Good Cheer From Christ's Call and From Himself
(No. 3277)
A SERMON PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1911.
DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"And they came to Jericho: and as Jesus went out of Jericho with His
disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of
Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was
Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, You Son of
David, have mercy on me! And many charged him that he should hold his
peace: but he cried the more a great deal, You Son of David, have mercy
on me! And Jesus stoodstill, and commanded him to be called. And they
called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise, He
calls you. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What will you that I should do
unto you? The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that I might receive my
sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go your way; your faith has made you
whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the
way." Mark 10:46-52.
[Another Sermon by Mr. Spurgeon upon the same text is #266, Volume
5–THE BLIND BEGGAR.]
The blind man described in this narrative is a picture of what I
earnestly desire that every hearer and reader of my sermons may become.
In his first condition, Bartimaeus was a type of what the sinner is by
nature–blind, hopelessly blind, unless the healing Savior shall
interfere and pour in upon him the light of day. It is not, however, to
this point that we shall now turn our thoughts, but to his conduct
while seeking sight. This man, by God's great mercy, so acted that he
may be held up as an example to all who feel their spiritual blindness,
and earnestly desire to see the Light of Grace!
Several of the blind men of Scripture are very interesting individuals.
There was one of the them, you remember– the man born blind–who
baffled the Pharisees by answering them with cool courage mixed with
shrewdness and mother wit. Well might his parents say that he was of
age, for he had all his wits about him. Blind as he had been, he could
see a great deal–and when his eyes were opened, he proved beyond all
dispute that his questioners deserved the name of "blind Pharisees"
which the Lord Jesus gave them!
Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, is a notable character. There is a
sharp-cut individuality and crispness of style about him which makes
him a remarkable person. He is one who thinks and acts for himself, is
not soon daunted nor easily swayed, makes sure of what he knows and
when he is questioned gives a clear reply. I suppose that as he sat in
the midnight darkness which was his perpetual lot, he thought much. And
having heard that from the seed of David there had arisen a great
Prophet who worked miracles and preached glad tidings to the poor, he
studied the matter over and concluded that His claims were true. A
blind man might well see that fact, if at all familiar with Old
Testament prophecy. And as he heard more and more of Jesus, and
compared Him with the Prophetic description of the coming King, he felt
convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Then, he thought within
Himself, "If He were ever to come this way, I would announce myself as
one of His followers. I would proclaim Him King, whether others
acknowledged His royalty or not. I would act as a herald to the great
Prince and shout aloud that He is the Son of David." Then he further
resolved to seek the pity of the Messiah and beg for his sight, for it
was foretold that the Messiah would come to open blind eyes! This
resolution he had so long dwelt upon that when the time did come, and
he heard that Jesus passed by, he immediately availed himself of the
opportunity, and cried out with all his might, "You Son of David, have
mercy on me!" Oh, that
you who read these lines would think over the claims of Jesus and come
to the same conclusion as the blind beggar of Jericho!
Learn a simple lesson from this man, I pray you. He made use of what
sense he had. He could hearif he could not see. We have heard persons
talk about their natural inability to perform gracious acts and we have
not answered them because it will be time enough to talk of what they
cannot do when they have done what they can do! There are some things
which we are sure they can do, and these they have neglected–it is
mere hypocrisy, therefore, for them to be pleading lack of power when
they do not use the strength they have. They do not constantly hear the
Gospel, or, if they do, they do not listen with attention and,
consequently, they do not get faith, for "faith comes by hearing." In
the case of Bartimaeus, everything was honest and sincere–the man had
no eyes, but he had ears and a tongue and he took care to use the
faculties which remained to him, so that when the Savior passed by–he
cried to Him with all his might! He made his confession of faith and
offered, at the same time, a personal petition for mercy as he cried
aloud, "You Son of David, have mercy on me!"
I wish to drive at one point only–which will stand out clearly when I
have finished. But I must go a little roundabout, to compass my design.
May the Holy Spirit dictate every word!
I. My first remark is that this man is a pattern for all seekers
BECAUSE HE SOUGHT THE LORD UNDER GREAT DISCOURAGEMENTS.
