The Approachableness of Jesus Christ - Charles Spurgeon
The Approachableness of Jesus Christ
Introduction:
“The most depraved and despised classes of society formed an inner ring of hearers around our Lord. I gather from this that he was a most approachable person, that he was not of repulsive manners, but that he courted human confidence and was willing that men should commune with him.” (Luke 15:1)
Upon this one thought I shall enlarge this evening, and may the Holy Spirit make it a loadstone to draw many hearts to Jesus. Eastern monarchs affected great seclusion, and were wont to surround themselves with impassable barriers of state. It was very difficult for even their most loyal subjects to approach them. You remember the case of Esther, who, though the monarch was her husband, yet went with her life in her hand when she ventured to present herself before King Ahasuerus, for there was a commandment that none should come unto the king except they were called, at the peril of their lives. It is not so with the King of kings. His court is far more splendid; his person is far more worshipful, but you may draw near to him at all times without let or hindrance. He hath set no men-at-arms around his palace gate. The door of his house of mercy is set wide open. Over the lintel of his palace gate is written, “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
The Inaccessibility of the Great and Mighty:
Even in our own days, great men are not readily to be approached. There are so many back stairs to be climbed before you can reach the official who might have helped you, so many subalterns to be parleyed with, and servants to be passed by, that there is no coming at your object. The good men may be affable enough themselves, but they remind us of the old Russian fable of the hospitable householder in a village, who was willing enough to help all the poor who came to his door, but he kept so many big dogs loose in his yard that nobody was able to get up to the threshold, and therefore his personal affability was of no service to the wanderers. It is not so with our Master. Though he is greater than the greatest, and higher than the highest, he has been pleased to put out of the way everything that might keep the sinner from entering into his halls of gracious entertainment. From his lips we hear no threatenings against intrusion, but hundreds of invitations to the nearest and dearest intimacy. Jesus is to be approached, not now and then, but at all times, and not by some favored few, but by all in whose hearts his Holy Spirit has enkindled the desire to enter into his secret presence.
The Unapproachability of the Philosophers:
The philosophical teachers of our Lord’s day affected great seclusion. They considered their teachings to be so profound and eclectic that they were not to be uttered in the hearing of the common multitude. Far hence, ye profane,” was their scornful motto. Like Simon Stylites, they stood upon a lofty pillar of their fancied self-conceit, and dropped down now and then a stray thought upon the vulgar herd beneath, but they did not condescend to talk familiarly with them, considering it to be a dishonor to their philosophy to communicate it to the multitude. One of the greatest philosophers wrote over his door, “Let no one who is ignorant of geometry enter here;” but our Lord, compared with whom all the wise men are but fools, who is, in fact, the wisdom of God, never drove away a sinner because of his ignorance, never refused a seeker because he was not yet initiated, and had not any thirsty spirit to be chased away from the crystal spring of truth divine. His every word was a diamond, and his lips dropped pearls, but he was never more at home than when speaking to the common people, and teaching them concerning the kingdom of God.
The Condescending Tenderness of Christ:
You may thus contrast and compare our Lord’s gentle manners with those of kings, nobles, and sages, but you shall find none to equal him in condescending tenderness. To this attractive quality of our Lord I intend, this evening, as God shall help me, to ask your earnest attention. First, let us prove it; secondly, illustrate it; and, thirdly, enforce or improve it.
I. Proving the Approachableness of Christ:
Though this truth really needs no proof, as it is evident throughout the life of Jesus, I will offer just a few points for reflection.
The Office of Christ as Mediator: Jesus is described as the Mediator between God and man. The office of a mediator implies that Christ must be approachable. A daysman, as Job says, is one who can put his hand upon both parties. If Jesus will not familiarly put his hand on man, certainly he is no daysman between God and man. A mediator is not a mediator of one—he must be akin to both the parties between whom he mediates. Jesus Christ, as the great conjunction between earth and heaven, is both fully God and fully man, and as such, He is perfectly able to reconcile both. You do not need to bring any righteousness to Him, as He has in Himself all the righteousness you require. You may come to Him boldly, even now, and He waits to reconcile you to God by His blood.
