The Pilgrim's Progress (III): Christiana at the House of the Interpreter (3) — The Spider on the Wall

The Spider on the Wall

After showing Christiana and Mercy the man who spent his life looking downward with a muck-rake instead of upward toward a heavenly crown, the Interpreter led them into another room.

At first glance, it seemed empty.

Then their eyes found something that made them recoil.

High upon the wall clung a large spider.

The Interpreter quietly asked,

"Is there but one spider in the room?"

The women looked again. Finally Christiana answered with tears,

"Yes, and we ourselves are the spiders."

The lesson struck home immediately.

The spider was not merely an ugly creature.

It represented the corruption that lives naturally within the human heart.

Like the spider, sinners are capable of producing poison. Left to ourselves, we are not beautiful creatures deserving admiration, but fallen people whose hearts have been touched by sin.

Scripture agrees with Bunyan's picture.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

The remarkable thing is not that a spider could live inside the King's house.

The remarkable thing is that the King allows redeemed sinners to live there.

The Interpreter reminded Christiana that although the spider was loathsome, it still clung to the walls of the King's palace. So believers, though once polluted by sin, now cling by faith to Christ Himself.

Our hope is never found in what we once were.

Our hope is found in whom we now belong to.

The apostle Paul described every believer this way:

"Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Christiana's response is striking. She does not protest.

She does not argue.

She does not compare herself with others.

She agrees with the Interpreter's diagnosis.

That is always the beginning of spiritual growth.

Those who know themselves best appreciate Christ most deeply.

Pride says, "I am better than most."

Grace says, "Apart from Christ, I am lost."

Yet grace never leaves us there.

The spider remains in the King's house, not because it deserves to be there, but because the King has permitted it. In the same way, every Christian lives daily by mercy, not merit.

Bunyan understood the gospel well.

Salvation is not God's reward for good people.

It is God's rescue of sinful people through Jesus Christ.

The closer we come to Christ, the more clearly we see both our remaining sin and His amazing grace. Humility and assurance grow together. We become less impressed with ourselves and more amazed by our Savior.

Christiana learned that day not only who she had been, but whose she now was.

That is one of the sweetest lessons in the House of the Interpreter—and one every pilgrim must learn before continuing the journey.

Next Week: The Sheep That Quietly Submitted — Learning Meekness from the Lamb.

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Father God, Thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sins and save me from Hell. Thank You too for allowing me to dwell in Your house through the cleansing blood of Jesus that cleans me from all iniquity. In His name I pray. Amen

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ONLY A SINNER

Naught have I gotten but what I received;

Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed;

Boasting excluded, pride I abase;

I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!

Refrain

Only a sinner, saved by grace!

Only a sinner, saved by grace!

This is my story, to God be the glory—

I’m only a sinner, saved by grace!

Once I was foolish, and sin ruled my heart,

Causing my footsteps from God to depart;

Jesus hath found me, happy my case;

I now am a sinner, saved by grace!

Refrain

Tears unavailing, no merit had I;

Mercy had saved me, or else I must die;

Sin had alarmed me fearing God’s face;

But now I’m a sinner saved by grace!

Refrain

Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows,

Loving his Savior to tell what he knows;

Once more to tell it would I embrace—

I’m only a sinner saved by grace!

Refrain

Words: James M. Gray, 1905.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15