He cried to the Lord Jesus so loudly, so unceremoniously and at so
unseasonable a time, as others thought, that they checked him and bade
him hold his peace! But this was like pouring spirits upon a fire and
it only made him the more intense in his pleading.
Notice his first discouragement–no one prompted him to cry to Christ.
No friend lovingly whispered in his ears, "Jesus of Nazareth passes by!
Now is your opportunity. Seek His face!" Possibly you, dear Friend, may
have been so neglected that you have sighed out, "No man cares for my
soul." Then yours is a parallel case to that of Bartimaeus. Very few
can fairly thus complain if they live among lively Christians, for, in
all probability, they have often been invited, entreated and almost
compelled to come to Christ! Some even complain of Christian
importunity and are weary of it, not liking to be spoken to about their
souls. "Intrusion," it has been called by some cavilers, but indeed it
is a blessed intrusion upon a sinner, slumbering in his sin over the
brink of Hell, to disturb his slumber and awaken him to flee for his
life! Would you not think it very ridiculous, were a house on fire, if
the fireman declined to fetch anybody out of the house because he had
not been introduced to the family? Must he send his card up and obtain
leave to enter? I reckon that a breach of courtesy is often a most
courteous thing when the desire is the benefit of an immortal soul! If
I say a very personal thing and it causes anyone to seek and find
salvation, I know that he will never blame me on that score!
Still, a person may reside where there is no one to invite him to seek
Jesus. And if so, he may recall the example of this man, who, all
unprompted, sought the Savior's aid. He knew his need and, believing
that Jesus could give him his eyesight, he did not need pressing to
pray to Him. He thought for himself, as all ought to do. Will not you
do the same, my dear Friend, especially on a matter so weighty as the
salvation of your own soul? What if you have never been the subject of
friendly importunities and entreaties? You ought not to require them!
You are possessed of your reason– you know that you are already sinful
and will be lost forever unless the Lord Jesus saves you–does not
common sense suggest that you should cry to Him at once? Be as least as
sensible as this poor blind beggar and let the voice of your earnest
prayer go up to Jesus, the Son of David.
The discouragement of Bartimaeus was still greater, for when he did
begin to cry, those around discouraged him. Read the 48th verse, "Many
charged him that he should hold his peace." Some for one reason and
some for another, charged him that he should hold his peace. They did
not merely advise him, but they "charged him." They spoke like people
in authority. "Be quiet, will you? Be still! What are you doing?"
Judging him to be guilty of a grave impropriety in disturbing the
eloquence of the great Preacher, they would have hushed him to silence!
Those who do not smart under a sense of sin often think awakened
sinners are out of order and fanatical when they are only in earnest.
The people near the blind beggar blamed him for his bad taste in
shouting so loudly, "You, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
But he was not to be stopped. On the contrary, we are told that "he
cried the more," and not only the more, but "the more a great deal," so
that it was time wasted to try to silence him! One man thought that
surely he would put him down, and therefore spoke most peremptorily,
but he gained nothing by the effort, for the blind man shouted still
more
lustily, "You Son of David, have mercy on me!" Here was an opportunity
for having his eyes opened and he would not miss it to please anybody!
Folks around him might misjudge him, but that would not matter if Jesus
opened his eyes. Sight was the one thing necessary, and for that he
could put up with rebuffs and reproaches. To him, discouragements were
encouragements and when they said, "Be silent," he cried the more a
great deal! His manhood and determination were developed by opposition.
Friend, how is it with you? Can you defy the opinion of ungodly men and
dare to be singular that you may be saved? Can you brave opposition,
discouragement and resolve that if mercy is to be had, you will have
it? Opposers will call your determination obstinacy, but never mind,
your firmness is the stuff of which martyrs are made! In a wrong cause,
a strong will creates incorrigible rebels, but if it is sanctified, it
gives great force to character and steadfastness to faith! Bartimaeus
must have sight and he will have sight–there is no stopping him–he is
blind to all hindrances and pushes through! He had been begging so long
that he knew how to beg importunately. He was as sturdy a beggar with
Christ as he had been with men and so he followed up his suit in the
teeth of all who would stave him off.
