The Pilgrim’s Progress
May 10, 2020 • Chris Reighley
Introduction
At last—the burden falls, and joy floods the soul.
In this third stage of The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian reaches the Place of Deliverance and finds himself at the foot of a hill crowned with a cross. As he looks upon it, the burden of guilt that has weighed him down since the City of Destruction tumbles from his back and disappears into a tomb. He weeps, worships, and is met by three shining ones who grant forgiveness, new clothes, a mark of belonging, and a sealed scroll.
But the journey presses on. Christian soon encounters sleepy pilgrims (Simple, Sloth, and Presumption), false professors (Formalist and Hypocrisy), and the steep and testing climb up the Hill Difficulty. When he finally arrives at the Palace Beautiful, he is welcomed with care, examined with love, and trained for spiritual warfare.
This stage is where salvation moves from doctrine to delight—from being justified to being assured—and where the pilgrim begins to walk in joy, discernment, and maturity. And it’s here that we learn one of Bunyan’s greatest pastoral lessons: The cross is not only where our burden falls—it’s where our gaze must stay.
“Blessed Cross! Blessed Sepulcher! Blessed rather be the Man that there was put to shame for me.”
— Christian
Episode Outline: The Third Stage
Title: “The Burden Falls and the Journey Deepens”
PART 1: The Place of Deliverance – The Burden Falls
- Christian runs the narrow highway walled with salvation (Isaiah 26:1).
- Approaches the Cross: the burden falls into the tomb below.
- Encounters three Shining Ones:
- Sins forgiven (Mark 2:5).
- Clothed in righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Zech. 3:4–5).
- Marked and given a sealed scroll (Eph. 1:13).
- Application: True assurance and rest come not through striving—but through beholding the finished work of Christ.
PART 2: The Encounter with False Pilgrims
- Simple, Sloth, and Presumption lie asleep—shackled and ignorant.
- Christian warns them; they scoff.
- Application: Don’t mistake spiritual apathy for safety (Prov. 6:9–11; Eph. 5:14).
- Formalist and Hypocrisy climb over the wall—never came through the Wicket Gate.
- Rely on tradition, religion, and custom.
- Christian distinguishes between true and false faith.
- Application: No one enters except through the Gate (John 10:1; 14:6).
PART 3: The Hill Difficulty
- Christian drinks from the spring (Isaiah 49:10) and climbs.
- Formalist and Hypocrisy take shortcuts—into Danger and Destruction.
- Christian falls asleep in the Arbor (place of rest)—loses his scroll.
- He backtracks in grief, repents, and finds it again.
- Application: Don’t despise the day of difficulty; trials refine and reveal (Rom. 5:3–5).
PART 4: Timorous and Mistrust
- Two fearful pilgrims flee, warning of lions ahead.
- Christian reasons: “To go back is to perish; to go forward is to live.”
- Loses scroll due to carelessness—retrieves it with weeping.
- Application: Assurance is lost through neglect, but recovered by repentance.
PART 5: The Lions and the Palace Beautiful
- Christian trembles at the roaring lions—almost turns back.
- Porter Watchful calls: “Stay in the center path—they are chained.”
- Christian passes safely and enters the Palace Beautiful.
- Application: The path is perilous, but the Lord protects those who walk in truth (Ps. 91:11–13).
PART 6: Christian’s Welcome and Examination
- Questioned by Watchful, Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Charity.
- Shares his testimony and trials.
- Application: True fellowship involves honest self-examination and spiritual accountability (2 Cor. 13:5).
PART 7: Spiritual Training and Fellowship
- Views the House Records and Armory.
- Trained in the Word, righteousness, and spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10–18).
- Sees the Delectable Mountains from the rooftop.
- Feasts on the “fat things” and rests in the Room of Peace.
- Application: The local church is both hospital and bootcamp—a sanctuary for weary saints.