The king is not a merchant
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price”(Is. 55,1)
One sick boy couldn't anything to eat. His mother was advised to buy to the patient of grapes, but it grew only in a royal garden. It was in those days when yet there were no modern transport and consequently the fruit, growing in one place, it was impossible so quickly as now, to transport in other place. Grapes could be bought only from the king.
Poor mother took the money and went to a royal palace, but there the sentry stopped her. Fortunately, one of royal daughters passed by there. Having heard angry words of the sentry and the request of the woman, she came and asked them. The woman has told to her about her need, the princess laughed and told: «Poor, you were mistaken. My father is not a merchant, he is the king. He doesn't sell grapes, but he can only present it». Then the princess broke from a grapevine some mature brushes and gave them to the woman.
We are Christians. It is impossible to transform the house of God into the trade house. Jesus Christ – the King of kings, He is not a merchant. He gives all things for us free, instead of sells. To buy from Him anythingis not impossible! To receive it without pay – yes.
It is time to all people to return to a source and to find again salutary properties of the River of Rescue. Jesus has told to the woman at a well of Jacob: “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:14). This woman was grieving about sins and disappointed, she was a symbol of all people. Her aspirations were our aspirations! Her disappointments were our disappointments! Her entreaty and sins were our entreaty and our sins! But her Savior can be our Savior, her pardon can be our pardon, and her pleasure can be our pleasure.
P.Shatrov