VICTORIAN VILLAGE Life Style
praise. We know the weakness and infirmity of our Lord's disciples during the whole period of His earthly ministry. We find Him frequently reproving their ignorance and lack of faith. He knew full well that within a few hours, they were all going to forsake Him. But here we find Him graciously dwelling on one good point in their conduct, and holding it up to the perpetual notice of His Church. They had been faithful to their Master, notwithstanding all their faults. Their hearts had been right — whatever had been their mistakes. They had clung to Him in the day of His humiliation, when the great and noble were against Him. They had "remained true to Him, in His time of trial." Let us rest our souls on the comfortable thought that the mind of Christ is always the same. If we are true believers, then let us know that He looks at our graces more than at our faults ; that He pities our infirmities, and that He will not deal with us according to our sins. Never had a master such poor, weak servants as believers are to Christ, but never had servants such a compassionate and tender Master as Christ is to believers! Surely we cannot love Him too well. We may come short in many things. We may fail in knowledge and courage, and faith, and patience. We may stumble many times. But one thing lets us do it always. Let us love the Lord Jesus with heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Whatever others do — let us "remain true to Him," and cleave to Him with purpose of heart. Happy is he who can say with Peter, however
humbled and ashamed, "Lord, you know that I love you!" (John 21:15.)
LET US OBSERVE, LASTLY, WHAT A GLORIOUS PROMISE OUR LORD HOLDS OUT TO HIS FAITHFUL DISCIPLES. He says, "I confer on you a kingdom , just as my Father conferred one on me — so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." These words were our Lord's parting legacy to His little flock. He knew that in a few hours, His ministry among them would be ended. He winds it up with a wonderful declaration of the good things laid up for them. Perhaps we may not see the full meaning of every part of the promise. It is enough for us to know that our Lord promised His eleven faithful ones glory, honor, and rewards, far exceeding anything they had done for Him. They had gone a little way with Him — like Barzillai with David — and done a little for Him. He assures them that they shall have a recompense worthy of a king in the eternal world. Let us leave the whole passage with the cheering thought that the wages which Christ will give to his believing people will be far out of proportion to anything they have done for Him. Their tears will be found in His bottle. Their least desires to do good will be found recorded. Their weakest efforts to glorify Him will be found written in His book of remembrance. Not a cup of cold water shall miss its reward. Commentary by J.C. Ryle
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