The Tupelo journal., 1904-05-06

tlSl, 40ni W IN 10 gu
yearning for a better, purer life, were
drawn to Jesus like the steel Is drawn
to the magnet, for they instinctively
felt that here was One Who could un-
derstand, One Who would have com
passion on them, One Who would help
presence of the sun, even though the
eyes be closed, because the warmth of
it's rays softly enfolds him and he feels
it's brightness and cheer. One knows
when he is walking through the gar
den path, even though it may be dur
ing the blackness of the darkest night,
and he is not able to see the bright
tinted flowers nodding on either hand,
for the sweet perfume of the posies
ladens the air. And so with those who
came in contact with Jesus. There was
the instructive feeling that they had
come into the presence of the Friend
and Saviour of Mankind. Something
in their nature reached out after the
something which He alone could give.
Oh, the marvellous personality of the
Son of God! He came to supply the
sinners need. And the sinful and the
needy as they came in touch with
Jesus felt at once the marvellous in
fiuence Of that presence. And is that
influence less to-day because Jesus has
entered into glory? Because He is TO
longer seen in visible presence is He
less really present?
THAT cannot be, for Jesus last mes
i sage to His disciples was: 10, l
am with you always" And He told them
plainly: "And |, if I be lifted up, will
draw all mel unto Me-" No, Jesus is
present in the world to-day through His
Holy Spirit more fully and completely
than ever before. He is everywhere, and
the influence of His Presence is felt. He
is known to-day, as eve before, as the
Friend of sinners. Our text gives us the
picture of Jesus dining in the home OF
a publican at Capernaum. Imagine
President Roosevelt or some other dis
tinguished parsonage coming to your
town and becoming the willing guest OF
the most ~despised man in town. Jesus,
the guest of honor at the house Of Mat
thew, the publican, How the news must
have spread. Jesus eating at the table
of a despised tax gatherer! But there
He was. and, praise God! there He is
to-day, in myriads Of homes where He
is needed to cleanse and save. Jesus was
in the few homes then, but now in every
land and among every people there are
the multitudes of homes where Jesus
is still the honored guest. Homes OF
the despised, of the Maynard and the
sinful, who turn to Him and invite Hin
to come. Jesus was at Matthews house
because he had been invited.
THE story of this plblican's CONVEX
l. sion is interesting and helpful. He
was busy gathering taxes at the time,
following the business that in that day
was dishonoring, and almost without ex-
ception dishonest. The Roman govern
ment levied the tax. deciding just how
much each province and city and village
should pour into the Golfers of the Caes-
ars. The privilege of gathering these
taxes was rented OFT to certain individ-
uals. The Roman government cared
nothing as to how much was collected
or in what the work was done,
just so long as the tax collector turned
over the stipulated sum. The tax gath
erer could have as his own profit all that
was collected above the amount the RO-
mans demanded. 1t can be readily seen
what corruption would prevail, and how
great temptation would come to the tax
collector to make all he could. Matthew
was one of these tax CATERERS. called
publicans. The probabilities are that
he was more honest than the rest, but
however that may be he was a publican,
and identified with that despised class.
But he met Jesus, and it wrought a rev.
olution in his life. 1t always changes a
man to meet Jesus in heart to heart con-
tact. From the first meeting with Jesus
until he was called from his tax receipts
and money drawer forever, he realized
long for a better life. It made him want
to be near the Friend who had spoken
kindly and helpfully to him. And during
those days in which he continued to serve
as tax collector, I am sure he handled
the business on a higher and more hon
est basis. am satisfied that he was
anxious to show how fairly such distaste-
full work could be administered. And
after all it is not generally the business,
but the man behind the business that is
dishonest. The vast majority of the
enterprises and businesses
of the world are honorable and neces-
sary. But the men behind the business
determine whether honest or dishonest
methods shall be followed. Before meet
ing Jesus, l imagine Matthew found it an
easy thing to follow the tricks of the
trade" and got all the tax he could.
Others did it. why should not he?s But
when he met the Friend of publicans and
sinners and his conscience was awak-
ened, he felt differently about it. Day
after day as he sat there at his post, the
influence of that new Friend drew him in
thought and purpose. He wanted to be
with Him, and when the call came:
Follow Me-" he was ready to respond.
WHAT a Friendship that was! Jesus
w fellowshiping with Matthew!
Sinner, think of 1t! Jesus your friend!
Jesus willing to be in your company, to
be guest at your home. or your COM
panion upon the street! Jesus not
ashamed of you because you are a sin
ner-perhaps the worst man i IN town