Spurgeon: March AM
* 03/26/AM
"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.