A parable1 Jesus related to the chief priests and elders of the Jews while He was yet with them in the flesh: "There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But, last of all, he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence2 my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew4 him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him. He will miserably5 destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons."
God the great householder, Jesus the Son.
Just so is it with the kingdom of God; for just as the wicked husbandmen did with the servants and with the son of householder, so did the stiff-necked children of Israel with the prophets, and with the Son of God. {302} Therefore was the kingdom taken from them, as we have already learned, and given to the Gentiles. And therefore will the Great Householder miserably destroy the wicked who persecute6 His servants, kill His prophets, and reject His Only Begotten7 Son. But the righteous will He bless, and all those who serve Him; and even though we should fall into error, yet need we not despair. For if we repent8, God will forgive our sins, so only we do not as did the wicked husbandmen of the vineyard. "My little children," wrote the Beloved John in a letter to the saints, "these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
The exaltation of Jesus.
It is, indeed, a joyful9 thought that, even though Jesus was slain10 by the husbandmen. He was not and Mark assures us that when He ascended11 into heaven, Jesus assumed the place of honor at the right hand of the Father. "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them. He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God." There Stephen was privileged to see Him in vision some time later. Stephen is described as a man full of faith and power, who did great wonders and miracles among the people. Stephen preached fearlessly to the Jews the fact that Christ had risen. The Jews became enraged12, and stoned him; but before his death, Stephen, "being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly13 into heaven, and saw the glory of God, {303} and Jesus standing14 on the right hand of God, and said, Behold15, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." To Jesus had come the deserved glory for which He had wrought16. In His exaltation was fulfilled literally17 the sayings He had taught to His disciples18, "Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased19; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted20." "Whosoever would be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom21 for many."
Our advocate with the Father.
Now, it is perfectly22 plain that the great mission of Jesus was not entirely23 finished during His sojourn24 upon the earth. That for which He came was accomplished25, it is true. But just as we needed a Savior—one who would unselfishly lay down His own sinless life for the sins of others—so we need even now, when that sacrifice has been made, a mediator26, an advocate, to intercede27 for us with the Father. For we are all sinful at the best; weaknesses of various kinds beset28 us, and if we were to be rewarded strictly29 according to our merits, many of us would get but little in the way of blessing30. Jesus continues then to be our Redeemer, pleading our cause before the Father. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." So did Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, express to the Hebrews his faith in the mediating32 power of Jesus; and to the Romans he wrote, "Who is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is {304} risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Jesus continues, then, His great redeeming33 labor34, bringing salvation35 and exaltation to those who accept Him and diligently36 seek Him.
Many mansions37 in the Father's house.
And He prepares a place also for His own, that they may be appropriately received when they shall go to their eternal reward. One day when Jesus was talking to the apostles about His coming sacrifice, and the apostles were sorrowful because they thought that He intended to go away, He said to them, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also." Even as He promised His disciples that He would prepare a place for them, so is there a place prepared for each one of us. For in many respects the future life will be ordered like the present. In this life we are generally able to achieve such advancement38 as we work for. If we honestly and conscientiously39 make the most of the opportunities that lie about us; if we strive to make the most of what we have, never hiding the God-given talent in the earth—we are bound to progress and to succeed. But there are in the world many degrees of diligence, and therefore many degrees of success. So will it be in the kingdom of God. There, there are many mansions; and such a one will be prepared for us as will satisfy fully40 the degree of diligence with {305} which we have served. The risen Christ is not only our advocate with the Father, but also our judge.
Lord of lords and Kings of kings.
To this judge all power is given. So declared Jesus Himself when He appeared after His resurrection to the apostles and the five hundred brethren who had assembled on a mountain in Galilee. "Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Moreover, Jesus, to whom all power is given, is the sole mediator between man and God. Said Paul to Timothy, his own son in faith, "There is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all." And in this exalted position as Lord of lords, and King of kings, Jesus shall reign41 forever. "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever."