The Office of Christ as Priest: The word “priest” is not so well regarded today, but in Scripture, it is a beautiful title. The priest was the true brother of the people, the last person who would touch a leper and the first person who would declare them clean. The priest was always approachable, and so it is with Christ. He can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, and He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. He is approachable to the poor sinner who has given up all hope, the outcast who needs forgiveness, and the one who suffers the punishment of their crimes. Christ’s priestly nature means that He is always approachable, even by the most despised.
The Office of Christ as Savior: Jesus is our Savior, and He must be approachable to save those who need saving. He is not like the priest or the Levite who passed by the wounded man in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus is the true Savior, who comes to us in our need, pouring oil and wine into our wounds and lifting us up with tender love. He is approachable to all, and His love will overcome the offensiveness of your sin.
II. Christ’s Titles and Names:
Consider the titles and names of Jesus, which speak of His approachability.
The Lamb of God: A lamb is gentle and harmless, and no one is afraid of a lamb. Similarly, there is nothing frightening about Jesus, the Lamb of God. His name and His character are approachable to all, no matter how sinful. If you long to touch Him, you may.
The Shepherd: No one is afraid of a shepherd. They are gentle and kind, and they care for their sheep. Jesus, our Shepherd, calls His sheep and leads them with love. Though we are wandering and foolish, we need not be afraid to approach Him.
Our Brother: Jesus is also called our Brother, and we feel comfortable approaching our brothers in times of need. How much more should we feel comfortable approaching Jesus, our Brother, born for adversity? He is approachable and kind, always ready to help.
Our Friend: Jesus is called our Friend, and a true friend is always approachable. He does not put up barriers or act in a dignified way that makes it difficult to approach Him. No matter how lowly we are, He is always ready to welcome us.
III. Christ’s Person:
The person of Jesus Christ speaks loudly of His approachability. As both God and man, He is not distant, but relatable. Jesus, though divine, lived as a man among us, sharing in our weaknesses and experiences. His humility and compassion draw us near. As Dr. Watts writes:
Till God in human flesh I see,
My thoughts no comfort find;
The holy, just, and sacred Three
Are terrors to my mind.
But if Immanuel’s face appear,
My hope, my joy begins;
His name forbids my slavish fear,
His grace removes my sins.”
IV. The Language of Christ:
Christ continually invites us to come to Him. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” His words are filled with loving, pleading invitations to sinners, calling us to approach Him for salvation. He is ever willing to receive us.
V. The Life of Christ:
Finally, the actions of Christ throughout His life show His approachability. He never turned away anyone who came to Him, no matter how undeserving they seemed. He welcomed the little children, the outcasts, and even those who had been shunned by society. His big heart made Him approachable to all, at all times.
VI. The Crowning Argument: The Cross of Christ
The ultimate demonstration of Jesus’ approachability is seen in His crucifixion. As He hung on the cross, He did not spurn the seeker. He spoke words of forgiveness to the dying thief and extended His love to all. The cross of Christ is the ultimate invitation to come to Him, no matter how sinful or undeserving.
Conclusion:
Jesus Christ is approachable, and He invites all to come to Him. Do not fear to draw near, for He is gentle, kind, and ready to forgive. Come to Him with your sins, your burdens, and your needs. He will not turn you away. As He said, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Come now, and find rest for your souls.
Why art thou afraid to come,
And tell him all thy case?
He will not pronounce thy doom,
Nor frown thee from his face.
II. To Illustrate This Great Truth
I now shall proceed, with as great brevity as I can command, TO ILLUSTRATE THIS GREAT TRUTH.
I illustrate it, in the first place, by the way in which Christ opens up for sinners to come to Himself. What is the way for a sinner to come to Christ? It is simply this—the sinner, feeling his need of a Savior, trusts himself to the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the perplexity of my boyhood, but it is so simple now. When I was told to go to Christ, I thought, “Yes, if I knew where He was, I would go to Him—no matter how I wearied myself, I would trudge on till I found Him.” I never could understand how I could get to Christ until I understood that it is a mental coming, a spiritual coming, a coming with the mind. The coming to Jesus which saves the soul is a simple reliance upon Him, and if tonight, being sensible of your guilt, you will rely upon the atoning blood of Jesus, you have come to Him, and you are saved. Is He not, then, approachable indeed, if there is so simple a way of coming? No good works, ceremonies, or experiences are demanded; a childlike faith is the royal road to Jesus.
