Morning   –  “Ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone.”

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.”

 

 

Evening  –  “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?”

Job 38:31

If inclined to boast of our abilities, the grandeur of nature may soon show us

how puny we are. We cannot move the least of all the twinkling stars, or quench

so much as one of the beams of the morning. We speak of power, but the heavens

laugh us to scorn. When the Pleiades shine forth in spring with vernal joy we

cannot restrain their influences, and when Orion reigns aloft, and the year is

bound in winter’s fetters, we cannot relax the icy bands. The seasons revolve

according to the divine appointment, neither can the whole race of men effect a

change therein. Lord, what is man?

In the spiritual, as in the natural world, man’s power is limited on all hands.

When the Holy Spirit sheds abroad his delights in the soul, none can disturb;

all the cunning and malice of men are ineffectual to stay the genial quickening

power of the Comforter. When he deigns to visit a church and revive it, the most

inveterate enemies cannot resist the good work; they may ridicule it, but they

can no more restrain it than they can push back the spring when the Pleiades

rule the hour. God wills it, and so it must be. On the other hand, if the Lord

in sovereignty, or in justice, bind up a man so that he is in soul bondage, who

can give him liberty? He alone can remove the winter of spiritual

death from an individual or a people. He looses the bands of Orion, and none

but he. What a blessing it is that he can do it. O that he would perform the

wonder tonight. Lord, end my winter, and let my spring begin. I cannot with all

my longings raise my soul out of her death and dulness, but all things are

possible with thee. I need celestial influences, the clear shinings of thy love,

the beams of thy grace, the light of thy countenance; these are the Pleiades to

me. I suffer much from sin and temptation; these are my wintry signs, my

terrible Orion. Lord, work wonders in me, and for me. Amen.