Epistles, he often used the same word, whose special
meaning he had learned from his Lord, to show his own love for his
fellow-Christians.

The new commandment was this--"That ye love one another; as I have loved
you, that ye also love one another." The command itself was not new, for
it had been given through Moses, and repeated by Christ, "Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself." But Christ gave the disciples a new
reason or motive for obeying it. They were to love one another because
of His love for them. As John grew older he became a beautiful example
of one who obeyed the command. In his old age he urged such obedience,
saying, "If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

Through the door of the Upper Room left ajar by three Evangelists, we
catch glimpses of the group around the table of the Last Supper. Through
it as opened wide by John we hear the voice of Jesus as He utters His
farewell words. He comforts His disciples and tells of heavenly
mansions. He gives His peace in their tribulations. He promises the Holy
Spirit as a Comforter. He closes His address, even in this hour of
sadness and apparent defeat, with these wonderful words, "Be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world."

And now as John still holds open the door, we hear the voice of prayer,
such as nowhere else has been offered. It is ended. There are moments of
silence, followed by a song of praise. Then John closes the door of the
Upper Room, which we believe was opened again as the earliest home of
the Christian Church. There we shall see him again with those who,
because of his experience with his Lord in that consecrated place, gave
him the name of "The Bosom Disciple."

[Illustration: IN GETHSEMANE _Gustave Dore_ Page 163]

_CHAPTER XXIV_

_With Jesus in Gethsemane_

"He went forth with His disciples over the brook Kidron, where was
a garden."--_John_ xviii. 1.

"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and
saith unto His disciples, Sit ye here while I go yonder and
pray."--_Matt._ xxvi. 36.

"And He taketh with Him Peter and James and John, ... and He saith
unto them, ... abide ye here, and watch."--_Mark_ xiv. 33, 34.

"And He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed."
_v._ 35.

John was our leader to the Upper Room. And now he guides us from it,
saying, "Jesus ... went forth with His disciples." That phrase "went
forth" may su