He ‘led him out of the town’; he took him by the hand. Let us say that that shows us the regenerating work of Christ. Once he takes somebody by the hand, that is wonderful. Salvation is underway; conversion will follow; the process has been started. So with us, if we are converted. A regenerating work of God begins it all. Without it we would be unsaved to this day. We would still resist him; we would recoil from the sound of the gospel; we would not want these things. But there is a work of God which opens the heart. We were hardened in heart and opposed to God; we were ignorant of the way of salvation. We were resistant; we clung to our sins, and to our opinions, our unbelief, our atheism. We were self-righteous; there was no spiritual life in us, not a flickering. The soul, we say, was dead. Perhaps it is better to say it was asleep. It didn't function; it didn’t operate. Then comes the touch of God, and Christ takes us by the hand, and there is a great stirring within us. Suddenly there is born in us a need to know, a longing, an openness, a softening of heart, a listening ear. It is the regenerating work of God. We are strongly drawn to the things that previously we repudiated, about Christ and about God. We are open. We are humbled we are teachable. What a remarkable thing! Those around us, the Christians, say, ‘He's changed. He’s different. He hasn't made a profession; she isn't clear where she stands, but there is a difference, a tremendous change.’ Christ has the man by the hand. He cannot see a thing yet, but he meekly submits to being led out of town. It is a wonderful picture of that regenerating work of God where life comes in. If this happens what follows is certain, if it's real. I am going to be saved; I am going to come all the way through to a full sight of the basis of salvation and my need, and to repentance.
He was led out of town. His former influences are seen to lose their hold on him. He is no longer in the environment he was in. That is what happens when the regenerating work of God takes place. The world begins to lose its hold. Its influences is no longer so strong. Its teachings no longer command us. The gospel of Christ has a claim which must be heard. We say, ‘That's what I want to hear. That's what I need.’ So this new life will develop, and understanding will quickly deepen.
‘And when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.’ Well that makes us shudder a little bit; that doesn't sound too hygienic or straightforward. Actually it was a very sympathetic thing to do. But what does it indicate? The old preachers of generations ago and the old commentators say, he spat on his eyes because what came out of the mouth of Christ suddenly mattered to him. If you don't mind, it's a picture of the word of Christ. the gospel, which suddenly starts to come to him and make sense. What emerges from the mouth of Christ is going to enlighten the eyes and the understanding. It’s just symbolic. That is what happens as a result of regeneration: the word of God begins to sink in. I am enlightened, illuminated. I come to see; first, perhaps, in a confused way. I see that I am a sinner, and desperately lost, and I need the forgiveness of God. I see that only Christ can save me; I cannot deserve his love. And these sins in me: they are in my heart, in my nature, in my thoughts and conduct. I have a great backlog of guilt. I see things I never saw before. I need to be saved. Maybe I don't yet quite see Calvary, and the nature of the atonement. I have seen this over the years. I have now been pastoring for sixty years, and I have seen this many times. Somebody says, I'm saved. Maybe they come to the church saying, ‘I’ve found God; I'm am saved; I have given my life to him’, and you can see from their conduct and their hostility to sin, and longing for holiness that there has been a work of redemption in their life. Then they begin to listen to the preaching, and they come to gospel services, and Calvary sinks in in a way it never had before. They come to you and say, ‘Was I saved? I've really only just grasped the atoning death of Christ, and the price he paid.
Was that not like the disciples? They had come very close to Christ and were serving him before Calvary happened, before the resurrection. Immediately after the resurrection – they have hardly had time to think – he breathed on them and imparted to them the Holy Spirit for witness. Of course they were already saved, but they were not entirely illuminated in one bound. Some people will say ‘Oh, that person doesn't fully understand.’ Yes, but in the mystery of God's work they have yielded to him, and they have repented, and they have trusted in him, even if they have to learn more fully just what Christ has paid and how it was done. Of course the Saviour knew exactly how much he could and couldn't see. Just as he is effectively asking the disciples, ‘Why do you not fully believe or understand? Have you seen anything yet?’ It's a parallel.