<TITLE>14. Par 158-167</TITLE>L-158 So, he--he is standing there, all tired. And he's standing on his tip-toes' and, "Whew. At last I found Him; for my master, the Pharisee." So he--as he's looking. After while Jesus leaves off His speaking, and He starts praying for the sick.
I can see this courier coming, elbowing his way through the crowd. He's trying to get up there. He bumps into somebody. Maybe it was--maybe it was Nathanael, or was it Philip? I don't know, I wasn't there. But, anyhow, he... Let's dramatize it, a minute.
I see him bump into him, and say, "Sir, I would see your Master. I have an important message for Him from my master. Could I see Him?"

L-161 Well, first, Philip never paid any attention to him, 'cause there's so many people pressing to get to Jesus, and want Him to lay their hands on their children and things. And--and he had a time keeping the people back.
So I see him catch him again, and say, "Master... I have a very important message from my master to your Master. Could I speak to Him just a moment, to give Him this message? I will go."
Well, I see Philip finally get him up there. Say, "Master, this man seems to come from another country; he comes from some great man; and he's got a message for You."
And I can see the courier, as he bows his head to Jesus. And Jesus, in polite way, nods His head to the courier. He'd say, "Master. My master, Simon the Pharisee, is making a great banquet at his house; he's a well-known man. And he's having a great dinner, and, oh, he can really put on a good dinner. You all know that. And he's inviting You to come down and be his guest at the dinner at a certain such-and-such a date." Well, I can hear...

L-165 What would you have done, if you'd been standing there? Well, you'd done the same thing, probably, they done. He said, "Oh, no, Lord. No. You don't want to go to that Pharisee. He ain't got no use for You. Look at the thousands of sick people here. Why, everybody is trying to touch You, Lord. You don't have no time to go down there to that old fat Pharisee down there. Why, he--he's just loaded in money. And he--he--he don't need You. Why, You don't have to go down there. Don't go, Lord." I can hear Philip say, "Don't go, Lord." And hear Nathanael and Peter and them, say, "O Lord, don't. Don't do that. That Pharisee doesn't need You. Why, he's only... He's got... He's using You for a trump card. He--he--he's got something up his sleeve. He--he's fixing to play something." And that was true.
But, in the spite of all that, wherever my Lord is invited, He will go. He said, "Tell your master, at such-and-such a date at such-and-such a time, I will be there."

L-167 And the courier bowed his head and started away, run away, back to see his master. How could he do it? What caused him to do that, just bring that message? And standing before the Prince of all princes, and have an audition with Him; He has an interview with the King of glory, and fails to see his opportunity. He's so took up with things of the world, his master's business, until he didn't catch what his opportunity was.
Oh, I'd like to take his place. I'd like to get to Jesus sometime. I try to go daily for your troubles. But never do I ever leave Him, when I'm in His Presence, until I worship Him.
Why couldn't that courier fall on His knees, say, "Now, Lord, first thing I want to do, knowing that I'm standing in Your Presence and got Your attention: forgive me, a sinner." That's what he ought to have done. That's what I'd have done, I believe. Don't you? I believe I'd have asked Him to forgive me. "Lord, be merciful to me. I'm a sinner. I'm without hope, without God. I'm just a flunky in the Pharisee's house. Will You forgive me?" But, no, he had something else to do. He had to take care of the civil things of the world, the civil law.


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