May 14

Come unto me. - Matthew 11:28.

THIS is not to be understood corporeally. Many literally came to the Lord Jesus Christ when upon earth; some from captiousness, some from curiosity, some for the loaves and fishes, and some under temporary emotion and awakening; to whom he said, “Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life;” but though the expression is not to be understood corporeally, it is yet taken from the body. It is a remark of Dr. Watts, that there is hardly a part of the human body whose action has not been employed to hold forth the operations of faith. Sometimes the reference is to the eye-then believing is seeing him; sometimes it is to the ear-then believing is hearing him; sometimes to the taste-then believing is eating his flesh and drinking his blood; sometimes to the feet, and then believing is coming to him. If it be asked, what is coming to Christ? it is believing on him; and what is believing on him? it is coming to him.

This coming to Christ implies three things. First, Absence; for what need is there of our coming to Christ, unless we are previously at a distance from him? Such is the condition of every man. Naturally all are without Christ as to saving influence as to a proper knowledge of him, love to him, confidence in him, and union and communion with him.

Secondly, Accessibleness. We can come to him, we can find and approach him. Not to his bodily presence. As man he is absent; as God he is still present. He said to his Apostles, “Lo! I am with you, even to the end of the world.” Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Thirdly, Application; for this coming to him is to deal with him concerning the affairs of the soul and eternity, and for all the purposes for which he executes his various offices, and for all the blessings which he has to bestow. We come to him as a way, that we may walk in him; as to a refuge, that we may enter him; as to a fountain open for sin and uncleanness, that we may wash therein; as to a foundation, that we may build on him our structure of hope and happiness for ever: as diseased and dying patients try a physician; and, throwing ourselves at his feet, cry, “Heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.”

We come to him as a Prophet, and we pray that he would “lead us into all truth;” as to the High Priest of our profession, and beseech him to intercede for us. We come to him as our King, and pray that he would rule over us, and reign in us, and establish there his own kingdom, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. We come to him as the “Shepherd of Israel divine,” and ask, “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon.” I want thy rest, and I want thy food, and nothing else will satisfy my longing soul.

Faith is therefore often represented by trusting in him. The idea is that of confidence exercised, and this is always preceded and accompanied by knowledge. Hence, said the Psalmist, “They that know thy name will put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”