AN ADVANTAGEOUS ENVIRONMENT IN VIEW OF BLESSING
[p. 312] AN ADVANTAGEOUS ENVIRONMENT IN VIEW OF BLESSING
This is a well-known scripture; no doubt it has rendered service in the gospel in this room, as it has in many rooms and halls. And my chief object in selecting it from the many gospel texts abounding in Scripture is because it suggests an advantageous environment in which to get blessing from God. For there is not only blessing, but the environment in which it comes to us. The environments are very varied; some advantageous and some very disadvantageous. So that persons believing under disadvantageous circumstances suffer. Therefore I selected this passage because it conveys to us a most advantageous environment in which to come to the Lord.
You have in John’s gospel illustrations of what I comment on. For instance, in chapter 5 a man receives help from the Lord in a religious environment. It was in Jerusalem, a time of the Jewish feasts, when what men called religion was dominant. And then it was in a place, the name of which is given in Hebrew (which is a religious suggestion, the religious language of that time), Bethesda. And it had five porches, all of them filled with needy people, in which only an occasional one got help. That is current accepted religion, there is occasional help, but not general help; people lie there. But even the occasional one is at a disadvantage. The one whom the Lord raised up went off, he did not seek the Lord, did not know who He was, after he got blessing. The Lord had to find him, and He did find him. And when He found him there was not much. All He said was, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no [p. 313] more, lest a worse thing come unto thee”. Things were on a low ground with that convert. If he was in a state to have positive things, the Lord would have spoken of the positive things, but He did not.
The man who got blessing at the pool of Siloam (running water), in chapter 9, got positive things from the Lord. He was a man who got blessing under good circumstances, excellent circumstances, no religion in view at all. You will understand what I mean by the word ‘religion’, not the religion James speaks of, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world”. James 1:27 Not that, I am speaking of, but the religion that is current everywhere. Even amongst the heathen you find religion. The man in chapter 9 is not converted in a religious environment. He was blind and the Lord put mud upon his eyes which He had made Himself of a compound, part of which was most precious, His spittle, referring to His Person. It was an immediate transaction, not a question of a word as in chapter 5, but a transaction from the Lord’s own hand on his eyes. Something very tender; Joseph put his hand on Jacob’s eyes. And the man got blessing, he went, and washed, and came seeing. “Came”, the other went. He bore a wonderful testimony to Christ. The Lord, hearing he was cast out of the synagogue, found him. And He said to him, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” I do not mean believe in an orthodox sense, even that is important, that is being given up universally. The Lord has in mind that the man is ready to believe. The Lord has that in His mind in every gospel meeting. There are those whose histories He follows, He has in His mind those who are ready for it. He has various means of getting us ready. Like Saul of Tarsus, he was getting ready, but he was kicking. But in due course the Lord met him and he fell down to the earth,
and he said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6 He was converted. This man in John 9 was ready. “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” John 9:35 What a question that is. He was ready; may God grant that some of you are ready tonight. There is a widespreading condition today to make people think, to rouse them. The Lord says, “Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee”. The man had made a wonderful confession, he did not know Him but he had said, “He is a prophet”. He was ready and he says, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?”
The man in chapter 5 had gone off, and the Lord had to find him. The Lord sometimes finds people in a theatre. I have never been in a theatre, but I have heard of such things happening. He found this man in the temple and He said to him, “sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee” John 5:14. Worse than lying in a five-porched place for thirty-eight years! It is a solemn thing to turn away, after you get blessing, from the Lord. Perhaps there is a backslider here; God follows things up, He is not mocked. Think of a worse thing. When the Lord Jesus uses an adjective He means it. That is the man in chapter 5. He got blessing from the Lord in a religious environment, but he did not get positive things, which the man did in chapter 9. So he comes into chapter 10, “one flock, one shepherd” John 10:16.
This passage furnishes me with the opportunity to speak on these lines, that it is an excellent position to get blessing. It is near to Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives. In that place is the Lord Jesus. Jerusalem is the city of the great King, the political place. Politics enter into every part of our being. They have a great hold on men. The enemy will use whatever the bent of your mind may be. He will use politics if it is that, to keep you away from Christ. Jerusalem above is our [p. 315] mother; it conveys to us that our citizenship is in heaven. And we love to have you join us, we have some things that you do not know anything about. “Ye have come to mount Zion; and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem”, Hebrews 12:22 we have, we here, christians. God has wonderful thoughts, beloved friends, to work out in Christ, in connection with His heavenly metropolis. We have a part in it. The apostle says, “Do ye not know that we shall judge angels?” 1 Corinthians 6:3 and the Lord said to His own that they should sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. That is the thing, and the great King Himself is here. There is Bethany behind, that lovely spot where love resides, where Jesus resorted. There is such a spot as that in this very city, a place where love is, where Jesus resorts. Will you come there? The gospel is to that end. There is the mount of Olives, also a resort of Jesus, and a garden in that neighbourhood; He resorted there. The Lord went out one night when everyone else went to their own homes, it was a link with heaven. That also exists. There is a spot in which our souls are brought into touch with heaven, and we would love to have you there. Heaven is seeking that, to have you there. There also is Bethphage, having its own significance.
