© 2005, The Banner of Truth Trust, 279 pages in hardback

Charles H. Spurgeon, preaching from John l8:8-9, states that the events of crucifixion eve and the day of Christ’s death provide a wealth of instructional material for God’s people.  This volume illuminates the truth of Spurgeon’s statement.

Nineteen sermons devoted to Christ’s impending arrest are discussed in this volume.  These sermons have been reset in easy to read style.  One would expect much repetition in them, but such is not the case.  The sermons were preached at various times in Spurgeon’s ministry.  The date of each sermon is provided.  Each is worthwhile for the reader’s study and reflection.

Titles include “The Blood Shed For Many” (Mt. 26:28), “Jesus in Gethsemane” (Jn. 18:l-2), and  “Christ’s Care of His Disciples” (Jn. l8:8).  Spurgeon had the gift of opening a text in an understandable way and of keeping his message focused on Christ.  Thereby, we can be assured our souls will be fed and changed by our reading of his sermons.

A favorite sermon to me was “Christian Resignation.”  Employing Mt. 26:39, “Not as I will but as thou wilt” as his text, he shows us through Christ’s example how foolish we are to desire our own will rather than God’s will. We often long for a better position, the removal of a trial, or a more fruitful field of labor.  Indeed, God in His providence may give us any or all of these.  We are unwise and rebellious to complain if we do not get our way in such matters.  This great prayer of the eternal Son of the Father, Who willingly became incarnate on our behalf, guides our prayer lives.  Facing a greater trial than we will ever face, He uncomplainingly yielded Himself to His Father’s will.  He desires His Father’s glory above His own.  Spurgeon confronts his hearers with the question, “What do I desire when I wish to have my own will?” (p. 20l).  Ultimately, our happiness rests in God’s will, not ours.  He concludes by providing a number of results of truly desiring that God’s will be accomplished in our lives.  The other eighteen sermons provide similar food for our souls.

The sermons are arranged chronologically according to the events in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Christ deeply suffered in the Garden, before the mockery and lashes of the soldiers, and before the events of the cross.  As we thoughtfully read these sermons, we will likely realize important new applications of familiar verses.

The sermons span much of Spurgeon’s ministry.  His devotion to expound the text is a particular gift.  He does not seek to cater to his audience nor to compromise the biblical message.  Today’s pastors and teachers are reminded of the importance of feeding God’s people and pointing the lost to Christ, as Spurgeon was faithful to do.  He was not one to preach through a book or to set the broader context of a passage.  Yet, he seldom misinterprets a text or fails to pierce the hearer’s hearts with the arrow of the Word.

Pastors can learn a number of lessons about sound preaching by reading this book.  This is the first of a three volume series. The other two volumes, The Judgment Hall and Calvary’s Mournful Mountain, provide sermons that focus on events after Christ’s arrest.    

Review ©2006 Byron Snapp, Hampton, Virginia