Morning, April 10
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Luke 23:33
"The place which is called Calvary."
Luke 23:33
The hill of comfort is the hill of Calvary; the house of consolation is
built with the wood of the cross; the temple of heavenly blessing is
founded upon the riven rock--riven by the spear which pierced his side.
No scene in sacred history ever gladdens the soul like Calvary's
tragedy.
"Is it not strange, the darkest hour
That ever dawned on sinful earth,
Should touch the heart with softer power,
For comfort, than an angel's mirth?
That to the Cross the mourner's eye should turn,
Sooner than where the stars of Bethlehem burn?"
Light springs from the midday-midnight of Golgotha, and every herb of
the field blooms sweetly beneath the shadow of the once accursed tree.
In that place of thirst, grace hath dug a fountain which ever gusheth
with waters pure as crystal, each drop capable of alleviating the woes
of mankind. You who have had your seasons of conflict, will confess
that it was not at Olivet that you ever found comfort, not on the hill
of Sinai, nor on Tabor; but Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha have
been a means of comfort to you. The bitter herbs of Gethsemane have
often taken away the bitters of your life; the scourge of Gabbatha has
often scourged away your cares, and the groans of Calvary have put all
other groans to flight. Thus Calvary yields us comfort rare and rich.
We never should have known Christ's love in all its heights and depths
if he had not died; nor could we guess the Father's deep affection if
he had not given his Son to die. The common mercies we enjoy all sing
of love, just as the sea-shell, when we put it to our ears, whispers of
the deep sea whence it came; but if we desire to hear the ocean itself,
we must not look at every-day blessings, but at the transactions of the
crucifixion. He who would know love, let him retire to Calvary and see
the Man of sorrows die.