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my life for Thy sake。〃 John 13：36； 37。 When he said this； he little knew to what heights and depths Christ's feet would lead the way。 Peter had failed when the test came； but again he was to have opportunity to prove his love for Christ。 That he might be strengthened for the final test of his faith； the Saviour opened to him his future。 He told him that after living a life of usefulness； when age was telling upon his strength； he would indeed follow his Lord。 Jesus said； 〃When thou wast young； thou girdedst thyself； and walkedst whither thou wouldest： but when thou shalt be old； thou shalt stretch forth thy hands； and another shall gird thee； and carry thee whither thou wouldest not。 This spake He； signifying by what death he should glorify God。〃
Jesus thus made known to Peter the very manner of his death； He even foretold the stretching forth of his hands upon the cross。 Again He bade His disciple； 〃Follow Me。〃 Peter was not disheartened by the revelation。 He felt willing to suffer any death for his Lord。
Heretofore Peter had known Christ after the flesh； as many know Him now； but he was no more to be thus limited。 He knew Him no more as he had known Him in his association with Him in humanity。
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He had loved Him as a man； as a heaven…sent teacher； he now loved Him as God。 He had been learning the lesson that to him Christ was all in all。 Now he was prepared to share in his Lord's mission of sacrifice。 When at last brought to the cross； he was； at his own request； crucified with his head downward。 He thought it too great an honor to suffer in the same way as his Master did。
To Peter the words 〃Follow Me〃 were full of instruction。 Not only for his death； but for every step of his life； was the lesson given。 Hitherto Peter had been inclined to act independently。 He had tried to plan for the work of God； instead of waiting to follow out God's plan。 But he could gain nothing by rushing on before the Lord。 Jesus bids him； 〃Follow Me。〃 Do not run ahead of Me。 Then you will not have the hosts of Satan to meet alone。 Let Me go before you； and you will not be overcome by the enemy。
As Peter walked beside Jesus； he saw that John was following。 A desire came over him to know his future； and he 〃saith to Jesus； Lord； and what shall this man do？ Jesus saith unto him； If I will that he tarry till I come； what is that to thee？ follow thou Me。〃 Peter should have considered that his Lord would reveal to him all that it was best for him to know。 It is the duty of everyone to follow Christ； without undue anxiety as to the work assigned to others。 In saying of John； 〃If I will that he tarry till I come；〃 Jesus gave no assurance that this disciple should live until the Lord's second coming。 He merely asserted His own supreme power； and that even if He should will this to be so； it would in no way affect Peter's work。 The future of both John and Peter was in the hands of their Lord。 Obedience in following Him was the duty required of each。
How many today are like Peter！ They are interested in the affairs of others； and anxious to know their duty； while they are in danger of neglecting their own。 It is our work to look to Christ and follow Him。 We shall see mistakes in the lives of others； and defects in their character。 Humanity is encompassed with infirmity。 But in Christ we shall find perfection。 Beholding Him； we shall become transformed。
John lived to be very aged。 He witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem； and the ruin of the stately temple；a symbol of the final ruin of the world。 To his latest days John closely followed his Lord。 The burden of his testimony to the churches was； 〃Beloved； let us love one another；〃 〃he that dwelleth in love； dwelleth in God； and God in him。〃 1 John 4：7； 16。
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Peter had been restored to his apostleship； but the honor and authority he received from Christ had not given him supremacy over his brethren。 This Christ had made plain when in answer to Peter's question； 〃What shall this man do？〃 He had said； 〃What is that to thee？ follow thou Me。〃 Peter was not honored as the head of the church。 The favor which Christ had shown him in forgiving his apostasy； and entrusting him with the feeding of the flock； and Peter's own faithfulness in following Christ； won for him the confidence of his brethren。 He had much influence in the church。 But the lesson which Christ had taught him by the Sea of Galilee Peter carried with him throughout his life。 Writing by the Holy Spirit to the churches； he said：
〃The elders which are among you I exhort； who am also an elder； and a witness of the sufferings of Christ； and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed： Feed the flock of God which is among you； taking the oversight thereof； not by constraint； but willingly； not for filthy lucre； but of a ready mind； neither as being lords over God's heritage； but being ensamples to the flock。 And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear； ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away。〃 1 Peter 5：1…4。
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Chapter 86
Go Teach All Nations
Standing but a step from His heavenly throne； Christ gave the commission to His disciples。 〃All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth；〃 He said。 〃Go ye therefore； and teach all nations。〃 〃Go ye into all the world； and preach the gospel to every creature。〃 Mark 16：15。 Again and again the words were repeated； that the disciples might grasp their significance。 Upon all the inhabitants of the earth； high and low； rich and poor； was the light of heaven to shine in clear； strong rays。 The disciples were to be colaborers with their Redeemer in the work of saving the world。
The commission had been given to the twelve when Christ met with them in the upper chamber； but it was now to be given to a larger number。 At the meeting on a mountain in Galilee； all the believers who could be called together were assembled。 Of this meeting Christ Himself； before His death； had designated the time and place。 The angel at the tomb reminded the disciples of His promise to meet them in Galilee。 The promise was repeated to the believers who were gathered at Jerusalem during the Passover week； and through them it reached many lonely ones who were mourning the death of their Lord。 With intense interest all looked forward to the interview。 They made their way to the place of meeting by circuitous routes； coming in from every direction； to avoid exciting the suspicion of the jealous Jews。 With wondering hearts they came； talking earnestly together of the news that had reached them concerning Christ。
At the time appointed； about five hundred believers were collected in little knots on the mountainside； eager to learn all that could be learned
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from those who had seen Christ since His resurrection。 From group to group the disciples passed； telling all they had seen and heard of Jesus； and reasoning from the Scriptures as He had done with them。 Thomas recounted the story of his unbelief； and told how his doubts had been swept away。 Suddenly Jesus stood among them。 No one could tell whence or how He came。 Many who were present had never before seen Him； but in His hands and feet they beheld the marks of the crucifixion； His countenance was as the face of God； and when they saw Him； they worshiped Him。
But some doubted。 So it will always be。 There are those who find it hard to exercise faith； and they place themselves on the doubting side。 These lose much because of their unbelief。
This was the only interview that Jesus had with many of the believers after His resurrection。 He came and spoke to them saying； 〃All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth。〃 The disciples had worshiped Him before He spoke； but His words； falling from lips that had been closed in death； thrilled them with peculiar power。 He was now the risen Saviour。 Many of them had seen Him exercise His power in healing the sick and controlling satanic agencies。 They believed that He possessed power to set up His kingdom at Jerusalem； power to quell all opposition； power over the elements of nature。 He had stilled the angry waters； He had walked upon the white…crested billows； He had raised the dead to life。 Now He declared that 〃all power〃 was given to Him。 His words carried the minds of His hearers above earthly and temporal things to the heavenly and eternal。 They were lifted to the highest conception of His dignity and glory。
Christ's words on the mountainside were the announcement that His sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete。 The conditions of the atonement had been fulfilled； the work for which He came to this world had been accomplished。 He was on His way to the throne of God； to be honored by angels； principalities； and powers。 He had entered upon His mediatorial work。 Clothed with boundless authority； He gave His commission to the disciples： 〃Go ye therefore； and teach all nations；〃 〃baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit： teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you： and lo； I am with you always； even unt