But perhaps it is not quite clear yet what the Father's will is. Perhaps you are asking yourself, What is eternal life? Of course, eternal, or everlasting life, is a condition of being--or of living--in which there is no death. When we gain the gift of eternal life, we shall go on living for ever and ever. Jesus gave once an excellent definition of the conditions of eternal life. He had spent considerable time exhorting His disciples, and instructing them in things that were yet to come. Then He raised his eyes to heaven and prayed; and in the course of that prayer, He said, "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." [Sidenote: The special mission of Jesus.] Now we may begin to understand fully what Jesus thought about His mission on the earth. God did not put men on the earth to destroy them. He put them here to save them, if they would be saved. It is the glory of God to save men, to bring to pass their salvation and everlasting exaltation. This is the Father's business. But to gain the gift of eternal life men must learn to know {18} God. Here then we discover the nature of Jesus's mission. As child and boy and man, Jesus devoted His life to learning to know God and to the teaching of His brethren also to know Him. Through the love and sacrifice of Jesus, we may gain eternal life. In the temple, the boy of twelve was about His Father's business, learning and explaining. As a man, He fulfilled the will of His Father, making it possible for men to know God. In His death. He accomplished the general salvation of mankind, making it possible for them to gain eternal life. It is small wonder that Napoleon revered the Man who thus unselfishly devoted His life to the good of His fellowmen, and finally laid it down for their salvation. We shall be glad to study the teachings of this Man. But first, we must understand what it means to know God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. THE REFERENCES Luke 2:42-52. Moses 1:39. John 6:38-40. Doc. and Cov. 14:7. John 17:1-3. THE QUESTIONS 1. What, in your opinion, is the value of Napoleon's testimony of Jesus? 2. What does Napoleon admit in his testimony? 3. What peoples in the world today do not acknowledge Jesus the Christ? 4. Name some points in which the world has been affected by the teachings of Jesus. 5. Outline briefly the story of the life of Jesus. 6. Why should it be more important to know the teachings of Jesus than merely to know the story of His life? 7. What new responsibilities came to Jesus when He reached the age of twelve years? {19} 8. Why did Jesus remain at the temple in Jerusalem when the feast of the Passover was accomplished? 9. What was the answer that puzzled His mother? 10. Why were men placed upon the earth? 11. What are the conditions of eternal life? 12. In what sense has Jesus always been about His Father's business? 13. What should be our attitude toward the Father's business?