Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
May 7
Morning
"Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed
them all."—Matthew 12:15.
What a mass of hideous
sickness must have thrust itself under the eye of Jesus! Yet we read not that
He was disgusted, but patiently waited on every case. What a singular variety
of evils must have met at His feet! What sickening ulcers and putrefying sores!
Yet He was ready for every new shape of the monster evil, and was victor over
it in every form. Let the arrow fly from what quarter it might, He quenched its
fiery power. The heat of fever, or the cold of dropsy; the lethargy of palsy,
or the rage of madness; the filth of leprosy, or the darkness of ophthalmia—all knew the power of His word, and fled
at His command. In every corner of the field He was triumphant over evil, and
received the homage of delivered captives. He came, He saw, He conquered
everywhere. It is even so this morning. Whatever my own case may be, the
beloved Physician can heal me; and whatever may be the state of others whom I
may remember at this moment in prayer, I may have hope in Jesus that He will be
able to heal them of their sins. My child, my friend, my dearest one, I can
have hope for each, for all, when I remember the healing power of my Lord; and
on my own account, however severe my struggle with sins and infirmities, I may
yet be of good cheer. He who on earth walked the hospitals, still dispenses His
grace, and works wonders among the sons of men: let me go to Him at once in
right earnest.
Let me praise Him, this
morning, as I remember how He wrought His spiritual cures, which bring Him most
renown. It was by taking upon Himself our sicknesses. "By His stripes we
are healed." The Church on earth is full of souls healed by our beloved
Physician; and the inhabitants of heaven itself confess that
"He healed them all." Come, then, my soul, publish abroad the virtue
of His grace, and let it be "to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting
sign which shall not be cut off."
Evening
"Jesus saith unto
him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."—John 5:8.
Like many others, the
impotent man had been waiting for a wonder to be wrought, and a sign to be
given. Wearily did he watch the I pool, but no angel came, or came not for him;
yet, thinking it to be his only chance, he waited still, and knew not that
there was One near him whose word could heal him in a moment. Many are in the
same plight: they are waiting for some singular emotion, remarkable impression,
or celestial vision; they wait in vain and watch for nought.
Even supposing that, in a few cases, remarkable signs are seen, yet these are
rare, and no man has a right to look for them in his own case; no man
especially who feels his impotency to avail himself of the moving of the water
even if it came. It is a very sad reflection that tens of thousands are now
waiting in the use of means, and ordinances, and vows, and resolutions, and
have so waited time out of mind, in vain, utterly in vain. Meanwhile these poor
souls forget the present Saviour, who bids them look
unto Him and be saved. He could heal them at once, but they prefer to wait for
an angel and a wonder. To trust Him is the sure way to every blessing, and He
is worthy of the most implicit confidence; but unbelief makes them prefer the cold
porches of Bethesda to the warm bosom of His love. O that the Lord may turn His
eye upon the multitudes who are in this case to-night; may He forgive the
slights which they put upon His divine power, and call them by that sweet
constraining voice, to rise from the bed of despair, and in the energy of faith
take up their bed and walk. O Lord, hear our prayer for all such at this calm
hour of sunset, and ere the day breaketh may they
look and live.
Courteous reader, is there
anything in this portion for you?