It is sometimes useful to put in juxtaposition separate facts and characters. The three Crosses—how instructive! the three Marys, the three Centurions. Here we have the three Ananiases. Their name means 'Jehovah is gracious.' Their parents thought it a lucky name, and all professed to rejoice in what it expresses. Many make this a pillow. Let us not be deceived by names or profession, for even devoutness is not faith, and profession is not principle.
I. Ananias, the enemy of the Cross.—He was the son of
Nebadaeas and succeeded Joseph, who succeeded Annas and Caiaphas. You find him
with the Bible in his hands from his birth, as a Levite and a priest. He had to
do with the highest forms of religion, with its rites day by day at the altar.
Once a year he would be in the Holy of Holies, and see the mercy-seat, and gaze
on the blood,—yea, sprinkle it. Every holy thing in word and
ordinance was familiar to him. And yet he was a 'whited wall,' —only
externally comely, all formalism and externalism. He hated vital religion and
grew wroth at every manifestation of it. His bosom friends were Roman governors
and such as Tertullus (24:1). The world, even the same pleasures that
heathenism relished, was still in his heart. Josephus tells that before the
last siege of the city, he hid in an aqueduct and was dragged out to die. Even
so shall he try to hide under the rocks or cry, 'Mercy, O Lord!'
according to his name, but shall not find it.
In our community there are
many such as Ananias, persons brought up with the Bible in their hand, familiar
with ordinances, with the routine of the prayer-book, or family worship, or
worship in church. Nay, they go to the Lord's Table, lifting up solemn hands,
gazing on the blood on the mercy-seat, and saying 'We take it.' Yet their bosom
friends are men like Felix or Tertullus, they are at home with them in pleasure
and trifling gaieties. They instinctively shrink from true vital godliness and
the men who have it, bid them 'hold their peace'—smite them on the mouth.
They never knew the new birth. Union to Christ is to them cant or nonsense. And
so they die! But on the day of Christ, lo! they are dragged from the covert of
the rocks and hills.
II. Ananias the apparent believer.—He was a
hollow-hearted man, yet he seemed sound. It was a revival time when the tide
was high. He joined the true believers at a time when faith was strong in them,
when they were accustomed to live each day looking into glory and were on the
wing above earth. Feeling a secret conviction that they were right, he threw in
his lot with them, separated himself from former friends, took the godly as his
companions, praised and admired the Apostle, and became quite zealous. But he
was not really born again, the Spirit was not in him, as soon appeared. For
either from a wish to be less obscure, or from partial conviction that
self-denial was right, he sold part and pretended to give all. And so we see he
had never quietly rested on Christ and been content with His Nazareth obscurity
of obedience. He died an awful death. His name availed not, there was no
'grace' for him. He sank down—what an awful surprise !—from the very
midst of the believers.
There are some such among us still. They have a
secret conviction that it is safe and right to be believers, so they imitate
others, attend meetings, separate themselves from the world. You may detect in
yourselves a likeness to Ananias. Perhaps, when you find yourself overlooked
you wish to be known or else to go back. Or when a missionary cause is pleaded
you give a little, and say to conscience, 'It is all I can afford.' Perhaps you
are half—conscious that it is the example of others that carries you
along. Are you willing to detect yourself? Ask yourself, 'Why am I not willing
to do as Jesus did at Nazareth, though unnoticed? Why am I complacent at any
good thing I say or do? Are not these to a real saint as natural as streams to
a spring? Am I independent of money and comforts, of name and praise for my
heaven, finding it in Jesus?' The Spirit has found you out, for He never knew a
time when He opened the door of your heart. Your conscience may be quiet
by your profession. O look on sin as you see it in the Law and in the Cross,
not as you feel it. You cannot lie to the Holy Ghost in vain!
III. Ananias, the true disciple.—One of God's happy
servants. You see his life in chap.22:12, 'of good report;' he 'observed the
law;' he was ready to obey (chap. 9:10-17). He learned to be a disciple first
at the Cross when the voice said 'Ananias, come to Me,' and ever since he has
obeyed it. Hear Christ speaking to His sheep by name 'Ananias!' and notice his
brotherly love— 'Brother Saul'.
Have you private intercourse with
Christ, and are you sent on His errands? Happy Ananias! He carried rest to
Paul, who thereafter carried Christ to to many thousands; and whether, as
tradition says, he died a martyr at Damascus, or on his bed, his end was peace.
He answered to his name. He knew God was 'gracious.' At the Great Day yonder is
Ananias in his robes of Priesthood, with the breastplate on which are the names
of every tribe, but no room for the name of Jesus! Nay, his robes kept off the
blood of Jesus. Then, there is the other Ananias. He saw that High Priest's
heart was empty, but he himself never found what filled his whole soul. He fled
from Sodom only to be a Lot's wife! But you, O holy Ananias, come! Paul is
getting his crown, 'but not to me only'—to him who bade the scales fall
from his eyes. Yes, says Jesus, to that quiet saint with whom I spoke, and who
spoke with me—to Paul with his ten talents, to you with your five. 'Enter
into the joy of thy Lord.'
The first Ananias looked neither into himself
to see the hell there, nor on Jesus, to see the door of heaven, or heaven
itself, there. The second gave only a glance at both, and saw neither fully.
But the third looked till he saw himself lost, and wrath his portion; and then
upward, till he read, 'I have found a ransom' in the hand of the Father who
pointed him to Jesus!
Transcribed from Reminiscences of Andrew A.Bonar D.D.
first published
LONDON, HODDER AND STOUGHTON,
27 Paternoster
Row
1895
HTML transcription files copyright © 2001-2006.
Jane Newble
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This sermon added 2 July 2001