A Story About Judson

    I read in Spurgeon's "Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit" of a story about Adoniram Judson, the American missionary to Burma. He had passed through untold hardships and great trials during his over thirty years of preaching the gospel in that country. He returned to America and was to speak before a large crowd gathered in his honor. He rose at the end of the usual service, with every eye on him and every ear tuned to hear his message, and spoke of the precious Saviour. He spoke of Christ our surety; of Christ our Righteousness; of Christ our Sacrifice; and of Christ our Mediator. His message rang clear on the merits of the blood of Christ.

    On the way to the hotel that night, the young man who accompanied him said to Judson, "The people were disappointed tonight. They wondered why you did not speak of something else." "Why were they disappointed?” Judson replied. “What did they want to hear? I presented to the best of my ability the most interesting subject in the world." The young man replied, "But they wanted something different, a story!" "Well, I gave them the most thrilling story that can be told." "They had heard that before. They wanted to hear something new and exciting from the man who had spent thirty years in the jungles."

    Judson stopped, faced his companion, and said, "I am glad that they now have it to say that a man coming from the Antipodes had nothing better or more wonderful to tell than the wonderful story of Christ's love for sinners, and his precious blood that maketh atonement for our souls. My business is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and when I can speak at all, I dare not trifle with my commission. When I looked upon those people tonight and remembered where I should next meet them, how could I stand up and furnish food for vain curiosity? How could I tickle their fancy with amusing stories? That is not what Christ meant by preaching the gospel. And then how could I hereafter meet his fearful charge, 'I gave you one opportunity to tell them of me, but you spent it in describing your own adventures!'"

    Spurgeon added, "If Judson could find nothing better to tell after thirty years in Burma, I will just go back also to this old subject, which is always new and fresh; the precious blood of Christ."