There was, however, one more discouragement that must have weighed on
him far more than the need of prompting and the presence of
opposition–Jesus did not answer him at first. He had evidently,
according to the run of the narrative, cried out to Jesus many times,
for how else could it be said, "he cried the more a great deal"? His
cry had waxed stronger and stronger, yet there was no reply! What was
worse, the Master had been moving on. We are sure of that, because we
are told in the 49th verse that Jesus, at length, "stood still," which
implies that, before this time, He had been walking along, speaking to
the crowd around Him as He went. Jesus was passing by–passing by
without granting his desire, without giving a sign of having heard him!
Are you, my Friend, one who has cried for mercy long and found it not?
Have you been praying for a month and is there no answer? Is it still
longer? Have you spent weary days and nights in waiting and watching
for mercy? There is a mistake at the bottom of the whole affair which I
will not explain just now, but I will tell you how to act. Even if
Jesus does not appear to hear you, be not discouraged, but cry to Him
"the more a great deal." Remember, He loves importunity, and sometimes
He waits a while on purpose that our prayers may gather strength–and
that we may be the more earnest. Cry to Him, dear Heart! Be not
desponding! Do not give up in despair! Mercy's gate has oiled hinges
and it swings easily–push at it again. If you will use the knocker
long enough, the porter will appear to you and say, "Come in, you
blessed of the Lord, why do you stand outside?" Do have the courage of
this poor blind man and say, "Though for a while He may not hear me,
yet still will I confess Him to be the Son of David, and so avow that
He is able to save me, and still I will cry to Him, 'You Son of David,
have mercy on me!'"
Note, then, that this blind man is an example to us because he did not
take much notice of discouragements, whatever they were. He had within
himself a spring of action which none could dry up! He was resolved to
draw near to the Great Physician and put his case into His hands. O my
dear Friend, let this be your firm determination and you, too, shall
yet be saved!
II. Observe, in the second place that there came a change over the
scene. "Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called." Here we see
him under a warmer and brighter light for a moment, and we remark that
AFTER A WHILE HE RECEIVED ENCOURAGEMENT.
The encouragement was not given to him by our Lord, but by the same
persons who had formerly rebuked him. Christ did not say to him, "Be of
good comfort," because the man was not in need of such a word. He was
by no means backward, or disconsolate, or staggered by the opposition
he had met with. Jesus Christ said, "Be of good cheer" in the case of
the poor paralytic man who was let down by cords from the roof because
he was sad at heart. But this man was already of good courage and,
therefore, the Savior gave him no superfluous consolation. The
onlookers were pleased with the hope of seeing a miracle and so offered
their encouragements which were not of any great worth or weight since
they came from lips which a few minutes before had been singing quite
another tune!
At this time, I wish to give to all anxious souls who are trying to
find their Savior, some little word of cheer, and yet I warn them not
to think too much of it, for they need something far better than
anything that man can say! The comfort given to Bartimaeus was drawn
from the fact that Christ called him. "Be of good comfort, rise! He
calls you." To every sinner who is anxious to find Jesus, this is a
note from the silver trumpet! You are invited to Jesus and need not,
there-
fore, be afraid to come! In one sense or another, it is true of all who
hear the Gospel, "He calls you," and, therefore, to everyone of our
hearers we may say, "Be of good cheer."
First, it is true that Jesus calls each one of us by the universal call
of the Gospel, for its message is unto all people. Ministers are bid to
go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. You, my
Friend, are a creature and, consequently, the Gospel has a call for
you, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." We are
bid to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom throughout all nations, and to
cry, "Whoever will, let him take the water of life freely." "Whoever."
There is no limit to it and it would be a violation of our commission
if we would attempt to enclose what God has made as free as the air,
and as universal as manhood! "The times of this ignorance God winked
at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." This is the
universal call. "Repent, you, and believe the Gospel." In this there is
comfort of hope for all who desire to come to God–
"None are excluded hence but those
Who do themselves exclude!