This truth is further illustrated by the help which He gives to coming sinners in order to bring them near to Himself. He it is who first makes them coming sinners. It is His Eternal Spirit who draws them unto Himself. They would not come to Him of themselves; they are without desires towards Him, but it is His work to cast secret silken cords around their hearts, which He draws with His strong hand and brings them near to Himself. Depend upon it, He will never refuse those whom He Himself draws by His Spirit. Rest assured, He will never shut the door in the face of any soul that comes to feed at the gospel banquet, moved to approach by the power of His love. He said once, “Compel them to come in,” but He never said, “Shut the door in their faces and bolt them out.”
I might further illustrate this to the children of God, by reminding you of the way in which you now commune with your Lord. How easy it is for you to reach His ear and His heart! A prayer, a sigh, a tear, a groan, will admit you into the King’s chambers. You may be in a very sad frame of mind, but when you come to Him, how soon He makes your soul like the chariots of Ammi-nadib. Dark may be your midnight, but as soon as you draw nigh to Him, your night is over. He giveth liberally, and upbraideth not.” While He acts thus with you, the sinner may very well believe that He will receive him too. The approachableness of Christ may also be seen in the fact of His receiving the poor offerings of His people. The very holiest deeds which you and I can do for Christ are poor and faulty at the best. As I sat studying at my table last night, there was before me a little withered flower—a sprig of wall-flower—which has been lying for some weeks on my table. It comes from a very, very poor child of God, many miles away, who gets a blessing from reading my sermons, and she has nothing in the world besides to give me, but she sends me this flower, and I value it because it is a token of Christian affection and gratitude. So is it with our Master. The very best sermons that we preach, and the largest contributions we give to His treasury, are only just like that poor little withered wall-flower; but the Master puts our service in His bosom, and keeps it there, and thinks much of it because He loves us. Does not that prove how generous, how condescending, how tender He must be? Believe Him to be so, ye fearful souls, and come to Him.
The ordinances wear upon their forefront the impress of an ever-approachable Savior. Baptism in outward type sets forth our fellowship with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection—what can be nearer than this? The Lord’s Supper in visible symbol invites us to eat His flesh and drink His blood: this reveals to us most clearly how welcome we are to the most intimate intercourse with Jesus. The heaven of heavens shall afford us yet another illustration. There are tens of thousands now in the skies who came to Jesus just as they were, in all the filth and deshabille of the lost estate, and He received every one of them into His heart of love and arms of power. There are many thousands on earth, and some thousands now in this Tabernacle, who can testify that they have found Jesus to be a very tender and generous friend. Now, if He has received us, why should He not receive you? Be encouraged to believe that inasmuch as He has received others, He has open arms for you also.
Let me joyfully remind you that Jesus never has rejected a seeking sinner. There is not to be found in all the kingdoms of the universe a single instance of a sincere seeker after Christ being cast away, and there never shall be, for He hath not said to the seed of Jacob, “Seek ye my face in vain,” but He has said, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Beloved, if there had been a single soul cast away, we should have known of it by now. It is eighteen hundred and sixty-eight years now, and if a solitary penitent had been rejected, we should have heard of it before now, for I will tell you of one who would have spread it abroad, and that is the devil. If he could get a single instance of a soul who had repented and trusted Christ, but found that Christ would have nothing to do with him, it would be a standing scandal against the cross which Satan would delight to publish. I know, poor sinners, what the devil will tell you when you are coming to Christ—he will describe Jesus as a hard master, but do you tell him he is a liar from the beginning, and a murderer, and that he is trying to murder your soul by making you swallow his poisonous lies.
