Luke 8:40

The people gladly received Him: for they were an waiting for Him

A welcome for Jesus

When Jesus is waited for and welcomed, He delights to come.

He is not waited for by all in our congregations; so that we may ask the question of our present hearers--Do you welcome Christ? Let it be answered by each one this day.

I. A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. “They were all waiting for Him.” This waiting may be seen in several different forms.

1. A gathered congregation, waiting in the place where prayer is wont to be made. Want of punctuality, and irregular attendance, often show that Jesus is not waited for.

2. A praying company, an earnest Church, looking for revival, and prepared to co-operate in labour for it. Some Churches do not wait for the Lord’s presence, and would not be ready for Him if He were to come.

3. A seeking sinner, sighing for mercy, searching the Scriptures, hearing the Word, inquiring of Christians, constantly praying, and thus “waiting for Him.”

4. A departing saint, longing for home: saying, like Jacob, “I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord” (Genesis 49:18).

5. An instructed Church, looking for the Second Advent (Revelation 22:17). It is good for the eyes to behold such sights.

II. A SURE ARRIVAL. “Jesus was returned.” We are quite sure that our Lord will graciously appear to those who are “all waiting for Him,” since--

1. His Spirit is there already, making them wait (Romans 8:23).

2. His heart is there, in sympathy with them, longing to bless them.

3. His work is there. He has brought them into that waiting condition, and now He has found a sphere wherein to display his grace to saints and sinners.

4. His promise is there, “Lo, I am with you alway” (Matthew 28:20).

5. His custom is to be there. His delights are still with the sons of men Proverbs 8:31). What countless blessings His coming will bring!

III. A HEARTY WELCOME. “The people gladly received Him.”

1. Their fears made Him welcome. They feared lest He might have gone for ever from them (Psalms 77:7).

2. Their hopes made Him welcome. They trusted that now their sick would be cured, and their dead would be raised.

3. Their prayers made Him welcome. Those who pray that Jesus may come are glad when He comes.

4. Their faith made Him welcome. Jairus now looked to have his child healed (see verse 41).

5. Their love made Him welcome. When our heart is with Him, we rejoice in His appearing.

6. Their care for others made Him welcome. Jesus never disappoints those who wait for Him. Jesus never refuses those who welcome Him. Jesus is near us now: will you not open the doors of your hearts to receive Him? Revelation 3:20.) (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Hearty welcome

A congregation cannot be said to welcome the Lord Jesus unless they are all there, which requires punctuality; unless they have come with design to meet Him, which implies prayerful expectancy; unless they are ready to hear from Him, which involves attention; and unless they are resolved to accept His teaching, which demands obedience.” (C. H.Spurgeon.)

Waiting for Jesus

But do we, like the people of Capernaum, gladly receive Him, and are we all waiting for Him? The true child of God regards Christ as the “chiefest among ten thousand,” and the “one altogether lovely.” Rich are the promises made to those who thus faithfully wait upon Him. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” “The Lord is good to them that wait for Him.” “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart.” “Those that wait upon the Lord, shall inherit the earth.” “Keep mercy, and wait upon thy God continually.” “And mind this other thing, prescribe nothing to God. If thou hast begun to wait, faint not, give not up, wait on still. It were good reason, were it but upon little hope at length to find Him; but since it is upon the unfailing assurance that in the end thou shalt obtain, what folly were it to lose all for want of waiting a little longer?” Thus it is that God waits for us, and we wait for Him. He waits for the fit times and seasons of His own appointment, that He may be gracious; and we wait patiently upon Him in the means and ordinances of grace, tarrying the Lord’s leisure, until He bring it to pass. We must wait for Jesus at such times as He may appoint, and one of these special times is the Lord’s Day. But we must wait for Jesus in the spirit which He requires. In order to a full enjoyment of Christ, there must be not only a waiting for Him, but also a glad receiving of Him. The coming in of Christ into the heart always begets gladness in that heart. This spiritual gladness is an important element of Christian character because, like sunshine, it brightens all within and reflects its glow on all without. But there are those who are conscious to themselves that they are not waiting for Christ, and have not gladly received Him. It is a blessed state to be in, to be waiting for Jesus--to have the soul in that position of expectancy that looks and longs for His appearing. (Bp. Stevens.)