Welcome, the learned and polite,
The ignorant and rude."
But there is still more comfort in what, for distinction's sake, we
will name the character call. Many promises in the Word of God are
directed to persons of a certain character. For instance, "Come unto
Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Do you labor? Are you heavy laden? Then Christ especially calls you and
promises rest to you if you come to Him. Here is another, "Ho, everyone
that thirsts , come you to the waters." Are you thirsting after
something better than this world can give? Then the Lord bids you come
to the waters of His Grace. "And he that has no money, let him come."
Is that you? Are you destitute of merit–destitute of everything that
could purchase the favor of God? Then you are the person whom He
specially invites! We find a very large number of invitations, both in
the Old and New Testament, addressed to persons in certain conditions
and positions. And when we meet with a person whose case is thus
anticipated, we are bound to bid him be of good cheer because the Lord
is plainly calling him.
Next, there is a ministerial call, which is made useful to many. At
times, the Lord enables His servants to give calls to people in a very
remarkable way. They describe the case so accurately, even to the
little touches, that the hearer says, "Somebody must have told the
preacher about me." When personal and pointed words are thus put into
our mouths by the Holy Spirit, we may give our hearer comfort and say,
"Arise, He calls you." What said the woman of Samaria? "Come, see a Man
which told me all things that I ever did: is not this the Christ?" When
your inmost secrets are revealed–when the Word of God enters you as
the priest's keen knife opened the sacrificial victim, laying bare your
inward and secret thoughts and intents, you may say, "Now have I felt
the power of that Word which is quick and powerful. Oh, that I might
also know its healing power!" When a call to repentance and faith comes
on the back of a minute personal description, you may assuredly gather
that the Lord has sent this message especially to you–and it is your
right and privilege at once to feel the comfort of the fact that Jesus
calls you. "To you is the word of this salvation sent."
Yet there is another call which overtops these three, for the universal
call and the character call and the ministerial call are none of them
effectualto salvation unless they are attended with the Holy Spirit's
own personal and effectual call
Dear Friend, when you feel within yourself a secret drawing to Christ
which you do not understand, but yet cannot resist–when you experience
a tenderness of spirit, a softness of heart towards the Lord–when your
soul kindles with a hope to which it was previously a stranger, and
your heart begins to sigh and almost to sing at the same time for love
of God–when the Spirit of God brings Jesus near you, and brings you
near to Jesus–then we may apply to you this message, "Be of good
comfort, rise. He calls you."
III. Thus have I tried to set this man before you as receiving comfort.
But we shall see that HE LEAPED OVER BOTH DISCOURAGEMENT AND
ENCOURAGEMENT AND CAME TO JESUS HIMSELF!
Bartimaeus did not care one whit more for the comfort than he did for
the rebuffs of those around him. This is a point to be well observed.
You who are seeking Jesus must not rest in our encouragements, but
press on to Jesus. We would cheer you, but we hope you will not be
satisfied with our cheering. Do what this blind man did! Let us read
the text again–"Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And
they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise.
He calls you." "And (it should be, "but," not, "and") he, casting away
his garment, rose and came to Jesus." He did not give them a "thank
you" for their comfort. He did not stop half a minute to accept or to
reject it. He did not need to–he wanted Christ, and nothing else!
Dear Friend, whenever any man with the best intentions in the world,
tries to comfort you before you believe in Jesus, I hope you will pass
him by and press on to the Lord, Himself, for all comfort short of
Christ, Himself, is perilous comfort! You must come at once to Christ.
You must hasten personally to Jesus, and have your eyes opened by Him.
You must not be comforted till He comforts you by working a miracle of
Grace. I fear we pamper you too much in unbelief, applying balm that
does not come from the mountains of myrrh, nor from the Sacrifice of
our redeeming Lord. I fear that we talk as if there were balm in
Gilead, but there is none anywhere except at Calvary! If there is a
balm in Gilead, the Lord enquires, "Why then is not the health of the
daughter of My people recovered?" The ointment of comfort–apart from
Christ–has been tried long enough and has healed none! It is high time
to point you to Christ Jesus, Himself! Even the consolation to be drawn
from the fact of a man's being called requires much caution in its use
lest we do mischief with it. The true eye-salve is with Jesus, Himself,
and unless the soul comes actually into personal contact with Christ,
no other comforts ought to satisfy it, for they cannot save. Note with
admiration, then, that this man did not content himself with the best
comforts that friendly lips could utter, but he was eager to reach the
Son of David!
