“It is a solemn thought that John the Baptist’s words in this place apply strictly to thousands in the present day. Christ is still standing among many who neither see, nor know, nor believe. Christ is passing by in many a parish and many a congregation, and the vast majority have neither an eye to see Him, nor an ear to hear Him.
The spirit of slumber seems poured out upon them. Money, and pleasure, and the world they know ; but they know not Christ. The kingdom of God is close to them ; but they sleep, Salvation is within their reach; but they sleep. Mercy, grace, peace, heaven, eternal life, are so nigh that they might touch them; and yet they sleep. “Christ standeth among them and they know him not.”
These are sorrowful things to write down. But every faithful minister of Christ can testify, like John the Baptist, that they are true.
What are we doing ourselves? This, after all, is the great question that concerns us. Do we know the extent of our religious privileges in this country, and in these times? Are we aware that Christ is going to and fro in our land, inviting souls to join Him and to be His disciples ? Do we know that the time is short and that the door of mercy will soon be closed for evermore ? Do we know that Christ rejected will soon be Christ withdrawn?
Happy are they who can give a good account of these inquiries and who ” know the day of their visitation !” (Luke xix. 44.) It will be better at the last day never to have been born, than to have had Christ “standing among us ” and not to have known Him.”
— J. C. Ryle (expository thoughts on John 1:19-28).
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