Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
July 22
Morning
"I am
married unto you."—Jeremiah 3:14.
CHRIST Jesus is joined unto His people in marriage-union. In love He
espoused His Church as a chaste virgin, long before she fell under the yoke of
bondage. Full of burning affection He toiled, like Jacob for Rachel, until the
whole of her purchase-money had been paid, and now, having sought her by His
Spirit, and brought her to know and love Him, He awaits the glorious hour when
their mutual bliss shall be consummated at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Not
yet hath the glorious Bridegroom presented His betrothed, perfected and
complete, before the Majesty of heaven; not yet hath she actually entered upon
the enjoyment of her dignities as His wife and queen: she is as yet a wanderer
in a world of woe, a dweller in the tents of Kedar;
but she is even now the bride, the spouse of Jesus, dear to His heart, precious
in His sight, written on His hands, and united with His person. On earth He
exercises towards her all the affectionate offices of Husband. He makes rich
provision for her wants, pays all her debts, allows her to assume His name, and
to share in all His wealth. Nor will He ever act otherwise to her. The word
divorce He will never mention, for "He hateth
putting away." Death must sever the conjugal tie between the most loving
mortals, but it cannot divide the links of this immortal marriage. In heaven
they marry not, but are as the angels of God; yet
there is this one marvellous exception to the rule,
for in Heaven Christ and His Church shall celebrate their joyous nuptials. This
affinity as it is more lasting, so is it more near than earthly wedlock. Let
the love of husband be never so pure and fervent, it is but a faint picture of
the flame which burns in the heart of Jesus. Passing
all human union is that mystical cleaving unto the Church, for which Christ
left His Father, and became one flesh with her.
Evening
"Behold the Man!"—John 19:5.
IF there be one place where our Lord Jesus
most fully becomes the joy and comfort of His people, it is where He plunged
deepest into the depths of woe. Come hither, gracious souls, and behold the Man
in the garden of Gethsemane; behold His heart so brimming with love that He
cannot hold it in—so full of sorrow that it must find a vent. Behold the
bloody sweat as it distils from every pore of His body, and falls upon the
ground. Behold the Man as they drive the nails into His hands and feet. Look
up, repenting sinners, and see the sorrowful image of your suffering Lord. Mark
Him, as the ruby drops stand on the thorn-crown, and adorn with priceless gems
the diadem of the King of Misery. Behold the Man when all His bones are out of
joint, and He is poured out like water and brought into the dust of death; God
hath forsaken Him, and hell compasseth Him about.
Behold and see, was there ever sorrow like unto His
sorrow that is done unto Him? All ye that pass by draw near and look upon this
spectacle of grief, unique, unparalleled, a wonder to men and angels, a prodigy
unmatched. Behold the Emperor of Woe who had no equal or rival in His agonies!
Gaze upon Him, ye mourners, for if there be not consolation in a crucified
Christ there is no joy in earth or heaven. If in the ransom price of His blood
there be not hope, ye harps of heaven, there is no joy
in you, and the right hand of God shall know no pleasures for evermore. We have
only to sit more continually at the cross foot to be less troubled with our
doubts and woes. We have but to see His sorrows, and our sorrows
we shall be ashamed to mention; we have but to gaze into His wounds and heal
our own. If we would live aright it must be by the contemplation of His death;
if we would rise to dignity, it must be by considering His humiliation and His
sorrow.