Mr. Bunyan begins his story by introducing the main character, a man named Christian. Christian is described as being clothed with rags, a burden on his back, and a book in his hand.
The story starts with Christian opening the book and reading. He wept and cried as he read from the book. Not able to contain himself, he broke out with a lamentable cry saying, “What shall I do?!” Christian goes home, and there we are introduced to Christian’s wife and children.
Christian tells his wife, “By reason of a burden that lies upon me, I am certain that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven, we must escape and be delivered.” Unfortunately, Christian’s family did not believe him. They were concerned about his well-being, but not for his soul, or for their own souls. His wife and children urged him to lay down and get some rest. When their advice didn’t seem to cure what ailed Christian, they attempted to mock and deride him for his fear of divine punishment. Despite his family’s interventions, Christian continued to be troubled by the burden, and the city’s impending doom.
On one occasion, while praying and reading in a field, again he cried out desperately, “What shall I do to be saved?!” He looked this way and that way, and finally seen a man by the name of Evangelist coming his way (we will cover Evangelist in our next study).
A Burden
Christian was weighted down with a great burden upon his back. Like Christian, all humanity is under the weight of sin (Rom. 3:23). Read what David said concerning the weight of sin:
“Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins. My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear” (Psalm 38:3–4 NLT).
Sin is a heavy burden to bear. Christian is so over burdened with sin that he buckles under the heavy weight. Christian longs to be relieved from his burden. His family’s attempts of helping were insufficient. Sin cannot be admonished, or counseled. Christian wasn’t going to be able to sleep away his sin. Christian needed divine relief.
The awareness of our sin is the first step towards repentance. David says elsewhere, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3). Christian had been awakened to the fact that he had been carrying a weight that he cannot rid himself of.
A Book
Christian is described as having a burden on his back, but he also has a book in his hand. This book is none other than the Bible. Christian feels the weight of his sin, but is also moved by what is revealed in the book. Christian tells Evangelist, “Sir, I perceive, by the book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment.” The thoughts brought him to tears and to cry out, “What shall I do to be saved?” This is the same reaction given by the Jews on the day of Pentecost, and the Philippian jailer (Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31). When men read or hear of their sin, and God’s judgment upon it, they want to know if there is a way of escape.
As we will see in our next lesson, Evangelist tells him what he must to do to rid himself of the burden of sin. Christian’s journey is just about to begin. I hope you will join us on this journey with the Pilgrim’s Progress.