<TITLE>06. Par 20-22</TITLE>L-20 As he stands and listens, Jesus is teaching. The sun's a going down. The courier's tired. Jesus quit teaching and starts praying for the sick. Here comes the courier, elbowing his way through. He's trying to get to Jesus. The first thing you know, he runs into Philip, and he says, "Sir, could I see your master? I have a message for him."
Philip was busy, the disciples keeping the people away from Jesus, if they had, they pushed him back. And here he comes again, saying, "Sir, I have a message from your master. I will only take a moment of his time. Can I speak to him?"
Finally, Philip takes him up to where Jesus is, said, "Master, this man has something to speak."
The Master said, "Say on."
He said, "My--my lord, the Pharisee, has set a great dinner. Oh, he's a great man. And he's invited you to come and be his guest."
I can hear Peter then, "Don't go, Lord. No, no, Lord. Don't go to that Pharisee. He don't have no need of you. Look at the sick and the afflicted. They're all wanting a moment with You. Don't go to that Pharisee. His motives are not right. He don't need You. He's wealthy, and he don't need You."

L-21 But Jesus will always go where He's invited. Isn't that wonderful? He will go to anybody that'll invite Him. I can see the courier as he bows and said, "Master, would you receive my lord's message and his invitation?"
Jesus looked at him, smiles a little, said, "I'll be there on that day." And then the courier turned and runs away. Oh, my, how could he do it? I'd like to have took his place. I'd like to have been up and talking to Him. Wouldn't you? I'd talk to Him more about something else. I would've fell down at His feet and said, "Lord, have mercy on me." Wished I could've stood there as was in His presence to hear Him speak. I'd give more than a message from a Pharisee. I'd have told Him I loved Him. I'd have poured out my soul to Him. I would've like to have put my hands on His feet, and patted Him a little bit. "Oh, Master, I love You."

L-22 Listen. So many people in that day missed their opportunity. You know, there's so many people today missing that opportunity. When you come into His Presence and then turn away, oh, what an opportunity for them women, boys and girls, to come before Christ and pour out their soul. But He had a mission that seemed to be more important.
Listen. Isn't it the truth today? That our  work... (our work) and our housework, the washings and ironing, or some little card party we belong to, or our social standing is too important to come to an old fashion altar and weep before Him, and receive Him into our hearts. Oh, how earthly things, the ties of this earth seems to be so much greater to us than meeting Jesus.
That's the way this courier felt to get this big fat Pharisee's message to Jesus was more important than the destination of his soul. There he stood in the very Presence of the Fountain of Life. And his duties of earth had him so bound until he could not see his own need for Jesus. And he turned away, and back across the mountains he goes, down through Palestine. How did he do it? Could you imagine it: Such an opportunity, and then lay it down. Don't let that be your stand. What if he could raise up today and had the same opportunity? What a difference it would be. You do it today.


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