The Gospel Feast
THE Lord Jesus, during His sojourn on earth, taught the people by similitudes and parables. On one occasion, He, as His custom was, when invited, went into a Pharisee’s house to dine. Here He saw a well filled table. A large number of invited guests sitting thereat. The thought seems to arise in His mind, if God had spread this table, and had issued the invitation, there had not been so many guests. When a man spreads his table, and invites his friends to come and dine, they will come, as many as are bidden. When the living God makes a feast, not one that is merely bidden, will come to eat of His supper! The parable seems to have been spoken in answer to “one of them that sat at meat with” Jesus, who “said unto Him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.” This remark was doubtless made by one of that class of persons who wish to get to heaven, and who are ready when religion is talked about, to talk religiously, but who never get any further. Persons who, like Balsam, would like to “die the death of the righteous,” (Numbers 23:10,) but who have no desire to “be found in Him, not having” their “own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Philippians 3:9.) Jesus reminds this individual, and the whole company with him, that men may have the kingdom of God offered to them, and yet, because they willfully reject God’s free gift, be lost forever. “Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse.” (Luke 14:15-24.)
The gospel of the grace of God may well be compared to A GREAT FEAST. How largely abundant are the provisions prepared. Earthly provisions are by expenditure soon exhausted; but the provisions of God’s love are infinite. The fountain of Jesus’ atoning blood has cleansed all the myriads who are now present with the Lord, so that they are free, perfectly free, from all sin, from every spot, stain, or blemish. That fountain is still open, and myriads more may be cleansed therein from all pollution, may be so completely cleansed, that they shall be “whiter than snow,” pure as the ray of unsullied light, when it first flashes forth from the sun. The Lord Jesus Christ has provided an abundant supply of all things that sinners need for their salvation, and all things are provided gratuitously, “without money and without price.” (Isa. 55:1.) We are all sinful, needy and starving, but God in the person of His Son, has provided for all who believe in His name, everything that sin-laden hearts can wish, or weary consciences require. Christ Himself is the sum and substance of God’s great feast. He is the “BREAD OF LIFE;” all they who come to Jesus shall never hunger; and all they who believe on Jesus shall never thirst. (John 6:35.) Whoso eateth the flesh of Jesus, and drinketh His blood, hath eternal life: for His flesh is meat indeed, and His blood is drink indeed. (John 6:54-56.) The sinner who comes to Jesus, shall have the forgiveness of all his sins, peace with God, justification of his person, sanctification, eternal life, pace by the way; he shall have no want, he shall experience no sorrow, he shall know no necessity, he shall fear no danger, for which he shall not find a suitable and an abundant supply in Jesus. Oh! what rich variety is there in Christ for perishing sinners; here is pardon, peace, holiness, adoption, joy in the Holy Spirit, communion with God, persevering grace to the end, and eternal, glory to crown the whole.
“This is the feast of heavenly wine;
And God invites to sup:
The juices of the Living Vine,
Were pressed to fill the cup.
“Oh, bless the Saviour, ye that eat,
With royal dainties fed;
Not heaven affords a costlier treat,
For Jesus is the Bread.”
At the gospel feast there is much joy and gladness. When the prodigal, son was received back by the father; when he had received the father’s kiss of reconciliation; when he was arrayed in the best robe; when his feet were shod; when the ring was placed on the hand; when the fatted calf was killed; it was meet that they should make merry, and be glad: for he who had been dead, was alive again; he who had been lost, was found. When a believer in Jesus looks back upon what had been his former condition, and considers what is now his present position, he cannot but be joyful in the Lord. There is joy arising from the harmony and oneness which exists between the guests, who are all one in Christ Jesus. There is great joy arising from the delightful intercourse which the redeemed of the Lord hold with each other. Sweet is the fellowship of such kindred minds. There are some who imagine that the gospel of Jesus produces gloom and melancholy. How fatal a mistake! As well might the blind man imagine that light is somber, and the blessing of sight productive of sadness: as well might the deaf imagine that music is only saddening-the gospel of Jesus produce gloom and sorrow! Surely this is a device of Satan to keep souls still in bondage. Reader, believe not the devil’s lie, but believe God’s glad tidings, and you shall know, that
“It is Jesus who must give,
Sweetest pleasures, while you live;
It is Jesus must supply,
Solid comfort when you die.”
