Part 1 (1/2)

Quiet Talks about Jesus.

by S. D. Gordon.

”Show me, I pray thee, Thy glory.”--_Moses_.

”When I could not see for the glory of that light.”--_Paul_.

”But we all with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are transformed into the same image from glory to glory.”--_Paul_.

”The light of the knowledge of the glory of G.o.d in the face of Jesus Christ.”--_Paul_.

”Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus, I've lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit's vision, Looking at the Crucified.”

--From _Winnowed Hymns_.

A Bit Ahead

So far as I can find out, I have no theory about Jesus to make these talks fit into. I have tried to find out for myself what the old Book of G.o.d tells about Him. And here I am trying to tell to others, as simply as I can, what I found. It was by the tedious, twisting path of doubt that I climbed the hill of truth up to some of its summits of certainty. I am free to confess that I am ignorant of the subject treated here save for the statements of that Book, and for the a.s.sent within my own spirit to these statements, which has greatly deepened the impression they made, and make. There is no question raised here about that Book itself, but simply a taking and grouping up together of what it says.

Most persons simply _read_ a book. A few _study_ it, also. It is good to read. It is yet better to go back over it and _study_, and meditate. Since learning that the two books on power and prayer have been used in Bible cla.s.ses I have regretted not including study notes in them. For those who may want to study about Jesus there has been added at the close a simple a.n.a.lysis with references. The reading pages have been kept free of foot-notes to make the reading smooth and easier. The a.n.a.lysis is so arranged that one can quickly turn in reading to the corresponding paragraph or page in the study notes.

A great musician strikes the key-note of a great piece of music, and can skilfully keep it ever sounding its melody through all the changes clear to the end. It has been in my heart to wish that I could do something like that here. If what has come to me has gotten out of me into these pages, there will be found a dominant note of sweetest music--the winsomeness of G.o.d in Jesus.

It is in my heart, too, to add this, that I have a friend whose constant presence and prayer have been the atmosphere of this little book in its making.

I. The Purpose of Jesus

1. The Purpose in Jesus' Coming.

2. The Plan for Jesus' Coming.

3. The Tragic Break In The Plan.

4. Some Surprising Results of the Break.

The Purpose in Jesus' Coming

<u>G.o.d Spelling Himself out in Jesus.</u>

Jesus is G.o.d spelling Himself out in language that man can understand. G.o.d and man used to talk together freely. But one day man went away from G.o.d.

And then he went farther away. He left home. He left his native land, Eden, where he lived with G.o.d. He emigrated from G.o.d. And through going away he lost his mother-tongue.

A language always changes away from its native land. Through going away from his native land man lost his native speech. Through not _hearing_ G.o.d speak he forgot the sounds of the words. His ears grew dull and then deaf.