Christ . Even after entering upon His earthly mission , the Saviour , wearied with the stubbornness and ingratitude of men , might have drawn back from the sacrifice of Calvary . In Gethsemane the cup of woe trembled in His hand . He might even then have wiped the blood-sweat from His brow and have left the guilty race to perish in their iniquity . Had He done this , there could have been no redemption for fallen men . But when the Saviour yielded up His life , and with His expiring breath cried out , " It is finished ," then the fulfillment of the plan of redemption was assured . The promise of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified . The kingdom of grace , which had before existed by the promise of God , was then established .
Thus the death of Christ--the very event which the disciples had looked upon as the final destruction of their hope --was that which made it forever sure . While it had brought them a cruel disappointment , it was the climax of proof that their belief had been correct . The event that had filled them with mourning and despair was that which opened the door of hope to every child of Adam , and in which centreed the future life and eternal happiness of all God ' s faithful ones in all the ages . Purposes of infinite mercy were reaching their fulfillment , even though the disappointment of the disciples . While their hearts had been won by the divine grace and power of His teaching , who " spake as never man spake ," yet intermingled with the pure gold of their love for Jesus , was the base alloy of worldly pride and selfish ambitions . Even in the Passover chamber , at that solemn hour when their Master was already entering the shadow of Gethsemane , there was " a strife among them , which of them should be accounted the greatest ." Luke 22:24 .
Their vision was filled with the throne , the crown , and the glory , while just before them lay the shame and agony of the garden , the judgment hall , the cross of Calvary . It was their pride of heart , their thirst for worldly glory , that had led them to cling so tenaciously to the false teaching of their time , and to pass unheeded the Saviour ' s words showing the true nature of His kingdom , and pointing forward to His agony and death . And these error resulted in the trial--sharp but needful- -which was permitted for their correction . Though the disciples had mistaken the meaning of their message , and had failed to realize their expectations , yet they had preached the warning given them of God , and the Lord would reward their faith and honour their obedience . To them was to be entrusted the work of heralding to all nations the glorious gospel of their risen Lord . It was to prepare them for this work that the experience which seemed to them so bitter had been permitted .
After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples on the way to Emmaus , and , " beginning at Moses and all the prophets , He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself ." Luke 24:27 . The hearts of the disciples were stirred . Faith was kindled . They were " begotten again into a lively hope " even before Jesus revealed Himself to them . It was His purpose to enlighten their understanding and to fasten their faith upon the " sure word of prophecy ." He wished the truth to take firm root in their minds , not merely because it was supported by His personal testimony , but because of the unquestionable evidence presented by the symbols and shadows of
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