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by Alistair Begg
"Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come,
that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I
am not alone, because the Father is with Me." - 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, no, to only eleven the privilege was 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 favored ones could approach the
veil of our Lord's mysterious sorrow. Within that veil even they must not
intrude; they remain a stone's throw apart. He must tread the winepress 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 "Father"; those doing business on the 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, becoming like Him in His death. Yet even these cannot
penetrate the secret places of the Savior'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.
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Source: Truth For Life Daily Devotional by Alistair Begg copyright © 2003. Crossway Books
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