We read first that he arose. He had been sitting down before, wrapped
up in his great cloak in which he had often sat begging, but now that
he heard that he was called, he, according to some versions, "leaped to
his feet." The expression may be, perhaps, too strong, but at least he
rose up eagerly and was no laggard! His opportunity had come, and he
was ready for it! No, hungeringfor the gift! Now, dear Friend, I pray
you, let neither discouragements nor comforts keep you sitting still,
but rise with eagerness! Oh, be stirred up to seek the Lord! Let all
that is within you be awakened to come unto the Savior!
The blind man was on his feet in far less time than it takes to tell.
And as he rose, he flung off his old cloak which might have hindered
him. He did not care what he left or lost as long as he found his
sight! His mantle had, no doubt, been very precious to him many a time
when he was a poor beggar, but now that he needed to get to Jesus, he
flung it away as if it were worth nothing so that he might get through
the throng more quickly and reach the One in whom his hopes centered!
So then, if anything impedes you in coning to your Savior, fling it
off! God help you to be rid of self and sin and everything that is in
the way! If any ill company you have been accustomed to keep. If any
bad habit into which you have fallen. If anything dear as life hinders
you from simple faith in Jesus, regard it as an evil to be renounced!
Off with it and make a rush to Him who calls you. Now, even now, draw
near and cast yourself at the Redeemer's feet. Say within yourself,
"Encouraged or discouraged, I have weighed the matter, and I perceive
that faith in Christ will save me. Jesus Christ will give me peace and
rest, and I mean to have Him at once, whoever hinders or helps."
Then we are told that he came to Jesus. He did not stop halfway, but
emboldened by Christ's call, he came right up to Him. He did not stay
with Peter, or James, or John, or any of them, but he came to Jesus!
Oh, that you, my Friend, may have faith in Jesus Christ and trust in
Him at once, putting your case by a distinct and personal act into
Jesus Christ's hands that He may save you!
Our Lord was well aware that this man knew His name and Character and
so without giving him further instruction, He addressed him in these
words, "What will you that I should do unto you?" Our Lord's addresses
to persons were usually based upon their condition. He knew that this
man very clearly understood what he needed and so He put the question
that he might only give the answer. "What will you that I should do
unto you?" "Lord," he said, "that I might look up," or, as our version
has it, "that I might receive my sight." Go, dear Friend, to Jesus
whether comforted or discouraged, and tell Him what ails you. Describe
your case in plain words. Do not say, "I cannot pray. I cannot find
language." Any language will do if it is sincere. In the matter of
speech, Jesus does not need hyacinths from a conservatory–He is
delighted with field flowers plucked from any hedge where you can find
them! Give to Him such words as come first to hand when your desires
are fully awake. Tell Him you are a wretch undone without His Sovereign
Grace. Tell Him you are a sinner worthy of death. Tell Him you have a
hard heart. Tell Him you are a drunkard, or a swearer, if such is the
case. Tell Him all your heart, as the woman did of whom we read in the
Gospel. Then tell Him that you need forgiveness and a new heart. Speak
out your soul and hide nothing. Out with it! Out with it! Do not stay
listening to sermons or consulting with Christian friends, but get to
your chamber and speak with Jesus! This will do you good. It may be
well to go into an enquiry room to be helped by an earnest Evangelist,
but it is infinitely better to make your own chamber your enquiry room,
and there enquire of the Lord, Himself, on your own account. May the
Divine Spirit lead
you to do this now, if you have never accepted Jesus before! So, when
Bartimaeus had stated his case in faith, he received more than he had
asked for! He received salvation–so the word may be rendered.
