A MISSIONARY with his wife and little daughter went to live in Mexico. His desire was to tell the people of that land that the Lord Jesus loved them, that He died and shed His precious blood to wash their sins away, and he wanted them to learn to love and serve the Saviour too.
Emmie was a happy little girl; she got to love the little Mexican boys and girls and learned their language quite quickly. But one day a great sorrow came into the happy little family for the dear mother died. Emmie was broken-hearted, but her father, rising above his own grief, told her that the Lord Jesus had taken her dear mother home to Himself in heaven and that she was far happier than they could have made her on earth. She had only gone on ahead and now she was waiting to meet them up there. The fond mother’s desire was that her little girl would live to tell others of the love of the Lord Jesus. And now Emmie’s wish was to become a missionary along with her daddy.
But there were those in that land who did not want the gospel and tried to get rid of the missionary. One day when he was riding along on his horse a bullet went right through his hat. He was not hurt but his frightened horse threw him off and galloped away. Picking himself up quickly the missionary fled for the shelter of some trees. Then he saw a man with a gun ready to shoot at him again, and racing from tree to tree, he made a dash for a small hut, asking God to spare him as he ran.
At the hut door, sitting in the sunshine was a little Mexican boy, Pedro. He too had heard the shots and when the missionary appeared, he helped him hide under some corn piled in the corner.
The bandits in hot pursuit came to the hut and demanded of the boy if he had seen a man running past.
“No,” replied Pedro, “I didn’t see any one.”
The voices of the bandits and the noise of the horses’ hoofs died away in the distance, and the missionary crawled from his hiding place.
“Oh how can I thank you enough for helping me?” he said to Pedro.
“Senor,” replied the boy, “that wasn’t anything. I was glad to help you get away from those wicked men.”
“Oh, thank you,” exclaimed the missionary, “only I wish you hadn’t told those men a lie, when you said you hadn’t seen me. You know, no matter what trouble we are in, God never wants us to lie, for that is not pleasing to Him.”
“But I didn’t tell a lie, senor,” returned Pedro. “I didn’t see you I’m blind.”
“Oh, now I understand,” said the missionary in a softer tone, and then he thought he noticed a film over the little boy’s eyes.
When Emmie’s father got home that night he told her all about how the Lord had spared him from the bandits and of little Pedro who had helped him. Emmie was so touched at the story of Pedro that she exclaimed, “Oh, Daddy,” I want to see that little boy. Can I take him my music box so that he can hear the hymns and we can tell him about the Lord Jesus.”
A few days later Emmie and her father went to visit the little blind boy, and she brought her music box along. Pedro’s mother was there this time and apologizing for their humble home she received them gladly. She told them her husband had died, and that they were alone and poor.
Pedro was delighted as Emmie played him hymns and music, while the missionary spoke to the poor mother of the love of the Lord Jesus. Then Emmie herself told Pedro the sweet story of the Saviour’s love and he listened carefully as she quoted John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16): “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Before leaving, Emmie’s father asked if a doctor had ever looked at Pedro’s eyes. The poor mother replied, “Oh no, we couldn’t afford it, and besides it probably wouldn’t do any good.”
On the way home Emmie reminded her father of the story of the blind man in the ninth of John and of how the Lord Jesus had made him see. “Daddy,” she said, “let’s pray for Pedro.” And so they did.
Then one day the missionary persuaded Pedro’s mother to let him take her boy to the big city to see a good doctor. He assured her that it would not cost her anything. In the meantime they prayed that not only might Pedro’s eyes be opened but that his heart might be opened too, to see the Lord Jesus and to receive Him as his Saviour.
A few weeks later Pedro lay in the hospital, his eyes covered with bandages. Many times did Emmie and her father visit him, and then one day, when he realized the Lord Jesus had died on the cross for his sins, he simply confessed Him as his Saviour. The day came when the bandages were taken off, and for the first time in his life the light of day shone into Pedro’s eyes. Emmie and her father waited almost breathless, then the dear boy exclaimed, “Oh I can see! Jesus has made me see.”
Oh what a happy little boy it was that went home to his mother sang over and over again, “I was blind, but Jesus made me see. I must love Him for He first loved me.”
Both Emmie’s and her father’s hearts were jumping for joy because not only could Pedro see, but that now the Lord Jesus was his Saviour.
ML-12/19/1971