the desire of ages-第74章

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de　his　way　through　the　crowd；　and　falling　at　the　feet　of　Jesus；　poured　out　the　story　of　his　trouble　and　disappointment。

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〃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

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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　thisnever。

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；

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〃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

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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　faithfaith　that　leads　to　entire　dependence　upon　God；　and　unreserved　consecration　to　His　workcan　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。〃




（432）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　48

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Who　Is　the　Greatest？


On　returning　to　Capernaum；　Jesus　did　not　repair　to　the　well…known　resorts　where　He　had　taught　the　people；　but　with　His　disciples　quietly　sought　the　house　that　was　to　be　His　temporary　home。　During　the　remainder　of　His　stay　in　Galilee　it　was　His　object　to　instruct　the　disciples　rather　than　to　labor　for　the　multitudes。

On　the　journey　through　Galilee；　Christ　had　again　tried　to　prepare　the　minds　of　His　disciples　for　the　scenes　before　Him。　He　told　them　that　He　was　to　go　up　to　Jerusalem　to　be　put　to　death　and　to　rise　again。　And　He　added　the　strange　and　solemn　announcement　that　He　was　to　be　betrayed　into　the　hands　of　His　enemies。　The　disciples　did　not　even　now　comprehend　His　words。　Although　the　shadow　of　a　great　sorrow　fell　upon　them；　a　spirit　of　rivalry　found　a　place　in　their　hearts。　They　disputed　among　themselves　which　should　be　accounted　greatest　in　the　kingdom。　This　strife　they　thought　to　conceal　from　Jesus；　and　they　did　not；　as　usual；　press　close　to　His　side；　but　loitered　behind；　so　that　He　was　in　advance　of　them　as　they　entered　Capernaum。　Jesus　read　their　thoughts；　and　He　longed　to　counsel　and　instruct　them。　But　for　this　He　awaited　a　quiet　hour；　when　their　hearts　should　be　open　to　receive　His　words。

Soon　after　they　reached　the　town；　the　collector　of　the　temple　revenue　came　to　Peter　with　the　question；　〃Doth　not　your　Master　pay　tribute？〃

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This　tribute　was　not　a　civil　tax；　but　a　religious　contribution；　which　every　Jew　was　required　to　pay　annually　for　the　support　of　the　temple。　A　refusal　to　pay　the　tribute　would　be　regarded　as　disloyalty　to　the　temple；in　the　estimation　of　the　rabbis　a　most　grievous　sin。　The　Saviour's　attitude　toward　the　rabbinical　laws；　and　His　plain　reproofs　to　the　defenders　of　tradition；　afforded　a　pretext　for　the　charge　that　He　was　seeking　to　overthrow　the　temple　service。　Now　His　enemies　saw　an　opportunity　of　casting　discredit　upon　Him。　In　the　collector　of　the　tribute　they　found　a　ready　ally。

Peter　saw　in　the　collector's　question　an　insinuation　touching　Christ's　loyalty　to　the　temple。　Zealous　for　his　Master's　honor；　he　hastily　answered；　without　consulting　Him；　that　Jesus　would　pay　the　tribute。

But　Peter　only　partially　comprehended　the　purpose　of　his　questioner。　There　were　some　classes　who　were　held　to　be　exempt　from　the　payment　of　the　tribute。　In　the　time　of　Moses；　when　the　Levites　were　set　apart　for　the　service　of　the　sanctuary；　they　were　given　no　inheritance　among　the　people。　The　Lord　said；　〃Levi　hath　no　part　nor　inheritance　with　his　brethren；　the　Lord　is　his　inheritance。〃　Deut。　10：9。　In　the　days　of　Christ　the　priests　and　Levites　were　still　regarded　as　especially　devoted　to　the　temple；　and　were　not　required　to　make　the　annual　contribution　for　its　support。　Prophets　also　were　exempted　from　this　payment。　In　requiring　the　tribute　from　Jesus；　the　rabbis　were　setting　aside　His　claim　as　a　prophet　or　teacher；　and　were　dealing　with　Him　as　with　any　commonplace　person。　A　refusal　on　His　part　to　pay　the　tribute　would　be　represented　as　disloyalty　to　the　temple；　while；　on　the　other　hand；　the　payment　of　it　would　be　taken　as　justifying　their　rejection　of　Him　as　a　prophet。

Only　a　little　before；　Peter　had　acknowledged　Jesus　as　the　Son　of　God；　but　he　now　missed　an　opportunity　of　setting　forth　the　character　of　his　Master。　By　his　answer　to　the　collector；　that　Jesus　would　pay　the　tribute；　he　had　virtually　sanctioned　the　false　conception　of　Him　to　which　the　pri