三月二十六日
耶稣说……你们若找我，就让这些人去吧！（约18:8）
我的心哪！你看，耶稣在苦难之时仍然表现出他对他手下的羊是多么关怀，在临死时都念念不忘属他的，仍然极力地关顾他们。他把自己交给仇敌，却强有力地让他们叫他的门徒离去。他自己，像一只羊在剪毛人的手下默不作声、哑口无言，但为他门徒的缘故却大有能力地讲出这样的话。这就是爱、恒久、忘我、忠实的爱。这话的内里蕴蓄著无限的大爱，我们的灵魂不就是因这话得赎吗？好牧人为羊舍命，为的是要他的羊得自由离去。他作了他们的抵押，为了满足公义的要求就替代了他们，为的是开脱他们。在埃及受捆绑时，他强有力地说：“让这些人去吧！”被赎的人必须脱离罪和撒旦奴仆的地位。在失望的牢狱中，又可听到这话：“让这些人去吧！”因此便可从沮丧、绝望中出来。撒旦听到这个熟悉的声音，就离开被打倒在地之人的颈项，拔腿逃跑；死听到这话，坟墓就开了门让死了的人起来。他们的路是前进、圣洁、得胜、荣耀的，谁也不敢拦阻他们。他们的路上没有狮子，吃人的野兽永也不敢走上那路。“早晨的鹿”很容易遭受残酷猎人的射击，但现在驯良的麋鹿可以在所爱的百合花中坦然无惊。乌云已笼罩了加弗瑞（Calvary）的十架，到锡安去的人必不再受报仇之杖的打击。我的心哪！来，快乐吧！你的救赎主已使你免刑，要整天、天天赞美他的名！
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.
