There Ye May Be Also

The night in which He was betrayed, but before Gethsemane, in the upper chamber Jesus said to His disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled." Troubled they were. The times were filled with unrest, riot, insurrection. The Jewish people were rebellious under the Roman yoke, the submerged tenth lurked and struck in banditry, and the soldiery replied with fierce massacres and savage crucifixions. Through all this hateful tide of public turmoil the disciples of Jesus had waded for three and a half years, sustained by the hope that their Master was the promised Messiah, who any day now would assert His right and His power, take the throne, thrust down the Romans, and elevate His followers to the proud heights of sovereignty. But the events of the past few days had made them dubious. They knew, vaguely, of the plottings against their Leader; they knew He was treading upon a quaking volcano. And now, because of His own assertion, they feared there was treason even in their inner circle. Their hearts were troubled.

Why not be troubled? "Ye believe in God." Yes, but God is inscrutable, His ways past finding out. "Believe also in Me." Ah, here is an anchor! Jesus, assuredly the Messiah! Him we know, Him we love, and Him we trust. Master, we would fain believe in Thee, believe that Thou art the Christ, believe that Thou shalt be King. But what mean all these fearful rumors, these untoward events? Where has Judas gone? On what errand? Wilt thou take the kingdom?

''In My Father's house are many mansions." Ah, this is comforting. He looks to the coronation, to the mansions of David. And, "many mansions" —He promises us each a palace in Jerusalem, a villa in Caesarea, a lodge in Lebanon! This is what we have hoped for.

"I go to prepare a place for you." O Master, leave us not! We will go with Thee! Do not separate Thyself from us, as in Gadara across Galilee, as in the still mornings when, silently, alone, Thou didst go forth to the mountainside to pray. We know not whither Thou goest, and how can we know the way?

"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again." Oh, glorious promise, comforting word! But how long will it be? Overnight? Next week? Surely not a year! Ah, the long centuries, the wasted generations, the dark ages, the persecutions, the hope deferred, the labor, the sacrifice, the tears! Come, Lord Jesus!

"I will come again, and receive you unto Myself." They could not know, those eleven disciples, pressing close to their Master on that fateful night, they could not know the full plans of God, nor how the laxity, the unfaithfulness, the disloyalty of the Master's followers, added to the world's incorrigibility, would work to hinder His schedule, to keep Him away longer than He desired and meant. Gradually, inch by inch, yard by yard, the panorama must unfold, a canvas covered with the infamy of men, the heroism of men—the doubt, the faith, the hate, and the love of men. But the promise was to hold through all the ages, piercing the dungeon, wafting to the mountain stronghold, plowing the sea, ringing through the city, and borne upon the ether wave of faith, even to today.

"That where I am, there ye may be also." This is the perfect end. To be with our Lord and Friend, nevermore to part. No cross between, no enveloping tomb, no parting, no waiting: forever with the Lord! Not jasper walls and pearly gates and golden streets, not crowns and harps and thrones, not these the reward, but-

"O Jesus, Thou hast promised

To all who follow Thee

That where Thou art in glory

There shall Thy servant be."

And, according to Thy promise, "even so, come, Lord Jesus"!