Season 6 Podcast 21 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 55 Chapter XI B, “A River Intervenes.”In last week’s podcast Christian and Hopeful enter Beulah Land. In this week’s episode, Christian and Hopeful find they must cross a river of turbulent waters before entering The Celestial City. Hope approaches it with ease. Christian is terrified. The river is symbolized in Isaiah 43. Perhaps it would be helpful to first analyze the words of Isaiah.Isaiah 43: 1-2 “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”Crossing the treacherous river is one of the final acts of faith the pilgrims must encounter. Through Hopeful, Bunyan makes it clear that their prior experiences prepared them for this moment. Christian however doubts his faith. Part of the genius of Bunyan is that he examines the human side of scripture. For example, notice how totally confident the prophet Isaiah is. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.” In the abstract it is faith promoting. However, When Christian faces the flood, he loses heart. Isaiah assures those who follow Christ that the Lord will sustain them.Isaiah 43:5“Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west.”Before confronting the actual river, the words give comfort. Bunyan, however, shows that to claim that promise one must have the courage to enter the waters. That is one of the conditions of Faith, isn’t it. One must first step into the dark.Isaiah says a peculiar thing.Isaiah 43:8“Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.”How can one be blind yet have eyes? How can one be deaf and yet have ears? Through our temporal eyes, we see danger and experience fear. Isaiah is saying that we must see with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears for as Paul said.Ephesians 6:12“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”Bunyan is teaching the principle so eloquently stated by Isaiah, that only through faith in Christ can we face the fears and obstacles of this world and enter his Kingdom.Isaiah 43:10-11“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour."The pilgrims must understand that they cannot take the journey alone. Only Christ can carry them through the waters. Isaiah 43:15-16"I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters."Again, speaking directly to Christian, who is afraid to enter the waters, he said.Isaiah 43:18“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”Christian was afraid to step into the water because he began to doubt the redeeming power of the Savior. He was remembering his former sins. Though he had repented of them, he doubted his Savior’s love. But in the words of Isaiah, Christ assures Christian of his love and helps him cross the river.Isaiah 43:19“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

Season 6 Podcast 21 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 55 Chapter XI B, “A River Intervenes.” In last week’s podcast Christian and Hopeful enter Beulah Land. In this week’s episode, Christian and Hopeful find they must cross a river of turbulent waters before entering The Celestial City. Hope approaches it with ease. Christian is terrified. The river is symbolized in Isaiah 43. Perhaps it would be helpful to first analyze the words of Isaiah. Isaiah 43: 1-2  “But now thus saith th...