He was made whole, and so saved. Whatever, therefore, had caused his
blindness was entirely taken away–he had his sight and he could look
up a saved man! Do you believe that Jesus Christ is as able to save
souls as He was to heal bodies? Do you believe that, in His Glory, He
is as able to save now as He was when He was a humble Man here below?
Why, if there is any difference, He must have much more power than He
had then! Do you believe that He is the same loving Savior now as He
was when here on earth? O Soul, I pray you to argue this out with
yourself and say, "I will go to Jesus straight away. I never find that
He cast out any–why should He cast out me? No bodily disease baffled
Him and He is Master of the soul as well as of the body–why should my
soul disease baffle Him? I will even go and lie at His feet and trust
Him, and see whether He will save me or not. Discouraged or encouraged,
I will have done with men, and I will go to the Savior." That is the
lesson which I would have every unsaved soul learn! I would have him go
beyond the outward means of Grace to the secret fountain of Grace, even
to the great Sacrifice for sin–go to the Savior, Himself, whether
others cheer you or frown upon you! Dejected, rejected, neglected, yet
come to Jesus and learn that you are elected to be perfected in Him!
One thing more, and I have done. I want this man to be an example to
all of us, if we get a blessing from our Lord, and are saved. Having
found Christ, he stuck to Him. Jesus said to him, "Go your way." Did he
go his way? Yes, but what way did he choose? Read the last
sentence–"He followed Jesus in the way." The way of Jesus was his way.
He in effect said, "Lord, I do go my way when I follow You. I can now
see for myself and, therefore, can choose my way and I make this my
first and last choice–that I will follow You in every pathway which
You mark out." Oh, that everyone who professes to have received Christ
would actually follow Him! But, alas, many are like those nine lepers
who received healing for their bodies, but only one of them returned to
praise Him. Great numbers, after revival services, are like the nine
lepers–they declare that they are saved, but they do not live to
glorify God! Why is this–"Were there not ten cleansed?" In great
disappointment we enquire, "Where are the nine?" Alas, we ask with
bleeding hearts, "Where are the nine?" They are not steadfast in our
doctrine and fellowship, or in breaking of bread! They are neither
active in service nor exemplary in character. Where are they? Where?
Echo answers, "Where?" But this man was of a nobler breed– immediately
after he received his sight, he "followed Jesus in the way."
He used his sight for the best of purposes! He saw his Lord and kept to
His company. He determined that He who gave him his eyes should have
his eyes! He could never see a more delightful sight than the Son of
David who had removed his blindness, and so he stayed with Him that he
might feast his eyes upon Him! If God has given your soul peace and joy
and liberty, use your newfound liberty in delighting yourself in His
dear Son!
Bartimaeus became Christ's avowed disciple. He had already proclaimed
Him as the royal Son of David and now he determined to be one of
David's band! He enlists under the Son of David and marches with Him to
the conflict at Jerusalem. He stayed with our great David in the hold
to share His persecutions and to go with Him to death itself. We are
told that he went with Jesus in the way, and that way was up to
Jerusalem where his Leader was soon to be spit upon, and to be mocked,
and to be crucified. Bartimaeus followed a despised and crucified
Christ! Friend, will you do the same? Will you fare as He fares, and
endure reproach for His sake? Brave men are needed for these evil
times–we have too many of those thin-skinned professors who faint if
society gives them the cold shoulder! Power to walk with the crucified
Lord into the very jaws of the lion is a glorious gift of the Holy
Spirit! May it rest on you, dear Friend, to a full degree! May the
Spirit of God help you!
This Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, is a fine man. When he is once
really awakened, you can see that he possesses a firm, decided, noble
manhood. Many nowadays bend to every breeze like the willow by the
stream, but this man held his own. Most men are made of soft material
which will run into every mold, but this man had stern stuff within
him. When he was a blind man, he cried till he received his sight,
though Peter, and James, and John forbad him! And when he became a
seeing man, he followed Jesus at all costs, though shame and spitting
lay before him. It is our impression that he remained a steadfast and
well-known disciple of Jesus, for Mark, who is the most graphic of all
the Gospel writers, always means much by every stroke of his pen, and
he mentions him as Bartimaeus, whose name signifies, "son of Timaeus."
