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March 26

Morning

Jesus said unto them, If ye seek me, let these go their way. — John 18:8

Mark, my soul, the care which Jesus manifested even in His hour of trial, towards the sheep of His hand! His love for His people is as strong in death. He resigns Himself to the enemy but He interposes a word of power to set His disciples free. As to Himself, like a sheep before her shearers He is silent, and opened not His mouth. But for His disciples’ sake—He speaks with Almighty energy. Herein is love—constant, self-forgetting, faithful love!

But is there not far more here than is to be found upon the surface? Have we not the very soul and spirit of the atonement in these words? The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep and pleads that they must therefore go free. The Surety is bound, and justice demands that those for whom He stands a substitute, should go their way. In the midst of Egypt’s bondage, that voice rings as a word of power, “Let these go their way!” Out of slavery of sin and Satan—the redeemed must come. In every cell of the dungeons of Despair, the sound is echoed, “Let these go their way!” and forth come Despondency and Much-afraid. Satan hears the well-known voice, and lifts his foot from the neck of the fallen; and Death hears it, and the grave opens her gates to let the dead arise.

Their way is one of progress, holiness, triumph, glory, and none shall dare to keep them in it. No lion shall be on their way, neither shall any ravenous beast go up thereon. “The deer of the morning” has drawn the cruel hunters upon Himself and now the most timid roes and hinds of the field may graze at perfect peace among the lilies of his love. The thunder-cloud has burst over the Cross of Calvary and the pilgrims of Zion shall never be smitten by the bolts of vengeance! Come, my heart, rejoice in the immunity which your Redeemer has secured you and bless His name all the day, and every day!


Evening

When he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. — Mark 8:38

If we have been partakers with Jesus in His shame—we shall be sharers with Him in the luster which shall surround Him when He appears again in glory! Are you, beloved, one with Christ Jesus? Does a vital union knit you to Him? Then you are today with Him in His shame; you have taken up His cross, and gone with Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach; you shall doubtless be with Him when the cross is exchanged for the crown.

But judge yourself this evening; for if you are not with Him in regeneration, neither shall you be with Him when He shall come in His glory. If you start back from the black side of communion, you shall not understand its bright, its happy period, when the King shall come, and all His holy angels with Him. Come, my soul, if you are indeed His own beloved—you cannot be far from Him. If His friends and His neighbors are called together to see His glory, what of you are married to Him? Shall you be distant? Though it be a day of judgment—yet you cannot be far from that heart which, having admitted angels into intimacy, has admitted you into marriage union. Has He not said to you, O my soul, “I will betroth you unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness”? Have not His own lips said it, “I am married unto you, and My delight is in you”? If the angels, who are but friends and neighbors, shall be with Him, it is abundantly certain that His own beloved Hephzibah, in whom is all His delight, shall be near to Him, and sit at His right hand. Here is a morning star of hope for you, of such exceeding brilliance, that it may well light up the darkest and most desolate experience!


Morning and Evening - March 26

Public domain content taken from Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon.


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