Chapter
47 -
Ministry
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THE entire night had been passed in the mountain; and as the sun arose,
Jesus and His disciples descended to the plain. Absorbed in thought, the
disciples were awed and silent. Even Peter had not a word to say. Gladly
would they have lingered in that holy place which had been touched with the
light of heaven, and where the Son of God had manifested His glory; but
there was work to be done for the people, who were already searching far and
near for Jesus.
At the foot of the mountain a large company had gathered, led hither by the
disciples who had remained behind, but who knew whither Jesus had resorted.
As the Saviour drew near, He charged His three companions to keep silence
concerning what they had witnessed, saying, "Tell the vision to no man,
until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." The revelation made to
the disciples was to be pondered in their own hearts, not to be published
abroad. To relate it to the multitudes would excite only ridicule or idle
wonder. And even the nine apostles would not understand the scene until
after Christ had risen from the dead. How slow of comprehension even the
three favored disciples were, is seen in the fact that notwithstanding all
that Christ had said of what was before Him, they queried among themselves
what the rising from the dead should mean. Yet they asked no explanation
from Jesus. His words in regard to the future had filled them with sorrow;
they sought no further revelation concerning that which they were fain to
believe might never come to pass.
As the people on the plain caught sight of Jesus, they ran to meet Him,
greeting Him with expressions of reverence and joy. Yet His quick eye
discerned that they were in great perplexity. The disciples appeared
troubled. A circumstance had just occurred that had caused them bitter
disappointment and humiliation.
While they were waiting at the foot of the mountain, a father had brought to
them his son, to be delivered from a dumb spirit that tormented him.
Authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, had been conferred on the
disciples when Jesus sent out the twelve to preach through Galilee. As they
went forth strong in faith, the evil spirits had obeyed their word. Now in
the name of Christ they commanded the torturing spirit to leave his victim;
but the demon only mocked them by a fresh display of his power. The
disciples, unable to account for their defeat, felt that they were bringing
dishonor upon themselves and their Master. And in the crowd there were
scribes who made the most of this opportunity to humiliate them. Pressing
around the disciples, they plied them with questions, seeking to prove that
they and their Master were deceivers. Here, the rabbis triumphantly
declared, was an evil spirit that neither the disciples nor Christ Himself
could conquer. The people were inclined to side with the scribes, and a
feeling of contempt and scorn pervaded the crowd.
But suddenly the accusations ceased. Jesus and the three disciples were seen
approaching, and with a quick revulsion of feeling the people turned to meet
them. The night of communion with the heavenly glory had left its trace upon
the Saviour and His companions. Upon their countenances was a light that
awed the beholders. The scribes drew back in fear, while the people welcomed
Jesus.
As if He had been a witness of all that had occurred, the Saviour came to
the scene of conflict, and fixing His gaze upon the scribes inquired, "What
question ye with them?"
But the voices so bold and defiant before were now silent. A hush had fallen
upon the entire company. Now the afflicted father made his way through the
crowd, and falling at the feet of Jesus, poured out the story of his trouble
and disappointment.
"Master," he said, "I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb
spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: . . . and I spake to
Thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not."
Jesus looked about Him upon the awe-stricken multitude, the caviling
scribes, the perplexed disciples. He read the unbelief in every heart; and
in a voice filled with sorrow He exclaimed, "O faithless generation, how
long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?" Then He bade the
distressed father, "Bring thy son hither."
The boy was brought, and as the Saviour's eyes fell upon him, the evil
spirit cast him to the ground in convulsions of agony. He lay wallowing and
foaming, rending the air with unearthly shrieks.
Again the Prince of life and the prince of the powers of darkness had met on
the field of battle,--Christ in fulfillment of His mission to "preach
deliverance to the captives, . . . to set at liberty them that are bruised"
(Luke 4:18), Satan seeking to hold his victim under his control. Angels of
light and the hosts of evil angels, unseen, were pressing near to behold the
conflict. For a moment, Jesus permitted the evil spirit to display his
power, that the beholders might comprehend the deliverance about to be
wrought.