And then he further explains that his name really has that meaning. A
name may not be actually correct, for many a Johnson is not the son of
John, many a Williamson is not the son of William, and so there might
possibly have
been a Bartimaeus who was not the son of Timaeus. Mark, however, writes
as if Timaeus was very well known and his son was known, too. The
father was probably a poor Believer known to all the Church, and the
son made his mark in the Christian community. I should not wonder if he
was what we call, "a character," in the Church–known to everybody for
his marked individuality and force of mind.
If, my Friend, you have been long in seeking salvation, and have become
discouraged, may the Lord give you resolution to come to Jesus Christ
this very day! Bring that firm, steadfast mind of yours, and bow it to
Jesus, and He will accept you and end your darkness! Under His teaching
you may yet become a marked man in the Church, of whom in later years
Believers will say, "You know that man–that grievous sinner while he
was unsaved, that eager seeker when he was craving mercy, that earnest
worker after he became a Believer–he will not be outworked by anybody!
He is a true man and gives his whole heart to our Lord." I shall be
delighted beyond measure if you should be such a convert–a man or
woman who will not need looking after, but a determined man resolute to
do right, cost what it may! Such persons are a great gain to the good
cause. Gently would I whisper to each one of you– Will not you be one
of them?
EXPOSITION BY C. H. SPURGEON: LUKE10:25-37.
Verses 25, 26. And, behold a certain lawyer stood up and tempted Him,
saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto
him, What is written in the Law? How do you readit?That was a most
appropriate answer to a lawyer. "You ask me what you should do–well,
you profess to be a teacher of the Law, you ought, therefore, to know
what is written in the Law."
27, 28. And he answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with
allyour heart, and with allyour soul, and with allyour strength, and
with allyour mind; and your neighbor as yourself And He said unto him,
You have answered right this do and you shall live. This lawyer was one
of those people who know the Law, yet do it not. No doubt Jesus struck
the nail on the head when he gave him that very pertinent answer, "This
do, and you shall live." This lawyer was trying to live by teaching the
Law, by his knowledge of it, but Christ insists that nothing will do
but a practical carrying
out of its precepts. [There is a Sermon by Mr. Spurgeon upon the whole
of this passage #1360, Volume 23–THE GOOD SAMARITAN.]
29. But he, willing to justify himself said unto Jesus, And who is my
neighbor?He probably meant to say, "I have not any neighbors. I have no
near relations. My father and mother are dead and gone, I have no
brothers and sisters, and therefore I may be excused from the duty of
loving anyone else as I love myself." Jesus did not answer the lawyer's
question, "Who is my neighbor?" He did not turn the eyes of the man to
the poor mendicants who needed charity, but he made him look at
himself.
30, 31. And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his
raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by
chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him,
he passed by on the other side.This priest had been up to the Temple to
perform his part of the service–he was much too good, in his own
opinion, to go and touch a man who was wounded! "He passed by on the
other side."
32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on
him. He did a little more than the priest, who would not even cross the
road.
32-34. And passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he
journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on
him and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine,
and set him on his own beast–Denying himself, therefore, because, of
course, he had to walk–
34, 35. And brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the
morrow when he departed, he took out two pence A much more valuable sum
than two pence of our money–
35, 36. And gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him;
and whatever you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you. Which
now of these three, think you, was neighbor unto him that fell among
the thieves?He might have said, "The Samaritan," but he would not, for
the Jews hated them.
37. And hie said, hie that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto
him, Go, and do you likewise. Here was a dismission, and here was a
commission, too! Jesus dismissed him. "I have nothing more to say to
you. 'Go.'" Here was the commission. "Do you likewise." Alas, I am
afraid that after most sermons people get the dismission, "Go," but
they forget the commission–"Go, and do you likewise." It is your
privilege as well as your duty, O Christians, to assist the needy and,
whenever you discover distress, as far as lies in you, to minister
practically to its relief!