John Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress — Part II: The Road Narrows, The Burden Falls
- 4 days ago
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The Pilgrim’s Progress
Last week, we met Christian — a man awakened.
A book in his hand.A burden on his back.A cry in his heart: “What must I do to be saved?”
He fled the City of Destruction, leaving all behind.
But he did not leave alone.
Obstinate and Pliable
Two men come after him.
Obstinate — stubborn, rooted, unwilling to be moved. He hears Christian’s warning, but he will not yield. He turns back quickly, preferring the old life to the uncertain road.
Pliable — eager, impressionable, easily stirred. He listens to Christian’s description of heaven and is delighted. He joins the journey at once.
Here is Bunyan’s great gift.
He names the people we already know.
Or rather — the people we already are.
The stubborn heart that will not move.The soft heart that moves too quickly.
George Bernard Shaw once remarked that Bunyan’s characters are drawn with such clarity that they rival — even surpass — those of William Shakespeare.
It is a bold claim.
But as we walk with Obstinate and Pliable, we begin to see what he meant.
The Slough of Despond
The three men do not go far before the path sinks into the Slough of Despond.
Christian and Pliable fall in.
Obstinate never came this far — he has already gone back.
Pliable, who came quickly, leaves just as quickly. Covered in mud and discouraged by difficulty, he climbs out and returns home, declaring the journey not worth the trouble.
Only Christian remains.
Struggling. Sinking. Crying out.
This is often the dividing line.
Many will walk with us when the path is pleasant. Few remain when it becomes hard.
The Gate
Directed by Evangelist, Christian presses on until he comes to the Wicket Gate.
He knocks.
And he is received.
The way is not wide. It is not easy. But it is open.
This is the true beginning — not just leaving, but entering.
Instruction for the Journey
Inside the gate, Christian is guided and taught.
He is not given everything at once — only what he needs for the next step.
This is how God leads:
Light for today.Grace for the next step.Strength for the present road.
The Cross
And then — the moment.
Christian comes to the cross.
And the burden falls.
No struggle. No effort. No payment.
It simply falls away.
This is the gospel in a single picture.
Not what we carry.But what Christ removes.
What Bunyan Shows Us
Bunyan does not give us abstract ideas.
He gives us people.
Obstinate.Pliable.Christian.
And as the road unfolds, we will meet many more — each one named with piercing accuracy.
We will not just read about them.
We will recognize them.
Where We Go Next
The journey continues:
The Hill Difficulty
The House Beautiful
New companions — and new dangers
The road grows narrower. The tests grow sharper.
But Christian now walks without his burden.
And that changes everything.
Closing Prayer
Lord, keep us from the stubborn heart that will not move,and from the shallow heart that will not endure.Bring us all the way to the cross, and keep us on the narrow road, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away
Every burden on my heart rolled away
Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away
Every burden on my heart rolled away
All my sin had to go, ‘Neath the crimson flow..
Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away
Every burden on my heart away
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