Save Yourself! These words have a familiar ring in the Master’s ears. He had heard them in all their variations throughout the whole period of His public ministry.

When a messenger came to Peraea carrying tidings of the passing of Lazarus, His disciples tried to dissuade Him from going to Bethany, to save Himself.

An anxious family waited on Him in Capernaum and begged Him to return to Nazareth to save Himself.

Certain Greeks approached Him during the Last Passover and evidently afforded Him an opportunity to slip out of the picture gracefully, to save Himself.

In Gethsemane His final decision was made, quite in accord with all of His previous decisions. He would not save Himself. Now, agonizing on the cross, He heard the malefactors suggesting that He save Himself—and them. His critics and crucifiers joined the chorus and cried, “Come down from the cross and save yourself!” (Mark 15:30).

But He who taught His disciples to deny themselves and to save their lives by losing them had definitely determined to give Himself.

THE UPPER ROOM

When a Roman soldier was told by his guide that if he insisted on taking a certain journey it would probably be fatal, he answered, “It is necessary for me to go; it is not necessary for me to live.”

That was depth. When we have convictions like that, we shall come to something worthy of our name Christian.

More than half beaten, but fearless,

Facing the storm and the night,

Reeling and breathless, but fearless,

Here in the lull of the fight.

I who bow not but before Thee,

God of the fighting clan,

Lifting my fists I implore Thee,

Give me the heart of a man!

What though I stand with the winners,

Or perish with those that fall?

Only the cowards are sinners;

Fighting the fight, that is all.

Strong is my foe, who advances,

Snapped is my blade, O Lord;

See their proud banners and lances,

But spare me the stub of a sword!