THE Lord's last and memorable journey up to Jerusalem was from the city of Jericho, the place where Joshua entered to possess the land, on which the curse long rested.
He went up to Jerusalem in the name of Jehovah, presenting Himself as Israel's king and deliverer. But their hosannas to the son of David, alas were soon changed for the cry, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him.”
Yes, Jesus entered this world, and passed through, and departed. It had no room for Him. Not only was He rejected by His own people, the Jews, but He was delivered into the hands of the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and put to death. He was to them as a root out of a dry ground, without form or comeliness. They saw no beauty to desire Him. He was despised, and rejected of men. There was but one Person Who estimated His worth; and He opened the heavens upon Him, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
There are two striking incidents which illustrate the Lord's purpose of blessing. As they departed from Jericho a great multitude followed Him, and two Mind men were sitting by the wayside, who, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David." The multitude rebuked them, but they cried out the more. They knew their need; there was no occasion to tell them they were blind. They knew this, and realized the opportunity had come to be healed, and that it must be while Jesus was passing by. He was the only one Who could heal them, and He would not pass that way again.
Hence though the multitude rebuked them, they did not hesitate. To have done so would have been too late.
So the cry rings out over the multitude, reaching the ear of Jesus, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David." They were the only two in the whole crowd who seemed to realize Who was passing by. They own His person and His title, and He answers to their faith. He stood, and commanded them to be brought. It is a king's right to command. Although the Lord came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many, He laid Himself open to meet the need of all who came. Listen to His gracious words, "What will ye, that I shall do unto you?" They say unto Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Jesus.
My reader, have you ever been in touch with Jesus? Can you say with the man who was born blind, "One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." Have you beheld Him by faith, and felt His healing touch? Dost thou believe on the Son of God? Or are you going to let your opportunity pass? God says, "To-day is the day of salvation." It may never come again to you. The blind men would never have had another opportunity, for Jesus never passed that way again. Oh, do not risk being lost forever, going into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and gnashing of teeth.
The next incident brings out how much the Lord desires to meet the sinner. Zacchæus sought to see Jesus, who He was. We are not told that he was conscious of any great need of the Savior, such as the blind men had. Still there was a desire to see, and know Him, strong enough to enable him to overcome a natural hindrance. He might have argued that it would be useless to try, being so small of stature, but he did not stop to argue. He ran and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus.
The crowd did not hinder Zacchæus, any more than it did the blind men. Alas, there are always many difficulties to hinder souls coming to Jesus. But Zacchæus was in earnest. His opportunity had come, and he seized it.
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said, "Zacchæus, make haste and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house." And the publican made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully. Blessed place, to be at the feet of Jesus; and Zacchæus found it so, but he had to come down to get there. Yet the joy and gladness makes up for it all, no matter to what heights we may have climbed, or what thoughts of our own goodness we May have to give up. Come down we must. It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy and grace He saves us.
And when the multitude saw it, they all murmured, saying that He was gone to be the guest with a man that is a sinner. Well, why not? Was not that His errand? Did He not take that wondrous stoop from the heights of glory, down to Calvary's depths of unutterable woe, there to meet all that stood between God and the sinner, that He might fill the sinner's heart with His love, and take up His abode with him? The multitude may murmur, but it only drives to Jesus Zacchæus, who brings out, in self-defense, what was excellent in his character and ways. And Zacchæus stood and said, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." But he has to learn that neither justice nor generosity avails him anything for salvation. Jesus said unto him, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Here we have the great secret: God's salvation was there in the Person of Jesus. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins." "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Admit Him, for the human breast
Ne'er entertained so kind a guest;
No mortal tongue their joys can tell,
With whom He condescends to dwell.