Jesus to come again.
You see, then, what a wonderful hope is prepared for those who serve Jesus. This earth is to come to an end. It is to be purified and sanctified; then there will appear a new earth as an abode42 for the blessed. But before that time shall come Jesus, Himself, is to come again to minister to His people upon the earth. When the apostles stood gazing up into heaven, whither Jesus had ascended, there appeared before them suddenly two men in white apparel. These men said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." This truth Jesus Himself declared in {306} the trial before the high priest. When the perjured43 witnesses testified against Him, Jesus made no reply. Then, "the high priest asked Him, and said unto Him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." When this wonderful occurrence shall take place, no one knows; it has never been revealed, but is known to the Father alone. But it appears that it is to take place at a time when the earth is troubled, and the end is not far off. "Immediately after the tribulation44 of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." If we are to be worthy45 of the ministry46 of Jesus when He shall come again, we must learn to know Him, and to live according to His teachings; for He has declared that He will be ashamed at His coming of those who are ashamed of Him. "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
The nearness of Jesus.
Even in His coming He will be our advocate and our judge. How close then Jesus stands to us. He came into the world to enlighten the world, that they might learn to know God and Jesus Christ {307} whom God sent; He laid down His life as a voluntary sacrifice to redeem31 the world from the original sin; now He sits at the right hand of God the Father and intercedes47 for those who believe in Him; and ere long He shall come again in clouds of glory, again to minister to men, that they may have the better chance to gain eternal life. The love and anxious sympathy of Jesus know no bounds.
"Listen to Him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before Him, saying, Father, behold the sufferings and death of Him who did no sin, in whom Thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of the Son which was shed—the blood of Him whom Thou gavest that Thyself might be glorified48; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe in my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting49 life."
THE REFERENCES
Matt. 21:33-41. 1 Tim. 2:5, 6.
1 John 2:1.2. Rev3. 11:15.
Mark 16:19. John 14:1-3.
Acts 7:56. Acts 1:11.
Heb. 7:25. Mark 14:62.
Rev. 8:34. Matt. 24:29,30.
Mark 28:18. Mark 8:38.
Doc. and Cov. 45:3-5.
{308} THE QUESTIONS
1. Interpret the parable of the householder and the wicked husbandmen.
2. What is the position of Jesus in heaven?
3. In what sense is Jesus our advocate with the Father?
4. What did Jesus mean by many mansions in His Father's house?
5. What power is given to Jesus?
6. How do we know that Jesus is to come again?
7. What is to happen when Jesus comes again?
8. In what way may we sense the nearness of Jesus?
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
parable
|
|
| n.寓言，比喻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
reverence
|
|
| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
rev
|
|
| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
slew
|
|
| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
miserably
|
|
| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
persecute
|
|
| vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
begotten
|
|
| v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
repent
|
|
| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
steadfastly
|
|
| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
disciples
|
|
| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
abased
|
|
| 使谦卑( abase的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到羞耻； 使降低（地位、身份等）； 降下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ransom
|
|
| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
sojourn
|
|
| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
mediator
|
|
| n.调解人，中介人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
intercede
|
|
| vi.仲裁，说情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
beset
|
|
| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
blessing
|
|
| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
redeem
|
|
| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
mediating
|
|
| 调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
redeeming
|
|
| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
salvation
|
|
| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
diligently
|
|
| ad.industriously;carefully | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
mansions
|
|
| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
advancement
|
|
| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
conscientiously
|
|
| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
reign
|
|
| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
abode
|
|
| n.住处，住所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
perjured
|
|
| adj.伪证的，犯伪证罪的v.发假誓，作伪证( perjure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
tribulation
|
|
| n.苦难，灾难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
ministry
|
|
| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
intercedes
|
|
| v.斡旋，调解( intercede的第三人称单数 )；说情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
glorified
|
|
| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |