray, all good:
Bid all the buds of pleasure grow
To perfect flowers of happiness
Wherever her feet may go;
Bid Truth’s bright shield and Love’s strong arm
Protect her from all earthly harm.
Lest there should be some other thing,
Better than all the rest,
That I have failed to ask, I said,
Give you the very best
Of every gift that You do deem
Better than anything I hope or dream.

Then here is the answer which came:

She lies before me still and pale;
The roses that I prayed
Might bloom along her path of life
Are on her bosom laid!
Crowned with a strange, enrapt calm, she lies,
Like one made dumb with sweet surprise.
Better than I can ask or dream!
This was my prayer, and now
That she is lying still and pale,
With God’s peace on her brow,
I wonder, sobbing, sore dismayed,
If this be that for which I prayed.

November 20. Peter’s Fall

"As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." John 18:25 For our own sakes, we should mark the steps which led to Peter’s fall.

1. One was his self-confidence. When forewarned, he resented the Master’s foretelling, and declared that though others might deny Christ — he never would. When we grow boastful — we are in great peril. Safety lies in a consciousness of our own weakness — and in implicit trust in God.

2. The next step toward Peter’s fall was his sleeping in the garden — when he should have been watching and praying. That hour was given for preparation for temptation — but was not improved.

3. Another step was his rashness in drawing his sword in the garden. This act made him liable to arrest, and this fact made him nervous and afraid of recognition. He tried to hide his connection with Jesus, lest he would be arrested for his assault in the garden. Rash acts are sure to make trouble for us afterward.

4. Another step toward denial was Peter’s following Christ afar off. This showed timidity and failing faith. His courage was leaving him. Following Christ at a distance, is always perilous. It shows a weakening attachment and a trembling loyalty. It is in itself, partial denial. The only worthy and the only safe discipleship — is thorough, unwavering devotion and whole-hearted consecration.

5. This apostle took another step toward his fall, when he sat down among the servants of the high priest. He tried to hide his relation to Jesus. The only safe thing for a Christian, is unequivocally to declare his discipleship wherever he goes. When Peter had taken these steps, he could scarcely do otherwise than openly deny his Lord. The time for us to guard ourselves — is at the beginnings of defection.

November 21. The Great Denial

"Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. ’You also were with Jesus of Galilee,’ she said. But he denied it before them all. ’I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said." Mat 26:69-70

One thing that made Peter’s denial so peculiarly sad, was that he had received so many special favors from Christ. He was one of three disciples who had been taken into the inner circle of friendship. The more Jesus has done for us, the worse is it for us to prove unfaithful to Him.

Another thing was that Peter had so boldly confessed Christ. It was he who said, when Jesus asked the disciples whom they believed Him to be, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" It was he who, just a few hours before his denial, so vehemently avowed his loyalty and his readiness to die with his Lord. These repeated protestations of fidelity, made the evil of denial more grievous. It is a greater sin for one who has publicly declared his love for Christ to prove disloyal to Him — than for one who has never made such confession.

Another thing that made the sin worse, was the fact that Jesus had forewarned Peter. We say "to be forewarned is to be forearmed;" but it did not prove so in this instance, because the disciple utterly disregarded the Master’s warnings. We are all warned of danger — do we heed the signals?

Still another aggravation, was that it was in our Lord’s hour of sorest need that the disciple denied Him. Had it been in some time of popular favor, the denial would not have been so base; but it was when Jesus was deserted, and was in the hands of His enemies. Was that a good time for the bravest disciple, the most honored friend, the noblest confessor — to turn his back on his Master? When the shadow falls on your friend, when the tide has turned against him, when others fall away from him — is that the time for you, his long-time bosom companion, the recipient of his favors, to turn craven and desert and deny him?

November 22. A Lamb without Blemish "So Pilate came out to them and asked: What charges are you bringing against this man?" John 18:29

"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" Mat 27:23 That was a fair question. The Jews wanted Pilate to put Jesus to death; but Pilate had a right to ask why such sentence should be pronounced. No man should ever be condemned without a trial.

