1. " I will come lq to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." These words speak to us in lovely, sympathetic language of a close, familiar, happy communion between Christ and our poor selves, which shall make all life as a feast in company with Him. We remember who is the mouthpiece of Jesus Christ here. It is the disciple who knew most of what quietness of blessedness and serenity of adoring communion there were in leaning on Christ's breast at supper, casting back his head on that loving bosom ; looking into those deep, sad eyes, and asking questions which were sure of answer. And St. John, as he wrote down the words, " I will sup with him, and he with me," perhaps remembered that Upper Eoom where, amidst all the bitter herbs, there was such strange joy and tranquillity. But whether he did or not, may we not take the picture as suggesting to us the possibilities of loving fellowship, of quiet repose, of absolute satisfaction of all desires and needs, which will be ours if we open the door of our hearts by faith and let Jesus Christ come in ?
* Robert Barclay, Truth Cleared of Calumnies ( Works, i. 164).
REVELATION iii. 20 147
^ Let Thy Holy Spirit be pleased, not only to stand before the door and knock, but also to come in. If I do not open the door, it were too unreasonable to request such a miracle to come in when the doors were shut, as Thou didst to the apostles. Yet let me humbly beg of Thee, that Thou wouldst make the iron gate of my heart open of its own accord. Then let Thy Spirit be pleased to sup in my heart ; I have given it an invitation, and I hope I shall give it room. But, 0 Thou that sendest the guest, send the meat also ; and if I be so unmannerly as not to make the Holy Spirit welcome, 0 let Thy effectual grace make me to make it welcome.^
Speechless Sorrow sat with me; I was sighing wearily. Lamp and fire were out: the rain Wildly beat the window-pane. In the dark we heard a knock, And a hand was on the lock ; One in waiting spake to me,
Saying sweetly, " I am come to sup with thee ! "
All my room was dark and damp; " Sorrow," said I, " trim the lamp ; Light the fire, and cheer thy face; Set the guest-chair in its place." And again I heard the knock; In the dark I found the lock: — " Enter ! I have turned the key !
Enter, Stranger! Who art come to sup with me."
Opening wide the door He came, But I could not speak His name ; In the guest-chair took His place; But I could not see His face ! When my cheerful fire was beaming, When my little lamp was gleaming, And the feast was spread for three,
Lo ! my Master Was the Guest that supped with me ! ^
2. " I will come in to him, and will sup with him " suggests that our Lord not only confers a blessing but receives one ; that
* Thomas Fuller, Good Thcyiights in Bad Times. ^ Harriet M. Kimball.
148 THE WAITING GUEST
He not only gives us satisfaction in His presence, but gets satis- faction out of our presence. It is one of the most beautiful thoughts presented to us in the Bible, that "the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." We often think of what God can do for us. Do we ever think of what we can do for God ? We often talk about our trusting God. Have we a holy ambition to be such that it shall be possible for God to trust us? We think of our loving God. Do we ever think of His loving us ? We think of God's giving us pleasure. Do we ever think of our giving Him pleasure ? And yet our blessed Lord indicates that if the door is opened to Him, and He comes in to a soul that has hitherto excluded Him, He is going to bring a blessing and to get a blessing ; He is going to confer good and to receive it ; He is going to impart joy, and His own Divine heart is going to get a thrill of joy from the obedience, and the confidence, and the communion of the willing soul.
^ Oh that we could take that simple view of things, as to feel that the one thing which lies before us is to please God ! What gain is it to please the world, to please the great, nay, even to please those whom we love, compared with this? What gain is it to be applauded, admired, courted, followed, compared with this one aim of not being disobedient to a heavenly vision ? What can this world offer comparable with that insight into spiritual things, that keen faith, that heavenly peace, that high sanctity, that everlasting righteousness, that hope of glory, which they have who in sincerity love and follow our Lord Jesus Christ ? ^
3. Where Christ is welcomed as guest, He assumes the place of host. " I will sup with him, and he with me." After the Kesurrection, when the two disciples, moved to hospitality, implored the unknown Stranger to come in and partake of their humble fare. He yielded to their importunity and, when they were in the guest-chamber, took His place at the head of the table, and blessed the bread and gave it to them. In the begin- ning of His miracles, He manifested forth His glory in this, that, invited as a common guest to the rustic wedding, He provided the failing wine. And so, wherever a poor man opens his heart and says, " Come in, and I will give Thee my best," Jesus Christ comes in, and gives the man His best, that the man may render it back