“Jesus said unto them\u2014If you seek Me, let these go their way.” \u2014 John 18:8<\/p>\n
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\u2014but 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\u2014He speaks with Almighty energy. Herein is love\u2014constant, self-forgetting, faithful love!<\/p>\n
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\u2014and 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\u2014the 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2014and 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\u2014and 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\u2014and bless His name all the day, and every day!-Charles Spurgeon.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Shall I not drink it?\u2028\u2028(Newman Hall, “Leaves of Healing\u2028from the Garden of Grief” 1891)\u2028\u2028”The cup which My Father has given Me,\u2028shall I not drink it?” John 18:11\u2028\u2028It was the Savior’s own desire to suffer. \u2028To escape would be . . .\u2028to falsify Scripture,\u2028to renounce His own purpose,\u2028to abandon His work of salvation,\u2028to contravene the Father’s loving will.\u2028\u2028My Father has ordained this cup, mingled it, \u2028knows every drop in it, presents it\u2014shall I \u2028not drink it? My Father is . . .\u2028infinite in wisdom, and cannot err; \u2028infinite in love, and cannot be unkind;\u2028infinite in resources, and would not give it to\u2028Me to drink, if His and My own great purpose to \u2028save the world could be better realized. It is \u2028a cup which, drained by Me, shall procure to \u2028countless multitudes . . .\u2028a cup of redemption,\u2028a cup of consolation,\u2028a cup of glory in the everlasting banquet of heaven!\u2028\u2028”The cup which My Father has given Me,\u2028shall I not drink it?” John 18:11\u2028\u2028And He drank it to the dregs!\u2028\u2028Let His followers, whenever they have to drink \u2028a cup of sorrow, be comforted in remembering \u2028this last word of Christ at Gethsemane. \u2028\u2028He, the sinless One\u2014suffered for us, the sinful ones. \u2028By reason of our transgressions, His cup was so bitter. \u2028By drinking it, He provided an antidote for the poison \u2028which sin infuses into every sorrowful cup of ours. \u2028\u2028His love prompted Him to drink it all. \u2028\u2028He has thus removed from us the danger, fear, and \u2028sorrow. Our garden of grief, by His bitter cup, has \u2028been delivered from its darkest gloom, has been \u2028illumined by Divine love and rejoicing hope. He who \u2028has thus saved us from sin and death, and ever lives \u2028as our sympathizing Brother, will be with us in every \u2028trial, and enable us also to say, “The cup which my \u2028Father has given me, shall I not drink it?”<\/p>\n
We know the rest of the story of Peter\u2019s life. He stood at Pentecost and preached the gospel to thousands and the Lord added to His church daily such as should be saved (Acts. 2: 41-47).<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
A cup of love!\u2028\u2028(John MacDuff, “Gleams from the Sick Chamber” 1882)\u2028\u2028”But what could I say? For He Himself had sent this\u2028sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years \u2028because of this anguish I have felt.” Isaiah 38:15\u2028\u2028God Himself has mixed your bitter cup, and led \u2028you to your ‘Gethsemane of suffering’. \u2028\u2028All your sufferings . . .\u2028the existence of them,\u2028the duration of them,\u2028the intensity of them,\u2028are appointed by your heavenly Father.\u2028\u2028”Though now for a little while, if need be, you may\u2028have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” 1 Peter 1:6\u2028\u2028Your heavenly Father can inflict no unnecessary pang.\u2028\u2028You may presently be pain-stricken, and woe-worn.\u2028\u2028There is a divine necessity for your present “fiery trial.” \u2028No drop in the cup can be spared! “I will correct you \u2028in measure.” Your heavenly Father, tenderer and more \u2028loving than the tenderest earthly parent, tempers the \u2028fury of the flames, saying, “Thus far shall you go, and \u2028no farther.”\u2028\u2028Happy for you, that you can write “if need be” . . .\u2028over that severest hour of distress,\u2028over every night of throbbing temples, \u2028over sleepless eyes,\u2028over every fresh thorn sent to buffet,\u2028over every heavy cross sent to carry.\u2028\u2028When we are assured that nothing which is \u2028appointed by our Father can come to us wrongly, \u2028our cup of suffering becomes a cup of love! \u2028\u2028”Shall I not drink the cup my Father has \u2028given me?” John 18:11\u2028\u2028”For our light and momentary troubles are\u2028achieving for us an eternal glory that far\u2028outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17\u2028\u2028What verse is more soothing sight for a suffering \u2028couch, or for a dying pillow? What verse is more \u2028consolatory for a weary, burdened body? and above \u2028all, for a weary, burdened, sin-stricken heart?\u2028\u2028”God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”\u2028Revelation 7:17\u2028\u2028A tearless Heaven will make amends for all!<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
He has given me a cup of deep sorrow to drink\u2028\u2028(J. C. Philpot, “The Wine of Astonishment” 1862)\u2028\u2028”He has filled me with bitterness. He has given me\u2028a cup of deep sorrow to drink.” Lamentations 3:15\u2028\u2028The Lord’s people have many hard lessons which they \u2028have to learn in the ‘school of Christ’. Each one has to \u2028carry a daily cross, and are burdened and pressed down \u2028under its weight. This daily cross may and does differ in \u2028individuals. But every child of God has his own cross, \u2028which laid upon his shoulders by an invincible hand, he \u2028has, for the most part, to carry down to the very grave. \u2028\u2028Thus, some of God’s people are afflicted in body from \u2028the very time the Lord begins His work of grace upon \u2028their heart. Or if exempt from disease, are shattered \u2028in nerve, depressed in spirits, and weighed down by \u2028lassitude and languor, often harder to bear than \u2028disease itself.\u2028\u2028Some are tied to ungodly partners, meeting \u2028with opposition and persecution at every step.