I’d like to draw your attention to a man
called Harold St. John. Harold St. John lived from 1876 to 1957. He preferred to have
his name pronounced “sin-jun”, feeling that the title of "saint" was
too superior sounding. But if anyone wanted an example of saintliness, they
could have pointed in Harold St. John's direction.
He was a banker and was well known
amongst Christians in certain circles but today he has been mainly lost
from sight.
Harold St. John was a man who travelled a
lot in business and was called to preach the Gospel and to teach the Word of
God, which he did on a worldwide basis. He had a tremendous ability to get
alongside people and to talk to them about the Lord Jesus.
Let me relate to you a story from his life
that is very interesting. One day he was in a private chapel at Keble College
in Oxford. He was standing lost in contemplation looking at Holman Hunt’s masterpiece
“The Light of the World”. A chattering group of tourists approached and the
guide announced, in a strident voice, that the original of this sold for £5000.
Without a moment of hesitation Mr. St. John step forward, “Ladies and
Gentlemen” he said, “May I add that the true original of this picture was sold
for 30 pieces of silver”. A hush fell on the crowd and they left the chapel in
silence. Here was a man who was not only interested in great masterpieces of
art but he was interested in the subject of this particular piece of art. “The Light
of the World” was Holman Hunt’s masterpiece, in which Christ stands waiting for
men and women to open the door of their heart to Him.
Incidentally the things have not changed since then, the Lord Jesus
still waits for men and women to receive Him. To do this you have to accept you
are sinful, confess your guilt before God and receive Jesus Christ as your
Saviour and Lord (see the Gospel of John 1:12).
The curator spoke very confidently about the
fact that the picture was sold for £5000, not a lot in today’s currency but a
lot then. Mr. St. John understood the greater value of the picture. It pictured
the Son of God, Jesus Christ. It pictured one who gave Himself, sold for thirty
pieces of silver, that He might become the one final sacrifice for sin. His
objective was that men and women might be saved. I wonder how much you value
Jesus Christ today? He is indeed a masterpiece, He makes wrong things right, He
cleanses dirty hearts, He brings peace with God. He saves those who call upon
His name. This is all true because of His death upon the cross. Trust Him and
He’ll never let you down.
For more information or to ask questions visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk
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