A wonderful group of localities, with the city of the great King in the near locality, and the great King Himself was there. He was about to enter it in state. The great heavenly metropolis was open to Him a few weeks later, when the gates were lifted up the King of glory went in, He was acclaimed. All these elements are round about you tonight. The Lord Jesus is here. Mark you, the preaching is by Him. The apostle Paul, the great sent one of the Lord, the elect vessel sent by Him to speak, speaking of His preaching he says, “Coming, he has preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off, and the glad tidings of peace to those who were nigh” Ephesians 2:17.
“Coming”. Do you think we have come here tonight without the knowledge of that? We have asked the Lord to come with us. I believe He has come with us from our homes and is here. The power of the Lord is present to heal, and all these other features, too. So that if there is one here tonight who wants blessing from the Lord, it is your opportunity, every element about you is in your favour. I know the enemy would come too, Satan would come. But we have thought about that; our prayers, and the Lord keep him away. So that it is a great advantage for you, and I would challenge you, the Lord is set for you. I am here in that way, I should not be here if I was not sent. No one should preach without being sent. The Lord has sent me, so to speak. He is here in that sense. Now what about the exercise of your soul? We are all here in regard of you who have not believed, who have not Christ. The main object is to get you.
Well, the Lord here sends two. I want to dwell on the thought of being sent. That is the great feature of the gospel. We have it in our Lord Himself, He is said to be “sent”. Divine sending involves what is most urgent and emphatic, “the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” 1 John 4:14, then we have the idea in John of the Father giving; these two lines run together. To refuse a gift is not so serious as to refuse one sent. Think of the counsel that is behind being sent, the thoughtfulness. Especially as you need it. We all know how it was during the war, the proclamation that went out, and the young brothers know what refusal meant, to refuse conscription. The king’s word was ‘he needs you’. That is how it was put, and it was meant, too. Now the picture here, the Lord of glory is here, He has His servants by Him and sends two of them for the colt. I want you to think of that, that this occasion has a peculiar character in that way, the Lord was urging His necessity. Your necessity,
[p. 317] of course, the Lord thinks of your necessity, but He thinks of His necessity.
Two would mean that there was a testimony you cannot get rid of, it will come up against you by and by if you refuse an adequate position, the position of the Lord’s people, “for a testimony to them”; whatever the result, a testimony to them. So if you turn away it is for a testimony to you. Adequate testimony that cannot be ignored with impunity, and will come up again. He sent two of His disciples. This is serious for any who have not bowed to Christ. He sent two, and says, “The Lord hath need of him”. The Lord! You may say, if He does not get me He will get someone else. Yes, but when you think of the Lord you cannot treat Him like that; He is the Lord. “The Lord hath need of him”; “are we stronger than he?” 1 Corinthians 10:22 the apostle Paul says. Will He forget all about it? If He sent two, does He mean to forget it? No, He sent two so that there should be no question as to the testimony. It will come up again, every testimony rendered comes up again. That is what testimony is for, God has it and He brings it up. The apostle Paul says, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” Acts 26:19. But suppose he had been, how dreadful. The voice that spoke from heaven, and said, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Acts 9:4 could have destroyed him. It could then, but it did not. But suppose he refused, and pulled away the shoulder, and said, ‘Lord, I have great business in Damascus and I must do it, leave it for another time’. What then? I am not overdrawing the picture, it is most serious when the Lord gives an adequate testimony and it is refused. But Paul says, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision”.
The Lord says to the two, “Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him”. The Lord [p. 318] has watched over the history of the young people here. He knows where you have been the past week, what you have been doing, whether you have been subject, obedient, or doing your own will. The Lord knew about the colt, he was tied. I know he does not represent an unconverted person, he does not represent one who has no light and regard for the Lord’s things. His environment indicated the contrary. Did he represent a self-willed young man he would not have been in this environment. It was to his credit, and the credit, too, of someone else who had tied him. He submitted, he was tied, there was no evidence that he was seeking to break through limitations. There are those who do. You remember that ox that drew the cart on which the ark was, he broke loose. That is, it is man’s will breaking loose. This colt was not doing that, and yet he was not a trained colt. No one had ever sat upon him, and you cannot train a colt without sitting on him. So there was something there you see, some docility there, some subjection. Am I not picturing some young men and women here? There is some subjection. The element of subjection is of value and God respects it. We thank God you are here tonight. You would be somewhere else if you followed the bent of your own will entirely. We have prayed for you, and you are here.
