三月二十一日
你们要分散，各归自己的地方去，留下我独自一人。（约16:32）
只有少数几个人分担耶稣在客西马尼园中的忧伤，多数门徒还不配看到主“受苦”的奥秘。他们吃逾越节的筵席，正像很多按著字意过生活的人一样，在福音精意中不过是婴孩罢了。只有十二位，不，是十一位门徒有权进到客西马尼园观看这伟大的景象。十一位之中，有八位又被留在远处，他们有交通，但不像那几位更进前去蒙大爱的人那样亲密。只有三个蒙大恩的人得以靠近主奥秘的忧伤之幕内，就是这三位也不能进入幕内，他们也被留在后面，相距约有扔一块石头那么远。耶稣必须独自踹酒醡，任何人都不能与他一起。彼得和西庇太的两个儿子，代表几个杰出的、有经验的圣徒，实在可以称之为“教父”，这几个曾在大水上经历过事务的人，多少能测量救主至爱大洋的广袤和深邃。只有少数特选的属灵的人，为了别人的好处，在将来特别的大争战中好鼓舞他们，才得进入圈内，听大祭司的流泪苦求，与他分担他的苦痛，作他临死之时的安慰。就是这些人也不能来到救主最苦痛时的隐密处。希腊祷为文中有一个很著名的说法：“你莫名的苦痛。”我们主的悲伤有一个内室，是人所不能领会、不能分担的，耶稣就“独自”留在那里，在此耶稣不仅是一个“说不尽的恩赐”！瓦滋（Watts）所唱得很对：
“他所赐一切莫名的快乐，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.”
