Although Christian is the protagonist of Bunyan’s allegory, Christ is undoubtedly the central figure.  Jesus is not only the Wicket Gate, but He is the Lord of the Hill, who was the topic of Christian’s discussion with the Virtues at Interpreter’s House, and He had preceded Christian and Faithful through Vanity Fair.  In fact, Christ is referred to more than eighty times in the work. Yet for many contemporary Christians, this continual encounter with Jesus is not in line with what is propounded as the normal Christian life.  

For over three centuries Christians have delighted in Pilgrim’s Progress, the spiritual allegory of the journey of Christian from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.  This literary work has become a classic in the truest sense, treasured both for its literary qualities and its spiritual insight.  Bunyan’s readers are quite familiar with Christian, who entered the way to eternal life at the wicket gate (which is a type of Christ) and came to the Cross where his burden fell off.  When he finally arrived at the city’s gate, Christian again encountered Christ, although figuratively, in the water of the river of life and in the leaves and fruit of the healing trees which grew along the river.  But the Dreamer from Bedford understood that in the normal Christian life, Christ is encountered not just at the beginning or at the end of one’s journey, but all along the way to the Celestial City.

Although Christian is the protagonist of Bunyan’s allegory, Christ is undoubtedly the central figure.  Jesus is not only the Wicket Gate, but He is the Lord of the Hill, who was the topic of Christian’s discussion with the Virtues at Interpreter’s House, and He had preceded Christian and Faithful through Vanity Fair.  In fact, Christ is referred to more than eighty times in the work.

Yet for many contemporary Christians, this continual encounter with Jesus is not in line with what is propounded as the normal Christian life.  Certainly today’s Christian pilgrims enter their spiritual journey at the wicket gate and have their burden roll away at Christ’s cross, but because of a deafening silence in many contemporary sermons and teaching regarding Christ’s work on behalf of the believer after conversion, rarely do Christians seem to see a need to encounter Christ again until the Celestial City. However, for Bunyan, Christ has a central place in the believer’s relationship with God between the cross and the river, and this forms an important part of his view of Puritan piety; and for us, it can help shape our own personal spiritual life.

Bunyan is able to help us in our sanctification today because he was well-versed in the biblical teachings of how believers receive Christ’s benefits.

Read More