Explained by John Eames, M.A. - Part Two

Explained by John Eames, M.A.
Edited by Amber Moeller

A word from the Hostess: The following was taken from John Eames, M.A.'s book "The Shattered Temple, and Other Addresses to Young People" (1910's?).

Part Two

In our last address we left Artaban looking after the sick man whom he had found at midnight upon the road. His hesitation as to what he should do and his faithful loving conduct in staying by the sick man and afterwards carrying him to the nearest town where he could be nursed back to life again provided us a lesson; we saw that no matter how eager we may be to do greater things we must always do those duties which God places immediately in front of us.

Having arranged for the needs of the sick man Artaban hastened on as quickly as he could go to Borsippa, only to find, as he feared, that his three friends had gone. Very keen was his disappointment. He dared not follow them alone across the desert, so there was only one thing to be done, and that to turn aside to Babylon and buy camels for the journey. This he did; but to buy camels means money so there was nothing for it but to part with one of his precious jewels. He let it go with great regret for now he had only two to lay at the feet of the new-born King.

He travelled as quickly as he could across the desert and came after some days to Bethlehem. There he learned that the coming-King had indeed been born and that his three friends had presented their offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and were now gone; but he himself was too late to see the young child for it had been taken suddenly into Egypt by its parents for fear of Herod.

Even while he was making these inquiries the soldiers of Herod appeared in the streets searching for young children and slaying them according to the king's command. A poor woman terrified at what was taking place implored him to shelter her and her child. He stood at her door wondering how he could keep them out. Then he thought of the two jewels he still had with him and which he intended to offer to the new-born King. Perhaps with one of these he could buy them off. He took out one of the two precious stones which remained and, as a soldier was about to trust his way in, Artaban pressed the jewel into the man's hand, and so the woman's child was saved. But now he had only one jewel to offer to the King.

Artaban did not give up his search but journeyed down into Egypt. None however could help him in his quest. The days became weeks and the weeks years and his search for the new-born King was still in vain. All that happened was that one day he saw a young girl being carried away to be sold as a slave. So piteous was her appeal and so terrible the fate before her that he took out his last precious jewel and with it purchased her freedom. He felt he could do no other; but now thought he, it is useless to search for the King for if I found Him I should have nothing to lay at His feet.

Thirty years had passed when he made his way back to Jerusalem only to lament his fruitless efforts and to die. As he lay there the sound of many feet and of voices singing was heard in the streets. The song they sang was the sweet refrain; "Hosannah to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." In the midst of the crowd was the Divine Figure who thirty years since had been born a babe in Bethleham. Right into the house where Artaban lay He came, and the dying man needed none to tell him that it was the King whom he had been seeking all his life. But his joy was mingled with sorrow as he remembered that he had now no jewel to offer to the King. One of his precious stones had gone in buying camels as a result of the delay in helping the sick man whom he had found at midnight on the road; the second he had used to save the babe of the woman in Bethlehem; and the third he had given to obtain the release of the girl about to be sold into slavery. The good King looking upon him in love read all that was in his heart and said: "I was an hungred and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in; naked and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me." Artaban looked into His face in surprise and said: "When saw I Thee a stranger and took Thee in? or naked and clothed Thee; or when saw I Thee sick or in prison and came unto Thee?" And the kind voice of the great King answered: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me."

In a moment Artaban saw it all. Though he had had to spend the first jewel on camels as a consequence of helping the sick man, he was really laying it at the feet of Christ. When he saved the little babe from death and gladdened the mother's heart though it cost him the second precious stone he was really presenting it to Christ. And to whom was he giving the third jewel but to Christ when he spent it on obtaining the young girl's liberty.

So, with a smile upon his face, Artaban passed away knowing that after all he had indeed laid his jewels at the feet of the new-born King.

The lesson Artaban learned is a lesson to be learned by us all. Whatsoever we do in love to others is accepted by Christ as done unto Himself. We think how willingly we would have done anything to please Him if we had lived to Galilee or Judea in His day, and how gladly we would help Him if He needed out help were He among us today. The joyous thought is that He is indeed among us in all who are in distress, or trouble, or poverty. His interest in them is so keen that whoever helps them serves Him. Their pain is His pain, and their trouble His trouble; ease them of what they suffer and we ease Him.

We may think of it in this way. How could another better serve your father or mother than by helping you if you were in need or difficulty. Your mother and your father suffer in you when you suffer; and if anyone should lift you out of a difficulty or ease a pain of yours they would also ease their hearts. It is because they love you so deeply. So does Christ love the sad and the sorrowful; and when we ease their hearts we ease His heart too.

Everyone of you has a most precious jewel which I am eager you should lay at the feet of Christ. We might give Him precious stones if we had them, but they would not be half the worth of the jewel of which I am thinking. No diamond, no matter how large or pure, could give Him the joy of the jewel you can bring; it is the jewel of your life. Bring your life as your offering to Christ; place it at His feet as the Wise Men placed their gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and Christ will accept it with more joy than if you were to withhold it and yet brought Him all the precious stones of the diamond mines of South Africa.

But can a boy or girl really make this great offering to Christ? Would it not be better to leave it till they are older? No, it would not be better; it is quite possible now. You ask me how I know it; I know it because it has been done again and again.

Let me tell you the story of a lad who was only fourteen years of age but who in those early years placed his life--all his future, all his powers--as an offering at the feet of Christ.

If you go to Hallow-on-the-Hill, where the famous school is, you can see at the top of the hill a tablet let into the walls of the school, and this tablet records something which it was well to keep in remembrance. It refers to a boy who was afterwards the Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury and who spent his whole life in the service of the poor. He might have held office in the late Queen's household; he might have had a seat in the Cabinet but he refused these honors for fear they should interrupt the special work to which he had vowed his life when a boy. This is how the tablet reads:

"LOVE. SERVE. Near this spot Anthony Ashley Cooper, afterwards Seventh Earl of Shaftesbury, while yet a boy in Harrow School, saw with shame and indignation the pauper's funeral which helped to awaken his life-long devotion to the service of the poor and oppressed."

Though only a boy of fourteen he vowed himself to service of the poor and the oppressed, and the resolve of his boyhood was kept throughout his life. Let us make no mistake about it, it is quite possible at such an age to make a decision which shall shape our whole life. At such an age we have the power, if we are prepared to use it, which can determine some of the most important matters of our life; and the Lord of all grace is able, if we look to Him, to give us grace to maintain our good resolutions.

In becoming the servant of the poor and the oppressed the Earl of Shaftesbury became the servant of Christ. His life was his jewel, and in that he spent his life in the service of the poor, he was laying his jewel at the feet of Christ. I doubt not that again and again in the secret of his own heart he heard the words of Christ: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye did it unto me."

To think that we have anything precious, which we can bestow on Christ, gives a new worth and dignity to life. We need not wait till we are rich or old or learned before we can bring our offerings to the great King, for we already possess such gold and frankincense and myrrh as the great King loves. We need not wait till we are possessed of jewels, such as Artaban had, for there is no jewel so precious to Christ as that of a fresh young life vowed to His service.

And if you are wondering how you are to lay this best of all jewels at His feet remember that you can do it by spending your life in the service of others. You can wish for no greater joy than to hear His voice whispering in your heart after you have done some kind deed for those who cannot repay you again: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ye have done it unto me." That is joy indeed.

"Teach us the lesson Thou hast taught
To feel for those Thy Blood hath bought;
That every word and deed and thought
May work a work for Thee.

"For all are brethren, far and wide,
Since Thou, O Lord, for all hast died:--
Then teach us, whatso'er betide,
To love them all in Thee."


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