\u2028\u2028Others have nothing but trouble in their family, \u2028either from the invasion of death into their circle, \u2028or what sometimes is worse than death–disgrace, \u2028shame, and ungodliness. \u2028\u2028Others have little else but one continual series \u2028of losses and crosses in their circumstances, \u2028wave after wave rolling over their heads.\u2028\u2028O, view the family of God toiling homeward . . .\u2028some dragging along an afflicted body;\u2028others a wounded spirit;\u2028others carrying upon their shoulders dying children;\u2028others with scarcely a rag to their back or a crust in their hand;\u2028footsore,\u2028fearful in heart,\u2028trembling at a rustling leaf,\u2028a deep river to pass, and\u2028a furious enemy in sight.\u2028\u2028”Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there\u2028are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop\u2028fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though\u2028the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,\u2028yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of\u2028my salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength!”\u2028Habakkuk 3:17-19<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Christ took your cup!\u2028\u2028(Octavius Winslow)\u2028\u2028Christ took your cup of grief, your cup of the curse \u2014 pressed it to His lips, and drank it to its dregs! Then He filled it with His sweet, pardoning, sympathizing love \u2014 and gave it back for you to drink, and to drink forever!\u2028\u2028”May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully!” Ephesians 3:19<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
THE DYING LEGACY<\/p>\n
“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said,”<\/p>\n
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” \u2014 John 14:27<\/p>\n
How we treasure the last sayings of a dying parent! How specially cherished and memorable are his last looks and last words! Here are the last words, the parting legacy, of a dying Savior. It is a legacy of peace.<\/p>\n
What peace is this? It is His own purchase \u2014 a peace arising out of free forgiveness through His precious blood. It is sung in concert with “Glory to God in the highest” \u2014 a peace made as sure to us, as eternal power and infinite love can make it! It is peace the soul needs, that is nowhere else to be found \u2014 but through the blood of His cross! “Being justified \u2014by faith we have peace with God.” “HE gives His beloved rest!”<\/p>\n
How different from the false and counterfeit peace in which so many are content to live, and content to die! The world’s peace is all well \u2014 so long as prosperity lasts \u2014 so long as the stream runs smooth, and the sky is clear; but when the flood is at hand, or the storm is gathering, where is it? It is gone! There is no depending on its permanency. Often when the cup is fullest \u2014 there is the trembling apprehension that in one brief moment it may be dashed to the ground. The soul may be saying to itself, “Peace, peace;” but, like the writing on the sand, it may be obliterated by the first wave of adversity!<\/p>\n
But, the peace which Jesus gives, is “not as the world gives.” The peace of the believer is deep \u2014 calm \u2014 lasting \u2014 everlasting. The world, with all its blandishments, cannot give it. The world, with all its vicissitudes and fluctuations, cannot take it away! This peace is brightest \u2014 in the hour of trial; it lights up the final valley-gloom. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright \u2014 for the end of that man is peace!” Yes! how often is the believer’s deathbed like the deep calm repose of a summer-evening’s sky, when all nature is hushed to rest; the departing soul, like the vanishing sun, peacefully disappearing \u2014 only to shine in another and brighter universe! “I seem,” said a Christian on his deathbed, “to have nothing to do but to wait: there is now nothing but peace, the sweetest peace.”<\/p>\n
Believer! do you know this peace which passes understanding? Is it “keeping (literally, ‘garrisoning as in a citadel’) your heart?” Have you learned the blessedness of waking up, morning after morning, and feeling “I am at peace with my God!” Do you know the blessedness of beholding by faith the true Aaron \u2014 the great High Priest \u2014 coming forth from “the holiest of all” to “bless His people with peace?”<\/p>\n
Waves of trouble may be murmuring around you \u2014 but they cannot touch you! You are in the rock-crevice against which the fiercest tornado sweeps on by. Oh! leave not the making of your peace with God to a dying hour! It will be a hard thing to smooth the death-pillow, if peace with God is left unsought until then. Make sure of it now. He, the true Melchizedek, is willing now to come forth to meet you with bread and wine \u2014 emblems of peaceful gospel blessings. All the “words of Jesus” are so many streams contributing to make your peace flow as a river, “These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace.” “I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace unto His people and to His saints.”John MacDuff, 1858.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Every bitter cup\u2028\u2028(John Bunyan)\u2028\u2028”My times are in Your hand.” Psalm 31:15 \u2028\u2028Afflictions are governed by God, both as to . . .\u2028their time,\u2028their number,\u2028their nature, \u2028their measure.\u2028\u2028Our times, therefore, and our condition \u2028in these times, are in the hand of God. \u2028\u2028God is in all providences, be they . . .\u2028ever so bitter, \u2028ever so afflicting,\u2028ever so smarting,\u2028ever so destructive \u2028to our earthly comforts. \u2028\u2028Every bitter cup is of His preparing!\u2028\u2028It is Jesus, your best friend who most dearly \u2028loves you, who appoints all providences, orders \u2028them all, overrules, moderates, and sanctifies \u2028them all–and will sweeten them all–and in His \u2028due time will make them profitable unto you, \u2028that you shall one day have cause to praise \u2028and bless His name for them all.<\/p>\n
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He\u2028scourges every son whom He receives.” Heb. 12:6<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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