The Nation Behind Prison Bars Part 5

The beloved pastor of the Highland Presbyterian Church. The "Beloved John" of the Louisville ministry.]

Let us learn from this picture that the gospel is not for faultfinders.

Our late Mr. Moody says a true thing when he says that a faultfinder is usually a lightweight.

-------- He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.--S. of S. 2:4.

Again we can learn from this picture that the gospel is not intended for those who do not think they need it; not intended for self-righteous people. No one is ever going to appreciate the gospel until he feels the need of it. The spirit of the Pharisee will shut us out from the blessings of the gospel whether we are church members or not. Simon looked down on the sinful woman and felt that he was far superior to her. Evidently he felt no need of a Saviour. The Scribes and Pharisees rejected Christ on the very grounds that he was the friend of publicans and sinners. Oh, yes, in the very nature of the case the gospel cannot reach those who do not feel their need of some power beyond themselves.

Furthermore, the gospel is not meant for those who are ashamed of it.

There is something very touching and beautiful in this picture of the woman who was a sinner coming into this public court to do honor to Christ. She had true humility. Simon was far from doing anything of this kind, he was willing to show a certain sort of respect for Christ, but he would have been too proud to have ever done such a thing as this.

"Ashamed of Jesus, sooner far Let evening blush to own a star."

Is it not true that a sense of being ashamed of the gospel shuts out from its blessings those who entertain such unworthy feelings?

-------- Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart.--Mk. 12:30.

Finally, let us learn from this picture that the gospel is not meant for those who are not glad to make a free-will offering of sacrifice as a token of this grateful love. This woman brought an alabaster box of ointment.

"My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment." Christ did not exact this of her--it was a free-will offering. If the gospel does not draw out our grat.i.tude and liberality, then it has never touched us. It is not because of our gifts that we are forgiven, but it is because of our forgiveness that we give.

"To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

"That man may last but never lives, Who much receives but nothing gives; Whom none can love, whom none can thank, Creation's blot, creation's blank.

"But he who walks from day to day In generous acts his radiant way, Treads the same path his Saviour trod-- The path to glory and to G.o.d."

Now, having learned from this picture for whom the gospel is not intended, let us learn for whom it is intended. Ah! how with a few bold and simple strokes the whole matter is made plain.

-------- Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.--Mark 11:31.

First, I notice that it is meant for sinners. "Behold a woman in the city which was a sinner." Jesus "a friend of publicans and sinners."

That tells the story. "I came to call not the righteous, but sinners."

Some people find fault with the church because there are so many sinners in the church. Just as well find fault with a hospital for having sick people in it. Just as well find fault with the doctor for visiting invalids. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee; you are finding fault with me for allowing this sinful woman to touch me. Let me tell you, Simon, that it is just for this very purpose that I am come into this world." "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ came into the world to save sinners." He was the great Physician and great physicians are those who have a specialty. This was Christ's specialty--to save sinners. Who is this that forgiveth sins, also?

-------- The end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart.--1 Tim.

1:5.

Secondly, I learn from our Saviour's interpretation of this picture that the gospel is for the very greatest of sinners. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors,"

etc. Our Saviour proceeds with an ill.u.s.tration which shows that this woman was one of the greatest of sinners. She was ten times worse than the average sinner, and yet she was more welcome to the Saviour than this proud, self-righteous Pharisee. Oh, men and women! if you are in this hall, feeling that you are unworthy to be here, your very unfitness makes you fit. Draw nigh to this Saviour from sin and hear him say, "Thy sins are forgiven; go in peace." Let no pharisaical Simon frighten you away--the Saviour will give him the rebuke which he deserves and will whisper into your ear words of pardon and of peace.

-------- Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it.--S. of S. 8:7.

I learn from this picture which Christ interprets that the gospel is for penitent sinners. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee; seest thou this woman? She hath washed my feet with her tears." Oh, those were precious tears in the sight of our Saviour. Every tear-drop was a jewel.

The breaking of the alabaster box of ointment was a sweet incense to Jesus, but this ten-fold sinner bathing his very feet with her penitential tears was a sight which made the angels in heaven rejoice, "for there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." Simon despised this woman's tears and sat unmoved at the pathetic scene--but not so with Jesus. He could refrain himself no longer, but speaking out before all the company he said, "Thy sins are forgiven." Oh, gracious words!

How sweet and soft must have been this music to the ears of this sinful outcast.

"They fall as soft as snow on the sea And melt in the heart as instantly."

