Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-04-09

truth of the guiding presence Of Je-
sus. We read: He took the pllnd
man by the hand and led him."
Tender and beautiful is this minis
try, Jesus Himself leading the blind.
Can you catch the significance? Can
you see the leveling force OF the Cos
pei? "All We are brethren. Yes,
and Jesus proves 1t by taking the
hand Of the blind.
Can you also realize the positive
directness of Christian service? Bear
We one another's burdens" is the In
junction, and we have Jesus taking
the blind man and leading him. He
for the time is eyes for him.
Your Christianity Is hating, my
brother, If you have not in your life
that first hand ministry. which feels
the infirmities of another and touches
him where his need Is.
There is here also the perfecting
service of Jesus. His dealing with
this man is process. He leads him
by the hand. He moistens his eyes.
He places His hands over them, asks
then "Seest aught?" "Yes, but faint-
ly." Places hands over eyes again,
their sight comes clearly.
So He deals with you and me. Our
first experience of Him whilst joyous
and hopeful, still is inadequate. But
how patient and forbearing Is He
with our weakness and hesitancy.
Renewed and closer contact of fellow
ship clears the spiritual vision.
Let Him keep in touch with you,
whilst you yield your will, life and
love to Him. He will finally perfect
your vision and you will see Jesus
even as He sees you.
In that second picture We have a
startling manifestation of the all suf-
flcient power of Jesus. His question
is: believe We that am able to do
this?"
A great faith grasps this and holds
1t tenaciously. Those two blind men
followed Him along that weary way.
They kept on until they came to Him
inside the house. Can you see them?
Their sightless eyes striving to look
into His eyes? Can you hear their
answer: "Yea, Lord, yea, Lord. we
believe that Thou art able" Accord
ing to your faith" Is His answer and
they see Him-Jesus.
Do you desire the triumph of a
great faith, faith that sees Jesus?
Then you, too, must believe that He
is able" You do believe it? Yes,
to be sure you do-in way. But do
you believe 1t with all your soul by
faith that grips your life? Do you
believe 1t with a faith that impels
you, as 1t did those sightless ones
along the roadway, weary roadway
Of your life, through the thronging
crowds whose carelessness and indif-
ference besets you on every hand.
right on into the very presence of
Jesus Himself?
You have been trying to do things
for yourself. Hadn't you better let
Him do them, for He is able? Some
things He alone can do for you; trust
Him. Commit your way unto Him
for remember According to your
faith will it be done unto YOU"
In this third scene we have pre-
eminently the compassionate person
ality of Jesus. We read: Jesus had
compassion" In fact all through this
scene 1t is Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, and
therefore faith, faith, faith. First,
we have Jesus of Nazareth passeth
by. Remember He is always passing
by, in the great throngs to-day, as
then.
Do you feel your great need Of
Him? Cry out to Him. Bartimaeus
did that and his companion. Are
you being oppressed, hindered, dis
couraged by the very ones from whom
you have reason to expect? Cry out
yet much the more-those two by the
wayside did that. They received
sight and then followed after Jesus.
Do that, just that, the way will open.
Secondly, we read Jesus stood still.
He always will, provided the right
note is in your cry. Remember He was
in the midst of multitude going to
Jerusalem perhaps they will crown
Him King. Yes, palm branches will
they strew in His way and cry: "Ho-
sauna in the highest. blessed is the
King that cometh in the name of the
Lord" and yet-He hears that cry.
Remember He is on His way to
Jerusalem to accomplish His decease.
AS that conference upon the Mount
of TRANSPORTATION revealed the weird
shadow of the cross already is creep
ing over Him-and yet He hears that
cry!
What is in that cry? Need? Yes.
Suffering? Yes. But He finds that
everywhere. There Is something
more in it. Jesus have mercy" is
It? No. Jesus, Son of David, have
mercy" This one had faith in Jesus,
not merely as great rabbi, but he
had faith in Him supremely as the
promised deliverer of Israel, the Mes
siah. 1t meant Jesus-Thou Christ
have mercy. No wonder He heard
and stopped and called them to Him.
Thirdly, Jesus has compassion. He
always has. Let there be the cry of
conscious need, which believes I'M
plcitly in Him as redeeming Saviour
then always has He great compass
sion. 1t is always "the old, old story
of Jesus and His love"
My brother man let Him be such a
Saviour to you as we have seen Him
in these three pictures Of tender min
istry. Let Him lead you by the hand
"a living presence. Let Him draw
out your faith till you can say with
Joy: He is able" Let Him hear
your hearts cry of a great faith that
wins His compassion.