Morning, March 26
Go To Evening Reading
“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! The ruling passion is 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 dumb 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 stay them in it. No lion shall be on their way, neither shall any
ravenous beast go up thereon. “The hind 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 loves. 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 thy Redeemer has secured
thee, and bless his name all the day, and every day.