Season 5 Podcast 40 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 9 Chapter 3 A, “The Three Shining Ones.”

A New Voice of Freedom

Season 5 Podcast 40 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 9 Chapter 3 A, “The Three Shining Ones.”

In last week’s episode, we concluded with The Interpreter. In this week’s episode we finally come to the cross where Christian lays his burden down. Following the cross, Christian meets several unsavory fellows. The characters Christian meets along the way symbolize temptations of the flesh.
Now, I saw in my dream that the highway up which Christian was to go was fenced on either side with a wall that was called Salvation. Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.
He ran thus till he came to a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a tomb. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.
There is, of course, nothing subtle about Pilgrim’s Progress. What is important, however, is the journey. To Bunyan every Christian must take the journey alone. The symbol above is that it is not necessary to carry the burden of sin when it can so easily be laid at the feet of Christ which is symbolized by the Cross which represents the atonement. Christ died for our sins. Notice earlier that Pliable, Obstinate, Worldly Wiseman, Legality, and Civility all tried to keep Christian from coming to the Cross. Worldly Wiseman counseled that Christian could simply take care of the burden himself without repentance. Wise counselors could replace Christ. Christian could buy a cheap home in the City of Morality, which represented modern ethics, and invite his family to come stay with him there without taking the arduous road to salvation.

Thus far, however, Christian has endured, though he has a very long way to go. Notice his reward.

Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, "He hath given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death." Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the water down his cheeks.

A surprising thing happens. He is visited by three heavenly messengers that further prepare him for the journey. So far each true messenger appears just at the right time and the right place. First there was Evangelist then Help, then Goodwill, and then the Interpreter. Now we have the Three Heavenly Messengers called the three shining ones.

Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold, three Shining Ones came to him, and saluted him with "Peace be to thee." So the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee;" the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with a change of garments; the third also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the heavenly gate; so they went their way. Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on, singing:

The first messenger gave him the best gift of all. “Thy sins be forgiven thee” echoes the words of the Savior which he sometimes used before healing the sick.