Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-29

Going down the mountain, the three
disciples questioned among themselves
the meaning of the strange words they
had heard, and incidentally illustrated
the same lack of faith, in spite of
greater privileges, that the nine below
were showing in another way. When
the four reachd the foot of the mount
there was a strange scene enacted.
Think it through-there was the Christ
the crowd, the center of attraction, a
poor epileptic boy, a distracted father,
and some very discounted disciples.
The father had heard of the presence
in their vicinity OF the wonderful
Healer. He did not know, heather as
he was, the difference between the
Leader ana the followers. When he
reached the foot OF the mount with the
boy, Jesus and three Of His followers
had gone up into the hilltops; so he
asked the nine who were left to do him
the great favor of healing his boy. He
thought they could heal him just as any
Of the others Of the company. They
had frequently cast out devils before,
when, about a year previously, they had
gone out two by two throughout Gal
lice. They thought it would be a very
simple matter. but every effort they
made failed. They were very much
chagrined.
THE POWER OF GOD.
The ever-present scribes were ready
TO use this opportunity to discredit
Jesus, and began plying the nine dis
ciples with questions which they could
not answer. Their embarrassment was
increasing more and more, when Jesus
came to their rescue. have a notion
that His face was So calm after the ex-
perience of the past few hours, and the
commentator OF His Father so re-
assuring that Il must have had It's
effect on the crowd as soon as He
appeared. One of the evangelists tells
us that they were all amazed-but
whether from His sudden appearance
on the scene or from His expression
and manner they leave US to judge.
He relieved the situation Immediately
by asking the scribes what they were
questioning the disciples about III
they replied, we have no record Of 1t.
They probably were silent having
nothing to say, for their whole object
was diabolical and detestable; 1t could
not stand the light, and they were
silent.
But the father of the boy was not
In his distress he fell at Jesus feet,
begging Him TO do something for the
boy. He told a very pitiful story, which
unfortunately many another father to-
day could repeat, of the terrible afflic-
ton of his son, and, which unfortunate
ly could also be repeated, the failure
of every effort in the past to help him.
He had faith when he came, but the
failure of the disciples had weakened
his faith, so he said. "If Thou canst
do anything to help him, please do it"
Jesus had engaged him in conversation,
for lust after He had told them to
bring him to Him. he had fallen In
another CONFUSION, and one which
seemed more violent than any he had
had previously. In engaging the father
in conversation He took away his atten-
ton from the distressing scene and
began to fix 1T on Him so that He could
help him. AS result Of this CONVEX
sation the desperate father finally said.
IF Thou canst help him, please do
So" t,..r..- -
Before Jesus could help him He had
TO develop this mans faith, so He re-
piled, IF thou canst! If thou canst!
why, all things are possible to him that
believethg'
HOW MADE AVAILABLE.
! The rebuke of Jesus was sufficient to
bring him to his senses; he realized
what a mistake he made and crying out
with tears, he said: Lord, believe
help thou my unbelief." Then Jesus
was able to exercise the power Of God
in his behalf, and not until then. How
different was this mans statement from
the leper; he had said. God, If Thou