Accordingly, the apostles heard much that was new as Jesus talked to them this day in the garden. And some of these pronouncements sounded strange even to them. Among other startling announcements they listened to such as the following:
"From this time on, if any man would have fellowship with us, let him assume the obligations of sonship and follow me. And when I am no more with
you, think not that the world will treat you better than it did your Master. If
you love me, prepare to prove this affection by your willingness to make the
supreme sacrifice."
"And mark well my words: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. The Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister and to bestow his life as the gift for all. I declare to you that I have come to seek and to
save those who are lost."
"No man in this world now sees the Father except the Son who came forth
from the Father. But if the Son be lifted up, he will draw all men to himself,
and whosoever believes this truth of the combined nature of the Son shall be
endowed with life that is more than age-abiding."
"We may not yet proclaim openly that the Son of Man is the Son of God,
but it has been revealed to you; wherefore do I speak boldly to you concerning
these mysteries. Though I stand before you in this physical presence, I came
forth from God the Father. Before Abraham was, I am. I did come forth from
the Father into this world as you have known me, and I declare to you that I
must presently leave this world and return to the work of my Father."
"And now can your faith comprehend the truth of these declarations in the
face of my warning you that the Son of Man will not meet the expectations of
your fathers as they conceived the Messiah? My kingdom is not of this world.
Can you believe the truth about me in the face of the fact that, though the
foxes have holes and the birds of heaven have nests, I have not where to lay
my head?"
"Nevertheless, I tell you that the Father and I are one. He who has seen
me has seen the Father. My Father is working with me in all these things, and
he will never leave me alone in my mission, even as I will never forsake you
when you presently go forth to proclaim this gospel throughout the world.
"And now have I brought you apart with me and by yourselves for a little while that you may comprehend the glory, and grasp the grandeur, of the life to which I have called you: the faith-adventure of the establishment of my Father's kingdom in the hearts of mankind, the building of my fellowship of living association with the souls of all who believe this gospel."
The apostles listened to these bold and startling statements in silence; they
were stunned. And they dispersed in small groups to discuss and ponder the
Master's words. They had confessed that he was the Son of God, but they could
not grasp the full meaning of what they had been led to do.
That evening Andrew took it upon himself to hold a personal and searching conference with each of his brethren, and he had profitable and heartening
