0345. A Striking Question

A Striking Question

"When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?" (Joh_5:6).

Let us observe how the Helper, helped the helpless.

1. First of all He sought entrance to his need? "Wilt thou be made whole?" As much as to say, "Poor fellow, tell Me about yourself, your condition and your desires." Christ wanted to gain the confidence of the man. He wanted to deepen the man’s sense of need, and then to turn his attention toward a new source of help. Christ’s very words as well as His mien, seemed to say: "Here is One Who cares for you; will you not let Me help you in your need?"

And Christ does care. He Who wept over Jerusalem and said: "Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem * * how oft would I have gathered thy children together," He weeps over the world of sin to-day.

Such Scriptures as this one, "All day long have I stretched forth My hands to a gainsaying and a disobedient people," have more than a dispensational meaning. They express the heart of God. "God so loved the world, that He gave;" "God commendeth His love toward us;" "God is not willing that any should perish;" "Whosoever will, let him come;" "By Me if any man enter in;" "Come unto Me all ye that labor," etc., etc.,–all of these, and passages of like character, express the heart of God toward the lost.

Who is there that doubts that the same Christ who stopped by the man thirty-eight years sick, and offered him the help he needed, is not standing by, to-day, ready and willing to save all who call upon His Name?

2. Christ stopped short, outside of the man’s will. He said "Wilt thou?" And that is just where Christ stands to-day. Christ is willing but the sinner must be willing too. Christ will not force your acceptance of His grace. The expression, "How oft would I, but ye would not," seems to mean "I wanted to, you would not let Me, therefore your house is left unto you desolate."

Certainly we accept every word of God concerning the doctrine of God’s election, and all that is taught about "No man cometh unto Me, except the Father draw him;" but that in no way releases man from his own responsibility. Christ said unto the Jews: "Ye will not come unto Me that ye might have life."

When the great judgment of the wicked comes, it will be found that men are there of choice.

"God is now willing, in Christ reconciled,

Ready to save you and make you His child;

God is now willing, are you?"

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR