He Saved Us Alone
“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.”
-From, Morning and Evening,
Charles H. Spurgeon (Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishers); page 162.
