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The Case of the Japanese Barber by Walter L. Wilson, M.D. |
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All
morning long, I had sought time and opportunity to shave myself before
starting on a trip to |
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I felt
that the Holy Spirit had some special work for me to do,
else I would not have been hindered from shaving in the home of my host. I
surmised that somewhere He had a barber to whom I was to have the privilege
of giving the Gospel that day. |
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Upon
learning that the train was late, I started walking down the street, seeking
a barber shop, at the same time looking to the Lord to guide and direct me aright.
Two blocks down the street was a small revolving sign which attracted me and
I approached the shop. As I opened the door, a bell rang, arousing the
barber, who was then in the rear of the shop, behind a partition. |
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We met
near the barber chair and I observed that he was a Japanese,
a young man of about thirty-five. I asked for a shave and he politely
requested me to sit in the chair, which I did. Adjusting the chair to a
reclining position, he soon had the warm lather on my face, with a hot towel to
soften the beard. While he sharpened his razor, I asked the Holy Spirit for
wisdom to approach this man in a wise way, so that I might win him for
Christ. |
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I inquired
of him whether he knew a Mr. Kimura, who is called the "Billy
Sunday" of |
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"Where
is he from?" he asked. |
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"His
home is in Kioto, but he preaches all over |
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"Oh,
I came from Kioto. I was born there," he said. "Is this Mr. Kimura
a little man who builds big, wooden tabernacles, with sawdust on the
ground?" |
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"Yes,"
I said, "that is his method." |
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My answer
produced a deep impression. He obtained a clean towel, wiped the lather from
my face until it was dry, raised the chair in order
that I might assume a sitting posture, then learning over the chair, with
solemn countenance and a serious voice, he said: "I will never forget
that little man. I went to one of his meetings in Kioto and heard him preach.
When he finished, he came from the platform down the aisle, placed his hand
on my shoulder, and said: 'Young man, how are you going to get rid of your
sins?'" |
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"Have
you found out how?" I asked at once. |
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"No,"
he answered, "I wish I could. When you rang the bell, I was walking up
and down in my little room at the back of the shop, saying those words over and
over again, and wishing that I knew. Can you tell me?" |
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"Yes,
indeed, I can," said I; whereupon I arose from the chair, obtained my
Bible, and returned to read to him the story of the Saviour's love. |
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Acts 10:43
impressed his heart very much--"To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of
sins." Another Scripture was read, Colossians 2:14-- "Blotting out
the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." |
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"Have
you any sins?" I asked. |
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"Oh,
yes," he answered, "lots of them." |
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"Would
you like to have them put away today?" |
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"If
it could be so," he eagerly answered. "I would get peace in my heart,
for now only trouble is there." |
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"Well,
Jesus came to blot out your sins for you. I will read it for you in Isaiah
44:22-- 'I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a
cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.'" |
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These
passages seemed to deeply affect the heart of the barber, but still he did
not have peace. He seemed in deep meditation as I explained the Scriptures to
him, and told him about the Saviour of sinners who came to save him. I then
turned to 1 John 1:7-- "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin." I explained it to him, saying, "Do you not see, Mr.
Barber, that the Lord Jesus was dying for you? He suffered on the cross the
punishment that you should have had." We then read Romans 5:6--
"When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly." |
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These
Scriptures brought the light to his dark and troubled soul. The peace of God
came into his heart as he confessed his belief in the work of Christ at |
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I then
said to him, "Did none of your customers ever tell you of the
Saviour?" |
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"No,
he replied, "they do not talk about Jesus to me." |
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"Have
you not been to any of our American churches?" |
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"Yes,"
he said, "but they did not tell me that Jesus blotted out my sins for me
and that I could have Him as my own Saviour. No one seemed to care whether I
was saved or not. It was mostly religion and singing and talking about many things,
but I could not find peace in what they said. I am so glad you have come with
your Bible to show me how to get rid of my sins." |
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Before
continuing with the shaving, I said, "Are your sins gone now? Are they
blotted out?" |
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"Yes,"
he replied, "Jesus has put them away, and I believe in Him." |
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The shave
I received that day will never be surpassed. How carefully he handled the
razor and me. How kind he was and how grateful. I left him with joy and
peace, for his sins had been blotted out. |
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From The
Romance of a Doctor's Visits by Walter L. Wilson, 1935. |
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