In remembering our Master, the unseen Guest at this Memorial Table, we can profitably consider His work as a visitor. We will find from Christ’s example much that is needful in our Ecclesial life. Visiting is very apt to be dismissed from our minds as being the special duty of a few selected workers. Jesus, however, did much visiting in the three and one-half years of His ministry. He preached continuously, so that often he had little time for sleep or rest “because of the multitudes that followed to hear Him.” And yet He found time to do much visiting. Jesus considered visiting a personal duty which demanded His personal attention. He did not leave it to a committee of His disciples, but rather took them with Him always. Thus He gave them a sense of individual duty in this work.
We have written accounts of a few visits of the Master and His disciples, such as the invitation to the marriage feast at Cana; the dinner at the home of Matthew; the urgent call to the house of Jairus, the ruler; the visit to Peter’s home; his stay with Simon, the leper; the day spent at the home of Zacchaeus; and the frequent visits at the home of Martha and Mary. In all these visits, and in all that He did or said as a guest, the first concern of the Master was “to show forth the glory of God in the many miracles, wonders and signs which God did through Him in the midst of Israel” (Acts 2:22). His second consideration was the benefit to mankind from this power. Since Christ put visiting on such a high plane, can we, then, lightly pass this duty on to a few fellow workers ? Jesus is not with us in the physical sense today, to bid us follow Him on the visits. However, He is here this morning in spirit, as the Unseen Guest. Let us, therefore, take Christ with us in spirit, and gladly go out to visit the sick, the weak, the aged, the poor, the fatherless, and the widows. For this, says James, is “religion, pure and undefiled” (James 1:27).
The record of the Master’s first adventure as an invited guest to the wedding feast at Cana shows Him as entering whole heartedly into the spirit of the occasion. He recognized the institution of marriage as the appointment of God for the good of mankind in that age. Jesus contributed to the joy and success of the happy event by performing His first miracle, changing the water into wine. The lesson for us here is in the words of Paul: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” (Romans 12 :15 ) .
Who in our day has not received with joy and anticipation an invitation to a marriage feast? It is a happy time, full of life and expectation of great rejoicing. Now, my brethren, we have the privilege of contributing to the joy and gladness of others by providing them with the “good news” of the Gospel, and inviting them to drink of the “water of life”, which, in the day of the marriage supper of the Lamb of God, will be transformed into “a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees . . . well refined” (Isaiah 25:6). Show them by our cheerful anticipation of a good time coming that the Truth as we know it is a precious invitation, and that it is a Christian’s duty to be joyful in the Truth.
When visiting, one should be especially cheerful, yet always sympathetic and ready to be of service. Listen to the words of Christ when visiting the sick, the weak and the poor: “Be of good cheer, thy faith hath made thee whole.” We can say, “Be of good cheer, thy faith will win eternal life.” Visiting the sick is one of the duties observed by even the societies and lodges of the world about us. Surely, then, we, as professing Christians, should fulfill our duty in this matter, and more. “For . . . except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no way enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).
Continuing our consideration of Christ as a guest, let us take note that He was no respecter of persons. Sometimes He sat down to eat at the table of rulers, as in the case of Jairus, or again with the wealthy Jew Zacchaeus, on whose table we can easily visualize a sumptuous feast. Another time we find Jesus sharing the meager fare of fish and bread with a poor fisherman, Peter. This proves that He showed no partiality. Again there is a lesson here for us. In visiting or entertaining, be careful not to seek exclusively the company of the rich or prominent among our brethren. Remember the poor also. Even though the brother or sister may not be strong in the faith, he needs your company and help all the more. In the words of Paul: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).
Another phase of visiting work is seen in Christ’s rebuke to Martha when she asked Him to bid Mary help her in the household work. We are very apt to be over-busy with household duties dare very necessary, but above all comes “that better part” which Mary chose: that is, listening to the words that Jesus spoke concerning the kingdom. This domestic incident should warn us to guide our conversation, either as guest or host, into subjects of spiritual benefit. The present day lack of interest in visiting is due largely to this habit of being “over careful about many little things.” We have gradually grown to emphasize the service which Christ says Martha was “much encumbered with”, while the “better part” which Mary chose is neglected. If you feel that you must be “encumbered with much serving” as Martha was in setting forth a meal, then remember the advice of Jesus: “But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed: for they cannot recompense thee” (Luke 14:13).
Finally, brethren, consider the mutual benefit derived from visiting those of “like precious faith.” Of old times we read in Malachi 3:16: “Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon His name.” In these latter days we need more than ever to visit one another, speaking of the things “that shall shortly come to pass.” Paul and Barnabas found it necessary to do much visiting. “Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do” (Acts 15 :36) . If visiting work does not attract some of us as a means of deriving pleasure, benefit, knowledge or comfort, then consider it as a duty which must be done if we are to receive eternal life. (Read Matthew 25:43,44.)
A strange incident occurred on one of the Master’s visits, that of calling the little man Zacchaeus from his vantage point in the tree where he had climbed to see the Saviour: “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.” According to our modern customs, it is not good form to invite oneself to another’s home, but to wait until we are asked. In the case of Zacchaeus, a man who gave alms to the poor, the good news of the kingdom was needed to bring salvation to his house. Jesus, therefore, took it to be His duty to invite Himself to the quiet of his home where they might converse. All of us have some friends, neighbors or relatives who are morally good people, who give alms and deal justly with all men like Zacchaeus of old. Let us invite ourselves to their homes to tell them what is lacking for their salvation; Christ has set the precedent, we can only follow. Concerning our actions and behavior as visitors and guests we are told in Luke 14:8 not to “sit in the highest room.” Again in Luke 10:7 the Saviour instructs His disciples “to eat such things as they give.”
One of the most touching incidents recorded of Jesus occurred while He was a guest at the home of Mary and Martha at the time of the death of their brother Lazarus. He plainly set an example in human sympathy and in the duty of brethren to share the joys and sorrows of each other. “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). In one short verse of only two words we have a wealth of understanding of the sincere sympathy which He had for those He loved. It is at death that the value of a friend’s visit is most keenly felt. Of all times, we should not fail to visit and comfort the ones in sorrow.
Finally, let us visit because Christ visited the perishing. In so doing we can better remember Him who is our Unseen Guest at this Last Supper Memorial Table. Jesus is the Unseen Guest at every meal, the Silent Listener to every conversation, and the Head of our house.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One