III. To Enforce This Truth; or, As the Old Puritans Used to Say, Improve It
The first enforcement I give is this: let those of us who are working for the Master in soul-winning try to be like Christ in this matter, and not be, as some are apt to be, proud, stuck-up, distant, or formal. Oh, dear, dear! the lofty ministerial airs that one has seen assumed by men who ought to have been meek and lowly. What a grand set of men some of the preachers of the past age thought themselves to be! I trust those who played the archbishop have nearly all gone to heaven, but a few linger among us who use little grace and much starch. The grand divines never shook hands with anybody, except, indeed, with the deacons, and a little knot of evidently superior persons. Amongst Dissenters it was almost as bad as it is in most church congregations, where you feel that the good man, by his manner, is always saying, “I hope you know who I am, Sir; I am the rector of the parish.” Now, all that kind of stuck-upishness is altogether wrong. No man can do good in that way; and no good at all comes of assuming superiority and distance. The best teacher for boys is the man who can make himself a boy; and the best teacher for girls is the woman who can make herself a girl among girls. I often regret that I have so large a congregation; you will say, “Why?” Why, when I had a smaller congregation at Park Street, there were too many even then, but I did get a shake of the hand sometimes; but now there are so many of you that I scarcely know you, good memory as I have, and I seldom have the pleasure of shaking hands with you—I wish I did. If there is anybody in the wide world whose good I wish to promote, it is yours; therefore, I wish to be at home with you: and if ever I should affect the airs of a great man, and set myself above you all, and separate myself by proud manners from your sympathy, I hope the Lord will take me down and make me right again. We may expect souls to be saved when we do as Christ did, namely, get publicans and sinners to draw near to us. Now, that is a practical point which, though you have smiled about it, will not, I hope, be forgotten by you.
There is this to be said to you who are unconverted—if Jesus Christ be so approachable, oh! how I wish, how I wish that you would approach Him. There are no bolts upon His doors, no barred iron gates to pass, no big dogs to keep you back. If Christ be so approachable by all needy ones, then needy one, come, and welcome. Come just now! What is it keeps you back? You think that you do not feel your need enough, or that you are not fit to come—both of which suspicions are self-righteousness in different shapes. O that you did know but your need of Jesus, in order to be able even to do so much as feel your need. You are a poor, miserable bankrupt before God, and Christ alone can enrich you. Do not talk of fitness; there is no such thing:
“All the fitness he requireth,
Is to feel your need of him:
This he gives you;
Tis the Spirit’s rising beam.
Come, then. There is such mercy to be had; there is such a hell to be escaped from; there is such a heaven to be opened for you; delay not, but believe at once. Come, come, come!
“Come, and welcome;
Come, and welcome, sinner, come!”
I stand at mercy’s door tonight, and say to every passerby, in the name of the Master, “My oxen and fatlings are killed; come, come, come to the supper!” O that you would come this very night!
Some of us are coming to the Lord’s Table to celebrate His love because we have first come to Himself. I do not ask you who are not saved to come to that table—you ought not to come; you must first come to Jesus, and then you may come to this ordinance. Meanwhile, the best thing you can do is to come to Christ, and let me ask you to remember this, that in proportion as Christ is accessible, so your guilt will be increased if you do not come to Him. If it be easy to come to Him, what excuse can there be for you if you refuse to accept Him? I have tried to tell you what the way of salvation is. If I knew how to use better language, or even coarser language, if that would suit you, it should be alike to me if I might but touch your consciences, break your hearts, and bring you to Christ. But I protest before you that if you will not come to my Master, I can do no more. I shall be clear of your blood at the last, and in the day of judgment your ruin must be upon your own heads. But let it not be so. Jesus bids you come. O you needy ones, let your need impel you to come at once, that you may find eternal life in Him.
The last word is—if Jesus be such a Savior as we have described Him, let saints and sinners join to praise Him. How marvelous that our dear Lord should be so condescending to us unworthy ones as to come all the way from heaven to earth for us! Oh, matchless love that made Him stoop to grief and death! Oh, unspeakable condescension, to come thus to poor sinners’ hearts, bearing mercies in both His hands, and freely giving them to undeserving rebels! For this unspeakable grace let us praise Him! You who are coming to His table, draw near with praises in your mouths. Come praising the condescending love in which you have participated, and which has saved you from eternal death. Even you who sit as spectators, I do trust will have your mind filled with grateful thoughts.
“Jesus sits on Zion’s hill;
He receives poor sinners still.
Blessed be His name, world without end!”
The Approachableness of Jesus Christ
Charles Spurgeon