1051. His Approach to Christ

His Approach to Christ

"And he, casting away his garment, sprang up and came" (Mar_10:50, A. S. V.).

There are a number of striking statements which connect just here.

1. Jesus stood still. It seems to us that in all the Word of God there is nothing quite so beautiful as this.

Who stood still? The Son of God. He by Whom and for Whom all things were made; He Who was about to complete His earthly task and to be exalted to the right hand of authority and power. He stood still.

When did He stand still? He stood still in the moment when the burden of the sins of a poor lost world weighed heavily upon His heart.

Why did He stand still? Because a poor blind beggar cried for Him. We have read how Joshua commanded and the sun stood still in the valley of Adjalon. Many said, "Impossible!" It was not half as impossible as this–for Jesus Christ stood still until He could give the blind man his request.

2. Jesus called to him. "And they said, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee." And so He calls everyone who is lost. He has risen up early and called and said, "Hearken unto Me. Hear, and your soul shall live." It is the voice of Jesus calling now.

"Jesus is tenderly calling thee home,

Calling today, calling today,

Why from the sunshine of love dost thou roam,

Farther and farther away?

"Jesus is calling the weary to rest,

Calling today, calling to-day.

Come to Him now and thy soul shall be blessed,

Come and no longer delay."

3. He sprang up. Think of the agility of this blind man. His very spring marks not only his eagerness but his expectant faith. We find our Lord when we seek Him with all our heart.

4. He cast away his garment Perhaps the garment impeded his walk. He was in a hurry. He wanted to get to Christ. We know this, that when any sinner seeks the Lord, he does, by the nature of the case, deny and denounce his sins. He forsakes his evil way. He leaves them all behind him–he casts away his garments, too.

5. He came to Jesus. He was not satisfied until he stood beside his Christ. O friends, be not content to stay away. Do as the woman did who was a sinner. She came to where the Lord was, in the house of Simon. She wept upon His feet and took her long tresses and wiped away her tears.

"She came to Jesus, as she was,

Weary, and worn, and sad.

She found in Him a resting place,

And then He made her glad."

Do not stay in the far country. Come home. Don't stand outside the gate. Come in. The feast is prepared. The Lord is there. He wants you as His guest.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR