三月二十七日

門徒都離開他逃走了。（太26:56）

他從未丟棄他們，但他們卻為了保全己命在他開頭受難時就懦怯地逃走了。這是一切依恃自己的信徒的一種軟弱，他們是些馴良的羊，當狼來時他們就會逃跑。他們已經聽到過危險即將來臨的警告，並且誓死不離他們的主；驚慌忽然來到，他們就目瞪口呆，不知所措。或許我今晨也打算為主的緣故擔當一切苦難，我想我會顯出我完美的信心；但我要謹慎自己，免得我有不信的噁心，在倉皇無措時和使徒一樣地離棄了主。說和作事截然不同的事。說得好，做出來時或許和說的完全相反。若他們果敢地站在耶穌左右是多麼光榮的一件事呀！可是他們卻逃了。我要效法他們那種羞恥的行動嗎？哪裡能比在主的身邊安全呢？有誰能叫神差遣十二營的天使呢？可是他們卻離開安全之地逃走了。神啊！求你不要叫我也作愚拙人。神的恩典可以叫一個懦夫剛強起來，主若願意就能叫將殘的燈火像祭壇上得火一樣自行燃起。這些使徒膽怯得像兔子一樣，但當聖靈降在他們身上時卻剛強起來，像獅子那樣勇敢，聖靈也能使我這怯懦的人大膽承認我主並為他的真道作見證。

救主的朋友這樣地沒有忠義，使他的心多麼傷痛呀！這是他杯中的一種苦汁，但他把這杯一飲而盡；我切莫再給他加上一滴！若我離棄主，我就是活活地把他釘十架，使他明明地受羞辱。聖靈，求你保守我，免得落到這樣羞辱的地步。

March 27

"Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." --Matthew 26:56

He never deserted them, but they in cowardly fear of their lives, fled from Him in the very beginning of His sufferings. This is but one instructive instance of the frailty of all believers if left to themselves; they are but sheep at the best, and they flee when the wolf cometh. They had all been warned of the danger, and had promised to die rather than leave their Master; and yet they were seized with sudden panic, and took to their heels. It may be, that I, at the opening of this day, have braced up my mind to bear a trial for the Lord's sake, and I imagine myself to be certain to exhibit perfect fidelity; but let me be very jealous of myself, lest having the same evil heart of unbelief, I should depart from my Lord as the apostles did. It is one thing to promise, and quite another to perform. It would have been to their eternal honour to have stood at Jesus' side right manfully; they fled from honour; may I be kept from imitating them! Where else could they have been so safe as near their Master, who could presently call for twelve legions of angels? They fled from their true safety. O God, let me not play the fool also. Divine grace can make the coward brave. The smoking flax can flame forth like fire on the altar when the Lord wills it. These very apostles who were timid as hares, grew to be bold as lions after the Spirit had descended upon them, and even so the Holy Spirit can make my recreant spirit brave to confess my Lord and witness for His truth.

What anguish must have filled the Saviour as He saw His friends so faithless! This was one bitter ingredient in His cup; but that cup is drained dry; let me not put another drop in it. If I forsake my Lord, I shall crucify Him afresh, and put Him to an open shame. Keep me, O blessed Spirit, from an end so shameful.