Morning and Evening

Charles H. Spurgeon

March 26, 2010

Morning 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.

Evening Reading

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 lustre which shall surround Him when He appears again
in glory. Art thou, beloved one, with Christ Jesus? Does a vital union
knit thee to Him? Then thou art to-day with Him in His shame; thou hast
taken up His cross, and gone with Him without the camp bearing His
reproach; thou shalt doubtless be with Him when the cross is exchanged
for the crown. But judge thyself this evening; for if thou art not with
Him in the regeneration, neither shalt thou be with Him when He shall
come in His glory. If thou start back from the black side of communion,
thou shalt not understand its bright, its happy period, when the King
shall come, and all His holy angels with Him. What! are angels with
Him? And yet He took not up angels--He took up the seed of Abraham. Are
the holy angels with Him? Come, my soul, if thou art indeed His own
beloved, thou canst not be far from Him. If His friends and His
neighbours are called together to see His glory, what thinkest thou if
thou art married to Him? Shalt thou be distant? Though it be a day of
judgment, yet thou canst not be far from that heart which, having
admitted angels into intimacy, has admitted thee into union. Has He not
said to thee, O my soul, "I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness,
and in judgment, and in lovingkindness"? Have not His own lips said it,
"I am married unto thee, and My delight is in thee"? If the angels, who
are but friends and neighbours, 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 thee, of such exceeding brilliance, that it may well light
up the darkest and most desolate experience.