三月二十六日

耶穌說……你們若找我，就讓這些人去吧！（約18:8）

我的心哪！你看，耶穌在苦難之時仍然表現出他對他手下的羊是多麼關懷，在臨死時都念念不忘屬他的，仍然極力地關顧他們。他把自己交給仇敵，卻強有力地讓他們叫他的門徒離去。他自己，像一隻羊在剪毛人的手下默不作聲、啞口無言，但為他門徒的緣故卻大有能力地講出這樣的話。這就是愛、恒久、忘我、忠實的愛。這話的內裡蘊蓄著無限的大愛，我們的靈魂不就是因這話得贖嗎？好牧人為羊捨命，為的是要他的羊得自由離去。他作了他們的抵押，為了滿足公義的要求就替代了他們，為的是開脫他們。在埃及受捆綁時，他強有力地說：“讓這些人去吧！”被贖的人必須脫離罪和撒旦奴僕的地位。在失望的牢獄中，又可聽到這話：“讓這些人去吧！”因此便可從沮喪、絕望中出來。撒旦聽到這個熟悉的聲音，就離開被打倒在地之人的頸項，拔腿逃跑；死聽到這話，墳墓就開了門讓死了的人起來。他們的路是前進、聖潔、得勝、榮耀的，誰也不敢攔阻他們。他們的路上沒有獅子，吃人的野獸永也不敢走上那路。“早晨的鹿”很容易遭受殘酷獵人的射擊，但現在馴良的麋鹿可以在所愛的百合花中坦然無驚。烏雲已籠罩了加弗瑞（Calvary）的十架，到錫安去的人必不再受報仇之杖的打擊。我的心哪！來，快樂吧！你的救贖主已使你免刑，要整天、天天讚美他的名！

March 26

"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.