d downward,
because he felt unworthy to be so like his Lord--following Him with
humility and reverence. But whatever befalls us, whatever be the
nature of our experience in life or death, let it be our one aim to
glorify God. "And the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His
eternal glory in Christ, after that we have suffered a little while,
shall Himself perfect, stablish, strengthen us. To Him be the dominion
forever and ever. Amen."

XXXVII

Back to the Father

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did."--JOHN xxi. 25.

Once more, as we learn both from the Gospel according to Matthew and
the First Epistle to Corinthians, our Lord met the eleven Apostles,
together with some five hundred brethren beside, on a mountain in
Galilee, chosen partly for retirement and seclusion, and partly that
all might see Him. The majority of these were alive when Paul wrote.
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me
in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them into 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 of the
age."

Only once or twice beside did the Lord appear. He was seen of James,
and this interview seems to have determined this saintly man, who was
his own brother either through a previous marriage of Joseph, or as
born after his own birth, of Mary, to become a humble follower of Him,
with whose existence His own was so mysteriously blended. Then He
appeared once more to all the Apostles, and being assembled with them
commanded them to wait in Jerusalem till the promise of the Father was
fulfilled, that He would send them another Comforter, the Holy Ghost.
"For John," He said, "truly baptized with water; but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

There seems to have been an interval at that point, during which the
disciples had time to think over what the Lord had said. It had
suggested to them the idea of the setting up of the Messianic kingdom,
which had always been viewed as coincident with the bestowal of the
Holy Ghost. "Lord," they said when they came together again, "wilt
Thou restore at this time the kingdom to Israel!" The Lord would not
gratify their curiosity, and at that moment it would have been useless
to combat and explain their erroneous views. Th