March 21st, 2024
“Ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone.â€
—John 16:32
Few had fellowship with the sorrows of Gethsemane. The majority of the disciples were not sufficiently advanced in grace to be admitted to behold the mysteries of “the agony.†Occupied with the passover feast at their own houses, they represent the many who live upon the letter, but are mere babes as to the spirit of the gospel. To twelve, nay, to eleven only was the privilege given to enter Gethsemane and see “this great sight.†Out of the eleven, eight were left at a distance; they had fellowship, but not of that intimate sort to which men greatly beloved are admitted. Only three highly favoured ones could approach the veil of our Lord’s mysterious sorrow: within that veil even these must not intrude; a stone’s-cast distance must be left between. He must tread the wine-press alone, and of the people there must be none with him. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, represent the few eminent, experienced saints, who may be written down as “Fathers;†these having done business on great waters, can in some degree measure the huge Atlantic waves of their Redeemer’s passion. To some selected spirits it is given, for the good of others, and to strengthen them for future, special, and tremendous conflict, to enter the inner circle and hear the pleadings of the suffering High Priest; they have fellowship with him in his sufferings, and are made conformable unto his death. Yet even these cannot penetrate the secret places of the Saviour’s woe. “Thine unknown sufferings†is the remarkable expression of the Greek liturgy: there was an inner chamber in our Master’s grief, shut out from human knowledge and fellowship. There Jesus is “left alone.†Here Jesus was more than ever an “Unspeakable gift!†Is not Watts right when he sings—
“And all the unknown joys he gives,
Were bought with agonies unknown.â€
C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896). Logos.com
—John 16:32
Few had fellowship with the sorrows of Gethsemane. The majority of the disciples were not sufficiently advanced in grace to be admitted to behold the mysteries of “the agony.†Occupied with the passover feast at their own houses, they represent the many who live upon the letter, but are mere babes as to the spirit of the gospel. To twelve, nay, to eleven only was the privilege given to enter Gethsemane and see “this great sight.†Out of the eleven, eight were left at a distance; they had fellowship, but not of that intimate sort to which men greatly beloved are admitted. Only three highly favoured ones could approach the veil of our Lord’s mysterious sorrow: within that veil even these must not intrude; a stone’s-cast distance must be left between. He must tread the wine-press alone, and of the people there must be none with him. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, represent the few eminent, experienced saints, who may be written down as “Fathers;†these having done business on great waters, can in some degree measure the huge Atlantic waves of their Redeemer’s passion. To some selected spirits it is given, for the good of others, and to strengthen them for future, special, and tremendous conflict, to enter the inner circle and hear the pleadings of the suffering High Priest; they have fellowship with him in his sufferings, and are made conformable unto his death. Yet even these cannot penetrate the secret places of the Saviour’s woe. “Thine unknown sufferings†is the remarkable expression of the Greek liturgy: there was an inner chamber in our Master’s grief, shut out from human knowledge and fellowship. There Jesus is “left alone.†Here Jesus was more than ever an “Unspeakable gift!†Is not Watts right when he sings—
“And all the unknown joys he gives,
Were bought with agonies unknown.â€
C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896). Logos.com
Posted in Spurgeon
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
March
Morning, March 4Evening, March 4Morning, March 5Evening, March 5Morning, March 6Evening, March 6Morning, March 7Evening, March 7Evening, March 8Morning, March 8Morning, March 9Evening, March 9Morning, March 10Evening, March 10Morning, March 11Evening, March 11Morning, March 12Evening, March 12Morning, March 13Evening, March 13Morning, March 14Evening, March 14Evening, March 15Morning, March 15Morning, March 16Evening, March 16Morning, March 17Evening, March 17Morning, March 18Evening, March 18Morning, March 19Evening, March 19Morning, March 20Evening, March 20Morning, March 21Evening, March 21Morning, March 22Evening, March 22Evening, March 23Morning, March 23
2023
December
No Comments