Finally, I learn from this picture which Christ is interpreting for us that the gospel is for sinners who commit themselves in implicit faith to Christ. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." "Behold this woman; you have done a great deal of talking--this poor woman has not spoken a word--but behold how she has thrown herself upon my mercy with unquestioning confidence! Do you think I will disappoint such trust as that? She has heard me say, 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out' and has taken me at my word, and I consider it an honor to turn from thy company to the company of this sinful woman."

And he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

-------- Without faith it is impossible to please G.o.d.--Hebrews 11:6.

[Ill.u.s.tration: REV. HENRY CLAY MORRISON, D.D.

A Giant Against Unrighteousness]

CHAPTER FIVE

THROWING OUT THE LIFE-LINE

By Rev. H. C. Morrison, D.D.

"Ye are the salt of the earth," "Ye are the light of the world," "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which art in heaven."--Matt. 5:13, 14, 15.

These sayings of Jesus from the sermon on the mount are quite remarkable. No other teacher ever used such words to his disciples, "Ye are the light of the world." Had the Jewish doctor of the law heard these words of our Lord to his humble sun-tanned, bare-footed, s.h.a.ggy-browed fishermen, he would have been quite disgusted with what to him would have seemed the consummate egotism of the Nazarene.

The meaning of the words of Christ is very plain. The disciples, their lives, character, spirit, the power of the Christ in them must, and would, permeate society like salt, and purify and save from sin. They must illuminate the world, so dark with vice, and show it the way back to G.o.d.

-------- Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with G.o.d.--Rom. 5:1.

These words of Jesus to the disciples who sat before him that day, are addressed by him to all of his followers for all time, to all of those who trust him and gladly obey him (and only such are disciples). He says, "Ye are the salt of the earth," "Ye are the light of the world."

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

-------- I have somewhat to say unto thee.--Luke 7:40.

We must not forget that G.o.d's plan is to save the lost, through the instrumentality of those who were themselves once lost, but are now saved from sin. If we would have a great testimony meeting in the city of the skies, and all of the countless hosts there should one by one stand up to tell how they were brought from sin to Jesus, each one of them would point out some person who had been the chief instrument in his or her salvation. There is this one characteristic of all who are truly saved--they desire the salvation of all souls. In fact, this is a very good thermometer with which to get the correct temperature of one's spiritual life. Does he long for the salvation of the lost? If so, in the nature of things he must be in a state of salvation. Is he indifferent to the condition of the lost? Then he is himself in a lost state. Let us here impress the important truth that Jesus did not say to his disciples, "Ye must try and salt the earth," but said, "Ye are the salt of the earth." He did not say, "Ye shall kindle a flame that shall illuminate the world." He said, "Ye are the light of the world." We are not, as the disciples of Christ, to be makers of light and salt, but we, by the power of Christ, must be made into salt and light. It will be interesting to notice the processes through which one must pa.s.s in order to become salt and light. Let us go back to the beginning of this sermon of our Lord and we will hear him saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." First of all to become salt and light one must be poor in spirit; he must awake to the fact that he owes a million and has not one cent with which to pay. From his heart he must say,

-------- "Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling."

Create in me a clean heart, O G.o.d, and renew a right spirit within me.--Psalms 51:10 --------

He must realize in his inmost soul his perilous condition, and pray from the fullness of a deep conviction in his heart, "Lord save, or I perish." Not only must he be poor in spirit, but our Lord says, "Blessed are they that mourn." G.o.d loves to see the falling tears of sorrow for sin against himself. Those that truly mourn because of their sins will forsake them. How blessed for the returning prodigal to come with a heart all full of deep contrition. They that mourn because of their sins shall be comforted. After deep poverty of spirit and true mourning for sin and the comforting of the soul by the pardoning mercy of G.o.d. Then meekness will most certainly follow.

Now, the soul comforted, born of G.o.d, sitting in meekness at the feet of Jesus, will "hunger and thirst after righteousness." A dead man has no appet.i.te or desire for food, but a living one must eat. The soul that is born of G.o.d will at once begin to hunger for G.o.dlikeness. The cry of such a soul is not so much for his blessings as it is for him. The Psalmist says, "As the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so panteth my soul for Thee, O G.o.d." Jesus says of such, "They shall be filled"--filled with purity, love and peace; filled with the Holy Ghost; filled with all the fulness of G.o.d. All such will be merciful, pure in heart, peace-makers, and be sure that persecution will follow. This world that hated and killed our Lord will not let his followers pa.s.s through without persecutions. Of this we may be sure.