三月二十七日
门徒都离开他逃走了。（太26:56）
他从未丢弃他们，但他们却为了保全己命在他开头受难时就懦怯地逃走了。这是一切依恃自己的信徒的一种软弱，他们是些驯良的羊，当狼来时他们就会逃跑。他们已经听到过危险即将来临的警告，并且誓死不离他们的主；惊慌忽然来到，他们就目瞪口呆，不知所措。或许我今晨也打算为主的缘故担当一切苦难，我想我会显出我完美的信心；但我要谨慎自己，免得我有不信的恶心，在仓皇无措时和使徒一样地离弃了主。说和作事截然不同的事。说得好，做出来时或许和说的完全相反。若他们果敢地站在耶稣左右是多么光荣的一件事呀！可是他们却逃了。我要效法他们那种羞耻的行动吗？哪里能比在主的身边安全呢？有谁能叫神差遣十二营的天使呢？可是他们却离开安全之地逃走了。神啊！求你不要叫我也作愚拙人。神的恩典可以叫一个懦夫刚强起来，主若愿意就能叫将残的灯火像祭坛上得火一样自行燃起。这些使徒胆怯得像兔子一样，但当圣灵降在他们身上时却刚强起来，像狮子那样勇敢，圣灵也能使我这怯懦的人大胆承认我主并为他的真道作见证。
救主的朋友这样地没有忠义，使他的心多么伤痛呀！这是他杯中的一种苦汁，但他把这杯一饮而尽；我切莫再给他加上一滴！若我离弃主，我就是活活地把他钉十架，使他明明地受羞辱。圣灵，求你保守我，免得落到这样羞辱的地步。
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.
