Sometime ago I was told of a Jewish family who were in great want. The grandfather, an old man eighty-two years of age, was ill, and covered with rags. He lay in a corner of the room on a sack of straw. The room, a miserable hovel, was quite cold.
Five children and four grandchildren of the old man, all alike thin and pale from hunger and cold, lived together with him.
I sought to comfort him by bringing the divine promises of the Old Testament to his memory. He listened to me with great reverence, and at last said in a voice trembling with emotion,
“I thank you, sir, for reminding me, a poor Jew, of these glorious words from our holy books. I perceive thereby that the salvation of my soul lies on your heart; but I know another and still better means, that is able to heal the wounds of the soul, and that is the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. That blood cleanses from all sin.”
Surprised in the highest degree, I asked how he came to this knowledge. A smile passed over the sunken cheeks of the old man, and his dim eyes began to brighten. With a trembling hand, he drew a much worn New Testament from under the rags which covered him, saying,
“In this little book my soul has found light and consolation. In it the voice of Emmanuel, ‘God with us,’ speaks to our hearts. Moses and the Psalmist have often encouraged me and done good to my soul; but Jesus alone gives peace and salvation.”
“How came you to possess this New Testament?” I asked further. He smiled again as he answered,
“The Lord sent it to me. Two years ago I went to Renton with my eldest son, Saul, to the burial of one of my brothers who lived there. On the way we spent a night in an inn. We were taken to a place in the barn, and there among the hay my son found this New Testament.
“On the following morning we took the book which we had found to the landlord, but when he saw it, he said, “‘That is a Hebrew book. I cannot read it. Perhaps old Simeon who lived in the barn for three weeks has left it there. He will not be here again; take it with you if you care to have it.’
“So we kept the treasure. We read much of it together, and through it my son Saul died in peace, though he left behind four helpless children. His last words were,
“‘Lord Jesus, remember me! Thou hast said to the thief on the cross, “To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise,” and Thou wilt not reject me.’
“He then turned to me and said,
“‘Father, dear father, I am going to Jesus. Be sure that you go there also, you and your children, and mine!’
“His lips moved, but I understood no more. At the last I heard his whisper, ‘Jesus! Jesus!’ and then his breath ceased.”
“Hear His blest voice calling,
Blessings rich are falling,
Jesus alone, Jesus alone,
Jesus alone can save.”
ML 08/02/1953