The Lord knew he was in that position where he could be reached. I do not suppose anyone else was so conversant with that colt, and his position and feelings, as the Lord. In a family I suppose a mother knows most. If I wished to find out about a young person I should go to the mother, if she is true to the Lord. Jacob represents what I am speaking about, and parents often hinder the work of God because of endeavouring to cover over things, but you cannot cover things from the Lord. Jacob does not attempt to hide anything in blessing his sons. He tells the [p. 319] worst things, but in spite of the bad things, he blessed them all. In the light of the blessing that God has for the young there is no need to hide things. The worst conduct in the children only magnifies the grace that saves them.
Parents do well to take note of these things. They have a great deal to do with the blessing of their children. And Jacob in blessing was a representative of God. Fathers are that, representatives of God in the house. There would be more blessing in the household if every father understood that. “Hearken unto Israel your father”, Genesis 49:2 that is the spiritual; he had abandoned the natural. He had crossed “his hands wittingly” Genesis 48:14 in blessing Ephraim and Manasseh. Let us as parents not hide things, the Lord knows, you cannot hide anything from Him. After Jacob had finished telling all, we have the blessing of every one of the tribes. Even Dan is blessed although he “biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward” Genesis 49:17. Young people often do that, they act behind. Is there any Dan here, deceitful workers, telling lies? Young people are prone to this, “an adder in the path”, he bites the horses’ heels so that the rider falleth backward. A subtle secret damage to do harm to those in the testimony, that he might fall backward. Even for such a one as that here tonight there is blessing. Dan is blessed as Joseph is blessed, grace is greater than sin, he is blessed in spite of wickedness. So there is no need to hold back because of secret wickedness, grace is greater than that. As the Lord said, “Beginning at Jerusalem”, Luke 24:47 it is a question of grace coming down to the worst spot on earth. I am speaking of Jerusalem as the place where our Lord was crucified. Think of God beginning there with the gospel.
Well, the two went, and sure enough the colt was there. There is no uncertainty with the Lord Jesus. They found him there and they loosed him. And no [p. 320] one complained. They made enquiry. I should hope all parents here would make enquiry should anything happen; I hope it will, someone loosed, the gospel is the loosing power. It is not, ‘Loose him and let him go’. That is Lazarus, a man who can be trusted. Young people have to be cared for. They loosed him and brought him to Jesus. Could they have done better? They did it with the heart. It came into my mind that I should have asked the Lord to make me a messenger of the covenant. How can the preacher convey the gospel unless he is filled with it?
They brought the colt to Jesus and put their own clothes on him. We are ready to do that tonight. The preacher who keeps his clothing from his converts is a cleric. I should not like a cleric’s clothing. Those are not the clothes to put on a colt on which Jesus would ride. They are the clothes of disciples. Others as well as myself are ready to put our own clothes on you. I mean to convey that everything is in your favour. The disciples were in the favour of this colt. They would not use harshness or cause pain in untying the knots. He picked certain of His disciples, they were to be like Him, imbued with His own tender feelings, and those feelings would enter into the untying of those knots, and the gentle leading of the colt to Jesus. They would bring him into the current of the mighty attractive power of Jesus. The presence of Jesus on the earth established a magnet, a drawing power. That is here tonight, I hope.
They brought him to Jesus. One can understand how sweet would be the experience of these two who brought the colt to Jesus. They had untied him, and spoken to those who asked, that the Lord Jesus, had need of him. The whole atmosphere was filled with the thought of Jesus, and His need, that He needed him. I know nothing more touching than that He needs me. They did not put their clothes on him until they brought him to Jesus. It is a question [p. 321] what He will do with him. He needs you, and then we will do our best for you. And by that I mean much, for the Lord lets us do everything He can, He wants us to have all the privileges possible. He could have put clothes on the colt Himself, but the disciples did. Their clothes were to be utilised for his advantage, they were to be serviceable to the young believer. So, as you come into fellowship the brethren will do all they can for you. They can do a good deal for you, and we ought to be ready to take our clothes and put them on the young to make them suitable for the testimony.
These clothes of tried disciples were well-known to Jesus. I believe there was great familiarity between Jesus and His disciples. He would know their clothes. He would know the colour of their suits. Even the name of a disciple has power, and so the clothes of a disciple are to be valued.
The Lord rode into the city on the colt, the Lord had need of Him. The gospel has so many sides, one can only speak of one little bit. I might have spoken a good deal about the death of Christ. There could be no gospel without that. The Lord would never think of asking us to come to Him if He had not the means of making us fit for His companions. Also justification; if it be a question of sin on the conscience, “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” 1 John 1:17.