“Believing, we rejoice
To see the curse remove;
We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice,
And sing His bleeding love.”
The invitations of the gospel of God’s grace are most broad, and liberal; they are infinitely gracious and free. “Come” says God; “for all things are now ready.” The whole work of redemption is now complete. Jesus has been raised up from the dead, and now “all things are ready.” All who know and feel that they are sinners, ill-deserving and hell-deserving, may now believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have everlasting life.
“The vile, the lost, He calls to them,
Ye trembling souls appear!
The righteous in their own esteem
Have no acceptance here.
“Approach, ye poor, nor dare refuse
The banquet spread for you;
Dear Saviour, this is welcome news,
Then I may venture too.
“If guilt and sin afford a plea,
And may obtain a place,
Surely the Lord will welcome me,
And I shall see His face.”
Yes, sinner, the poorer the wretch, the welcomer is he to sit down to the gospel feast. None are excluded, save those who by their own obstinate unbelief, willfully exclude themselves. There is nothing wanting on God’s part to insure the full salvation of lost and sinful man. If any sinner perish, the fault is not on God’s side: it is the sinner’s own. The eternal Father is ready to receive all who come to Him by His Son Jesus Christ. The gracious Saviour is ready to save to the uttermost all who believe in His name, and of all who come unto Him, He has declared He will cast out none. The Holy Spirit is ready to lead all who are willing to the water of life. There is in God the Father, Son, and Spirit, an infinite willingness to save the guilty, if the guilty are only willing to be saved. The invitations to the gospel feast are unlimited. They are addressed to “every creature,” and “whosoever will” may come unto Him who is “mighty to save.” There is the amplest warrant for sinners to draw near to God by Christ. The word “COME” is addressed to all who hear the gospel. All who hear the good news, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save shiners, are “BIDDEN,” and to them that are “bidden,” God says, “Come.” Are you laboring and heavy laden? Hear Jesus saying, “COME unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Are you athirst? Jesus cries, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” Are you poor and hungry? The voice of mercy cries, “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Are you dying and perishing? Hearken to the words of Jesus, “Incline your ear, and COME unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.” None can say, I have no encouragement. I have no warrant to expect salvation. Here is the word of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that word silences every objector, “Him that COMETH to Me I will in no wise cast out.” May you, dear reader, be able to exclaim,
“Lord, ‘tis enough, I ask no more,
These blessings are divine;
I envy not the worldling’s store,
Since Christ and heaven are mine.”
NOTE. ― The parable of the marriage feast recorded in Matt. 22:1-14, is distinct from that of the “great supper” in Luke 14. The former refers to the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish nation; its primary object is to shew the wickedness and unbelief of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles in their stead. Jesus came first unto the Jewish nation, the invitations of the gospel were first offered to the people of Israel; but when they rejected Christ as the long promised Messiah, they became liable to the curse, and the invitations of the gospel were presented to the Gentiles. The latter parable refers to the history of the gospel offer, and the reception it meets with from the Gentiles. Mere bidding to the gospel feast is in itself unavailing! other things are preferred before the salvation provided by Jesus. No sinner of himself will obey the invitations of the gospel; Jesus Himself must bring them in, and compel them by the force of His own love.
Influence.
IT is a terrible thing to be borne away by popular currents. I know nothing more calculated to disturb the serenity of the mind, than having it swept by every wind that crosses the surface of human society. Indeed as one that really knows what man is, what the human heart is, would trust its tides for one moment; and yet nothing is more difficult, in times of particular excitement, than to remain undisturbed, and above the level of surrounding influences. Were we not ourselves human, we should not feel this; and it is a proof of our weakness and inability to sustain ourselves in anything like moral elevation, that we do so feel it. However humbling this consideration may be, for the Christian it is a salutary, one, for it teaches him not to trust in himself, but to rely for strength and peace on the Lord alone, who brings blessing to him out of everything.
