"JESUS HIMSELF DREW NEAR."
By Christian Advocate
JESUS CHRIST never accepted the position, "Stand back, because I am holier than thou," which friend and foe alike tried to force upon him. On the contrary, his whole life was one of conformity to everything which brought him into closest fellowship with humanity. When John the Baptist forbade him, saying, "I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" his reply was, "Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness;" for, being made in the likeness of men, "in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren." When Peter objected, "Thou shalt never wash my feet," Jesus answered, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me;" for if Peter would not allow the Lord to come down to his level for his good, he could never be lifted to his Lord's level to walk in fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. When the Pharisees and scribes murmured that he received sinners, and actually ate with them, in three parables he showed that it was just his successful following, seeking, and watching for the lost which made the highest joy in heaven. He received and ate with them, that they might in turn receive him and have power to become the sons of God, and sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb. When Simon the Pharisee thought his tolerance of the anointing by the woman who was a sinner a proof of his lack of insight and a nullification of his high claims, saying to himself, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him," and if he had known, would he not have spurned her, a sinner? Jesus, answering, showed him that that outward touch of the poor creature weeping at his feet was not only acceptable to him, but that he had rewarded it by his inward touch in binding up her broken heart and anointing her with the oil of joy for mourning. When Simon Peter fell down at the Master's knees, saying, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord," Jesus' reply was a special appointment to his service: "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men." To the leper, while still a leper, he put forth his hand and touched him. He put his fingers in the ears of the deaf, laid his hands on the eyes of the blind, and took the little children in his arms. In every way he drew tenderly near to those he came to save, never standing aloof, but always with outstretched, welcoming hand, saying, "He that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out;" and mourning with infinite pathos when they stood aloof: "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not." His answer to the two disciples, asking, "Master, where abidest thou?" was the prompt invitation, "Come and see." In Galilee he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden." In Jerusalem he said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me;" and to John, in apocalyptic vision, he still repeated the invitation, "Let him that is athirst come." If you and Jesus never become acquainted, it will not be because he holds himself apart in lonely dignity. No; he has loved you better than he loved his dignity, and made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant. Do you despise him for his humiliation? There is no occasion, for this same Jesus is now exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, and is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. Are you afraid that he will despise you because you are so sinful? Be of good cheer; the Jesus who "must needs go through Samaria" to meet the woman at the well, who said to Zacchaeus, "Make haste, and come down, for to-day I must abide at thy house," is the same yesterday and to-day and forever, and is standing at your door, knocking, waiting for you to hear his voice and open the door, that he may come in and sup with you and you with him, still ready to be the sinner's guest, still ready to feed the sinner with the bread and water of life.—Christian Advocate.