We have a right to ask the same now, of those who condemn and reject Christ. What wrong thing has He done? What flaws are there in His character? Whom has He injured? The Jews attempted no answer to Pilate’s question; indeed there was no answer possible, for no accusation could be brought against Jesus. He had never injured any one. A little girl kissed her young brother’s hand as he lay in the coffin, and said, "Mamma, this little hand never struck me." It could well have been said of Christ when He lay in death, "This hand never struck anyone. These lips never spoke a word that gave pain. This heart never cherished an unkind thought of feeling." On the other hand, the life of Christ was a perpetual blessing to all who knew Him. His hands were ever stretched out in healing — until finally they were stretched out on the cross and fastened to it — but outstretched still in blessing. His lips were ever speaking words of comfort, of love. His heart was ever full of love and grace. Who could ever bring any accusation against Him? In truth no one ever did!

He was hurried to death by men’s hatred, without reason or charge of any kind. This same Jesus stands now before men, asking for their love and their faith. What reason is there that He should not be received? What has He ever done to discredit His own claims? What charge of evil can any one, the worst enemy, bring against Him? Has He ever disappointed the hopes of any heart that has trusted in Him? Why, then, should any reject Him?

November 23. Pilate’s Indecision "Then said Pilate unto them: Take him, and judge him according to your law." John 18:31

Pilate wanted to evade the responsibility of trying and sentencing Jesus. But instead of honestly refusing to have anything to do with His condemnation, Pilate sought by evasion simply to get clear of the case. He could not do it, however; for each time Jesus came back and stood before him waiting for his decision.

One of Pilate’s questions a little later than this was, "What shall I do with Jesus?" — a question he was compelled to answer in the end. Jesus stands before every human soul, as He stood before Pilate, demanding reception or rejection, and every one of us must answer this same question. The question may be postponed — but we cannot get it off our hands. We may send Jesus away — but presently we find Him back, standing again at our door. Every soul must sit in judgment on Christ, and give a decision.

Look on a little later. Here we see Pilate on the judgment-seat, and Jesus standing before him to be judged. The scene closed, and Jesus went to His cross. Pilate soon fell into disgrace, and in a few years committed suicide. When he stood before the throne of the divine Judge, into whose eyes did the poor guilty Roman look? Ah, what a reversal there was! Once Pilate was judge, and Jesus stood at the bar: now Jesus is judge, and Pilate is before Him!

Jesus stands now before sinners, meek and lowly, asking to be received; but the scene will soon be changed for those who reject Him — they will be hurried away into eternity, and the Judge before whose bar they shall find themselves will be the same One who stood so long, patient and loving, waiting to save them.

November 24. Christ Our King

"Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ’Are you the king of the Jews?’ ’Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied." Mat 27:11

Jesus did not look much like a king as He stood there — His hands bound, a cord about His neck. Pilate’s question sounds like ridicule. Yet Jesus answered, "Yes, I am a king." Strange answer! Where, then, was His power? Where were His throne, His crown, His scepter, His royal robes? Who recognized His sway? Pilate probably looked at Him with mingled contempt and pity. But to us today, how different does it all appear! He is enthroned now "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world — but also in that which is to come." In Heaven He is honored as "King of kings, and Lord of lords." On His head are many crowns. All over the earth, too, His sway is felt. Wherever His gospel has gone, with its revelation of divine love and grace — the influence of His kingdom has reached. And Jesus was as really a king when He stood before Pilate that day, to human eyes bound and powerless, as He is now, exalted on heaven’s throne. His kingdom was spiritual: it was a kingdom of truth, of righteousness, of holiness, of grace, and of love. He seemed the weakest of all men that morning; but in reality He was the mightiest, the grandest, the kingliest.

What, then, is greatness? What is power? What is kingliness? Not anything external, not anything that men’s eyes can see. The world bows down before thrones which glitter, and crowns whose jewels flash in sunlight, and worships power whose majesty is expressed in material splendor. But the real power of the world is Christ’s power — The kingdom whose sway is over human hearts and lives. It is spiritual. It makes men better, and lifts them up into noble life, into purity, holiness, and Divine beauty.

November 25. Behold the Man!

"Pilate said unto them, Behold the man!" John 19:5

We cannot do better than obey Pilate’s word, "Behold the Man!" and fix our eyes in loving gaze upon Jesus as He is led out from the palace and stands before the multitude. On His head He wears a crown of thorns; around His bleeding body is thrown a purple robe — a mock emblem of royalty. He had been called King of the Jews, and the crude soldiers tried to carry out the farce, as it appeared to them.