The free gift of all things God has bestowed upon His people. But it is with His Son. This unspeakable gift, this Christ, once received, all blessing follows in His train. Towards a lost world this marvelous kindness was directed, the full proof that God himself is Love. But the up-heaving sea of human depravity, rolling itself in madness against that Blessed One, nailed Him to the ignominious cross. Thus was love met by hatred, Divine goodness by human wickedness. Yet was not the love quenched thereby, but shone out the more brightly, surviving death, and such a death; yea, living still to be the plague of death―the destruction of the grave; living in resurrection that man might rise; living in heavenly glory that man might share that glory―might enjoy it through an endless day. This was love eternal, unquenchable, divine love; and Jesus, God’s own Son, is He in whom it dwells. He is the living One―the incorruptible God. In Him is rest, peace, heavenly blessedness, without alloy.
The heart of man is a dark gulph. He does not, himself, see half that is, in it. What fills the world with wrongs, oppressions, cruelties, woes? What makes the world a wilderness to the reflective mind, to the heart that has tasted good, and cannot be satisfied without it? The answer is not difficult to find: it is the selfishness of man that produces misery. Man, in his natural state, is a thorough desolator of the earth he treads on. When I say his natural state, I don’t mean his primitive state, for that was uprightness. His Maker pronounced him good; yea, very good, as all His works were when coming from His hand; and this fact, the goodness of the Creator, is abundantly witnessed by the rain from heaven, the fruitful seasons, the wonderful adaptation of every part of creation to its respective use; heaven and earth alike declaring the goodness, wisdom, power of Him who made them. Man, however, has got wrong, become a moral ruin. Falling from his first estate in Eden, through disobedience to the will of God, he presents, to the unfallen hosts of heaven, the sad spectacle of a lost and undone sinner; yet, so strangely insensible to his condition, so besotted by the wiles of the cruel tempter, by whom he was at first beguiled, that he heeds not, on the one hand, the truth that would rouse him to a sense of his condition, nor the whispers of conscience on the other, that all is not right between himself and God. And here again I would press the exceeding value of Holy Scripture as the oracles of God to man in this condition, the only light, in short, that can guide him or shed a ray of hope upon his soul. I know that these are made effectual to a man’s conversion only through the power of the Holy Spirit, who makes known to man what he himself is, and what God is in the person of Jesus Christ, the one blessed and only Saviour of the lost children of Adam. I am not insensible to the existence of a natural conscience in man, a sense of right and wrong in matters between man and man, often found in a higher degree in one than another. These moral differences I fully own, though how far circumstances may have operated in fostering or repressing them, would be, no doubt, an interesting question. I have met with noble instances of generosity, the fruit of Christian love for the most part, but some, perhaps, where natural kindness and affection prompted the act. One cannot always tell. But these things are the exceptions, not the rule, in speaking of man as he is. The rule is selfishness, and selfishness leads to wrong doing. I have looked at man as a whole, represented in the first man, in the aspect which he presents morally towards his Maker. That Adam was saved eternally (as an individual) from the consequences of the fall, I have not a doubt. God promised the seed of the woman, and His victory over the destroyer; and Adam believed God’s word. This is salvation. Faith in God’s word always is, when it is the faith of the heart, for a lost sinner has no resource but in God’s remedy, and God’s remedy is an uplifted Christ―a Christ crucified in weakness, yet living by the power of God. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Man universally is in need of this salvation, for as regards the blessed God, there has been a universal revolt from Him on the part of man, the carrying out or development of that fallen nature that came out of Eden, as it is written, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” But we may look at individual men, and here an immense variety of character presents itself. As in external features, no two will be found precisely alike, so each mind will probably have some distinguishing characteristics which will always mark it as being itself, and no other. Of course we know that there are strong minds and weak ones, that the former will leave their impress in very considerable measure on the latter, whenever there is contact between them, and no small part of human history is made up of these effects; but it is not the less true, that individuality remains, and will remain, as I believe, ever. I follow this no further for the moment, but the subject is so interesting so much is involved in it, that I hope (D.V.) to return to it again.
Familiar Letters From a Father to His Children, on “The Times of the Gentiles.”