Ministry
365
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,
[430]
“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
[431]