三月二十一日

你們要分散，各歸自己的地方去，留下我獨自一人。（約16:32）

只有少數幾個人分擔耶穌在客西馬尼園中的憂傷，多數門徒還不配看到主“受苦”的奧秘。他們吃逾越節的筵席，正像很多按著字意過生活的人一樣，在福音精意中不過是嬰孩罷了。只有十二位，不，是十一位門徒有權進到客西馬尼園觀看這偉大的景象。十一位之中，有八位又被留在遠處，他們有交通，但不像那幾位更進前去蒙大愛的人那樣親密。只有三個蒙大恩的人得以靠近主奧秘的憂傷之幕內，就是這三位也不能進入幕內，他們也被留在後面，相距約有扔一塊石頭那麼遠。耶穌必須獨自踹酒醡，任何人都不能與他一起。彼得和西庇太的兩個兒子，代表幾個傑出的、有經驗的聖徒，實在可以稱之為“教父”，這幾個曾在大水上經歷過事務的人，多少能測量救主至愛大洋的廣袤和深邃。只有少數特選的屬靈的人，為了別人的好處，在將來特別的大爭戰中好鼓舞他們，才得進入圈內，聽大祭司的流淚苦求，與他分擔他的苦痛，作他臨死之時的安慰。就是這些人也不能來到救主最苦痛時的隱密處。希臘禱為文中有一個很著名的說法：“你莫名的苦痛。”我們主的悲傷有一個內室，是人所不能領會、不能分擔的，耶穌就“獨自”留在那裡，在此耶穌不僅是一個“說不盡的恩賜”！瓦滋（Watts）所唱得很對：

“他所賜一切莫名的快樂，是出自他莫名的苦痛。”

March 21

"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."