A Preachers Passage

[Gregory Huggins Jr]

Hebrews 5:7--Hebrews 5:7

 

Did this fear arise from the infernal suggestion that He was utterly 

forsaken. There may be sterner trials than this, but surely it is one 

of the worst to be utterly forsaken? "See," said Satan, "thou hast a 

friend nowhere! Thy Father hath shut up the bowels of His compassion 

against thee.

 

Not an angel in His courts will stretch out his hand to 

help thee. All heaven is alienated from Thee; Thou art left alone. See 

the companions with whom Thou hast taken sweet counsel, what are they 

worth? Son of Mary, see there Thy brother James, see there Thy loved 

disciple John, and Thy bold apostle Peter, how the cowards sleep when 

Thou art in Thy sufferings! Lo! Thou hast no friend left in heaven or 

earth. All hell is against Thee.

 

I have stirred up mine infernal den. I have sent my missives throughout all regions summoning every prince of 

darkness to set upon Thee this night, and we will spare no arrows, we 

will use all our infernal might to overwhelm Thee: and what wilt Thou 

do, Thou solitary one?" It may be, this was the temptation; we think it 

was, because the appearance of an angel unto Him strengthening Him 

removed that fear. He was heard in that He feared; He was no more 

alone, but heaven was with Him. It may be that this is the reason of 

His coming three times to His disciples--as Hart puts it-- 

 

"Backwards and forwards thrice He ran, As if He sought some help from 

man." 

 

He would see for Himself whether it were really true that all men had 

forsaken Him; He found them all asleep; but perhaps He gained some 

faint comfort from the thought that they were sleeping, not from 

treachery, but from sorrow, the spirit indeed was willing, but the 

flesh was weak. At any rate, He was heard in that He feared. Jesus was 

heard in His deepest woe; my soul, thou shalt be heard also.