The multitude looked on with bated breath, the father in an agony of hope
and fear. Jesus asked, "How long is it ago since this came unto him?" The
father told the story of long years of suffering, and then, as if he could
endure no more, exclaimed, "If Thou canst do anything, have compassion on
us, and help us." "If Thou canst!" Even now the father questioned the power
of Christ.
Jesus answers, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth." There is no lack of power on the part of Christ; the healing of
the son depends upon the father's faith. With a burst of tears, realizing
his own weakness, the father casts himself upon Christ's mercy, with the
cry, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."
Jesus turns to the suffering one, and says, "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I
charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him." There is a cry,
an agonized struggle. The demon, in passing, seems about to rend the life
from his victim. Then the boy lies motionless, and apparently lifeless. The
multitude whisper, "He is dead." But Jesus takes him by the hand, and
lifting him up, presents him, in perfect soundness of mind and body, to his
father. Father and son praise the name of their Deliverer. The multitude are
"amazed at the mighty power of God," while the scribes, defeated and
crestfallen, turn sullenly away.
"If Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." How many a
sin-burdened soul has echoed that prayer. And to all, the pitying Saviour's
answer is, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth." It is faith that connects us with heaven, and brings us strength
for coping with the powers of darkness. In Christ, God has provided means
for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however
strong. But many feel that they lack faith, and therefore they remain away
from Christ. Let these souls, in their helpless unworthiness, cast
themselves upon the mercy of their compassionate Saviour. Look not to self,
but to Christ. He who healed the sick and cast out demons when He walked
among men is the same mighty Redeemer today. Faith comes by the word of God.
Then grasp His promise, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."
John 6:37. Cast yourself at His feet with the cry, "Lord, I believe; help
Thou mine unbelief." You can never perish while you do this--never.
In a brief space of time the favored disciples have beheld the extreme of
glory and of humiliation. They have seen humanity as transfigured into the
image of God, and as debased into the likeness of Satan. From the mountain
where He has talked with the heavenly messengers, and has been proclaimed
the Son of God by the voice from the radiant glory, they have seen Jesus
descend to meet that most distressing and revolting spectacle, the maniac
boy, with distorted countenance, gnashing his teeth in spasms of agony that
no human power could relieve. And this mighty Redeemer, who but a few hours
before stood glorified before His wondering disciples, stoops to lift the
victim of Satan from the earth where he is wallowing, and in health of mind
and body restores him to his father and his home.
It was an object lesson of redemption,--the Divine One from the Father's
glory stooping to save the lost. It represented also the disciples' mission.
Not alone upon the mountaintop with Jesus, in hours of spiritual
illumination, is the life of Christ's servants to be spent. There is work
for them down in the plain. Souls whom Satan has enslaved are waiting for
the word of faith and prayer to set them free.
The nine disciples were yet pondering upon the bitter fact of their own
failure; and when Jesus was once more alone with them, they questioned, "Why
could not we cast him out?" Jesus answered them, "Because of your unbelief:
for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye
shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall
remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth
not out but by prayer and fasting." Their unbelief, that shut them out from
deeper sympathy with Christ, and the carelessness with which they regarded
the sacred work committed to them, had caused their failure in the conflict
with the powers of darkness.
The words of Christ pointing to His death had brought sadness and doubt. And
the selection of the three disciples to accompany Jesus to the mountain had
excited the jealousy of the nine. Instead of strengthening their faith by
prayer and meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on
their discouragements and personal grievances. In this state of darkness
they had undertaken the conflict with Satan.
In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a
different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and
fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be
filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication
to God in faith--faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and
unreserved consecration to His work--can alone avail to bring men the Holy
Spirit's aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of
the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.
"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed," said Jesus, "ye shall say
unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove."
Though the grain of mustard seed is so small, it contains that same
mysterious life principle which produces growth in the loftiest tree. When
the mustard seed is cast into the ground, the tiny germ lays hold of every
element that God has provided for its nutriment, and it speedily develops a
sturdy growth. If you have faith like this, you will lay hold upon God's
word, and upon all the helpful agencies He has appointed. Thus your faith
will strengthen, and will bring to your aid the power of heaven. The
obstacles that are piled by Satan across your path, though apparently as
insurmountable as the eternal hills, shall disappear before the demand of
faith. "Nothing shall be impossible unto you."
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