"Behold the man!" Behold the man enduring shame and contempt, set forth before the people as a spectacle of mockery — in order that at last we may be presented in glory, and honored before angels and the Father! Behold the man wearing a crown of thorns — that we may wear a crown of glory and of life! Behold the man robed in mocking purple — that we may wear the white garments of righteousness. Behold the man in the majesty of meekness — reviled — yet reviling not again; hated — yet still loving on; wronged — yet speaking no resentful word.

We should study the character of our Lord, as manifested amid the terrible scenes of that morning. How His sublime patience shames our miserable impatience! We fret and vex ourselves with our sickly discontents over the smallest discomforts; let us behold the blessed peace of Jesus in the midst of the sorest trials. We fly into anger and cherish bitter resentments, when others slight us or wrong us in merest trifles; let us behold the sweet spirit of Jesus — loving, gentle, meek under the greatest cruelties and wrongs ever inflicted on any life.

Behold the man, the God-man, divinity manifested in humanity, humbling Himself and becoming obedient unto shame and death — that He might save our souls. Behold the man — holy, undefiled, separate from sinners — yet bearing upon His own head, as the Lamb of God, the sin of the world. Let us look and weep, and love and trust, and rejoice.

November 26. Power Belongs to God

"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me — if it were not given to you from above." John 19:10-11

Authority is one of the entrusted talents. Men talk very boastfully of their power, forgetting that it is delegated power which they hold, and that they must wield it for God, and must give account to Him for their use of it. No man’s power belongs to himself to do with as he pleased; it is given him from God, the source of all power. This is true of the authority of parents and teachers, of the power possessed by civil magistrates, and of all power whatever.

Men are eager to obtain offices in the city or nation; and they do not always realize the responsibility which attaches to such positions. Power belongs to God, and must be used for God, or its misuse will bring sore penalty. It is a talent which is given to us to be accounted for, and no treason is worse than malfeasance in the employing of power. This is true all the way from the power of the child on the playground — to the power of the president of the nation, or the king on his throne. "You would have no power . . . if it were not given to you from above."

There is a comforting thought suggested by the words in this sentence, "You could have no power at all against me." Christ in this world was under the protection of His Father, and no one on earth could lift a finger against Him — but by the Divine permission. What was true of Him, the Son of God — is true of each one of the sons of God in all their earthly life. Each believer, the humblest, the weakest — is kept in this world, as the apple of God’s eye. No one can touch one of God’s little ones, except by Divine permission. This shows how safe we are, amid all the world’s dangers and enmities, while we trust ourselves in our Father’s keeping.

November 27. Fatal Decision "Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified." John 19:16 So we see the sad and terrible end of Pilate’s weak struggles with his conscience and his sense of right. He first tried every way to avoid the issue; then he temporized, hoping in some manner to get free from responsibility. At last he yielded; and his name goes through history pilloried forever as the man who delivered Jesus to be crucified. He is known by no other act. It had been a thousand times better for him if he had remained forever in obscurity, instead of going to that high place of power where he had to meet and deal with this momentous question of history.

We read that Pilate took water in the presence of the Jews and washed his hands — thus by symbol declaring that he was not responsible for the sentencing of Jesus to die. But the water did not wash away one particle of the stain of the guilt of that terrible sin. Pilate had the misfortune to be the only man in all the province who could send Jesus to the cross. Upon him, therefore, the final responsibility rested, no matter what the pressure was, which was brought to bear upon him by the enemies of Jesus. The fact that others urge us to sin — does not take away our guilt for that sin! No being in the universe can compel us to do wrong; if, then, we do wrong, the sin is our own.

We remember that the Jews responded to Pilate’s act of washing his hands, "May His blood be on us, and on our children!" No one who has read the story of the next forty years, can doubt that their self-imprecation was fulfilled. Thirty years later, thousands of the Jews were crucified. The crime of the Jews was successful; but what came of the success in the end? Let us learn the lesson, that sin brings always terrible woe — and that the worst of all sins, is sin against the Lord Jesus Christ.

November 28. Take up Your Cross

"Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)." John 19:17 At first there was no one to help Jesus to bear His cross; though fainting from loss of rest and from the gashing and laceration of His body by the scourge, and still more from the untold anguish through which He had been passing — He yet had to carry His cross for Himself until his strength gave way. Yet we must remember that while Jesus had to bear the cross unaided — it really was not for Himself that He bore it — but for us. He endured the shame and pain, and staggered beneath the awful burden — that He might set us free from the burden of sin’s curse! The Baptist said, when Jesus passed by Him at the beginning of His ministry, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" We may say the same words, as we see Jesus bearing His cross. That is what He is doing. It was not the mere wood which was so heavy; the real load which Jesus bore that day was the mountain of our sins! It was this that made Him faint and sink down by the way, and that wrung from Him such cries and tears in Gethsemane and on Calvary. A little later He sank down under the burden, and then the officers compelled a passer-by to help Him. After that the scene was this — Jesus and Simon of Cyrene together carrying the cross, Jesus in advance carrying the heavy end, and Simon coming behind bearing the lighter end. Here again the picture is very suggestive in two ways:

We must share the cross with Christ before we can be saved; that is, we must accept our place with Him under the cross and follow Him. Then we can turn the picture another way, and we see Jesus helping His people to bear their crosses. Every cross we have to bear, His shoulder is also beneath it, and He always bears the heavy end of it. No believer ought to be unable to bear any cross with Jesus. No load that He shares, should crush us.

November 29. The Perfect Sufferer

"There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it." Mat 27:34 The offer was kindly meant. There was an association of women at Jerusalem, a compassionate sisterhood, whose work was to provide such stupefying draughts for those who were crucified. The object was to produce partial unconsciousness, so that the terrible agonies might not be so keenly felt. It is pleasant to find that such an association existed at that early day, and that it was among the Jewish people. True religion always yields such fruits. Christianity has filled the world with just such gentle ministries. Wherever there is suffering — Christian women go to alleviate it. But it must be noticed that Christ did not accept this potion. He tasted it, showing His recognition and appreciation of the kindness that offered it — but he did not drink it. One reason probably was, that He would not seek to lessen in any way, the bitterness of the cup which His Father had given Him to drink. He would drink it to its last drop, and not dull the sense of suffering in Himself to make the draught any less bitter.

Another reason doubtless was that He would not cloud His mind in the least degree, as He entered the last experiences of life. He would not dim the clearness of His communion with His Father, by any potion that would impair His full consciousness. The example of Christ does not teach that it is wrong in ordinary cases, to use anesthetics to deaden the sense of pain. There were peculiar reasons why our Lord would abate nothing of the bitterness of His suffering. Chloroform and ether have been wonderful agents of mercy and blessing in the world. But it does seem proper that a person should not, when dying, be given any potion which would cloud the mind, or send the soul in a state of stupefaction through the experiences of death and into the presence of God.

November 30. The Crucifixion "They crucified Him." Mark 15:25

Here we come to the mount of our Redeemer’s sufferings, and we should bow our heads in holy reverence as we stand in the silence of astonished love — and gaze upon Him on His cross. Many thoughts will come to us as we contemplate this scene.

What a terrible thing sin is — that its expiation required such a sacrifice! Shall we go on carelessly sinning — when we see what our Savior suffered to save us from our sins?

What wondrous love must there be in the heart of God — to cause Him to give His Son to endure such a death to save sinners!

What wondrous love must there be in the heart of Jesus — that He was willing to make such a sacrifice of His own precious and glorious life to redeem the lost!

What a pattern for all life have we here! The cross, is Jesus giving Himself to bless and save others. The more completely we forget ourselves and live for others — the nearer do we get to the example of Christ. How can we ever complain again of our little privations and sacrifices for the sake of others? The cross, where Christ is giving all, should make us ashamed even to mention again any little thing that we have done or suffered for another.

Crucifixion was such a disgrace at that time, wrapped a name in such ignominy — that one who died thus was buried forever in shame. He never could be mentioned, but with thought and memory of dishonor. But Jesus, instead of being covered and borne down forever by the cross, in the black waters of reproach — lifted the cross itself to glory, until today it is the emblem of hope, of victory, of blessedness, and of joy wherever the Gospel has gone. Let no one be afraid to endure for Christ’s sake, for when the cross is taken up in His name — it becomes "an eternal weight of glory."