The Red Cloud chief., 1912-11-28
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlNSC[lOOL
LESSON
by T.. o. SELLERS. Director Of Eve.
ming Department Tho Moody Bible In'
stitute OF Chicago.)
LESSON FOR DECEMBER
THE lUNATlC BOY.


LESSON TExT-Mark 9:1i-29.
GOLDEN TExT--"And Jesus said unite
him, II thou canst! All things are posi-.
bio to him that believcth." 9:23 II.
I. The Disciples Fallure--vv. 14.1o
Each of the Evangelists places this
lesson in close connection with the
mount OF TRANSPORTATION. Sorrow and
sin, crushed and bleeding hearts, arc
always to be found at the foot Of our
mountains of vision and OF privilege.
30 also is to be found human impo.
;ence. Let us get the picture. As the
little party reaches the base Of the
mountain they find an excited multi
.ude surrounding the remaining dis
.iples who were undergoing series
" questions propounded to them by
he scribes. Arriving In the midst
" this questioning Jesus challenged
he scribes by saying. why question
70 them?" Before either the scribes
,r the disciples could answer, "one OF
the multitude" ". ~ told his story
20 Jesus. The speaker had brought
ais only son, demon. possessed, to the
disciples to be healed. He goes or
70 tell Jesus the terribleness of the
boys sufferings. and that to his bit.
ter disappointment and anguish he
aas found that the disciples are not
equal to the task of healing. Thii
inability upon their part gave the
Scribes their opportunity and had un'
doubtedly raised in the fathers mind
doubt as to the power OF Jesus as
we'll.
Takes Gaze In Hand.
Jesus at once takes tho case IL
hand. Rebuke and pity are mingled
in Ills words, 20 faithless generation
how long shall ] bear with you?"
Tho disciples, the scribes and the mul.
titude, all alike, arc involved in his
rcbuke. All were In greater or less
degree faithless. Jesus had been in
their midst performing his mighty
deeds, speaking his marvellous words.
and manifesting his wonderful power,
yet they were without faith. Full
often the present-day church and
Christian workers stand impotent be
fore the worlds great need because
Of lack of faith. How frequently
We miss a blessing because Of our
dependence upon some one who
makes q failure OF faith and prayer.
Jesus was then and always has been
troubled and distressed at such failure
InWavop tho futhov MN q
rewarded when. in obedience to the
command. he brought his boy to Je
sus. The conversation that ensued
ts interesting and pathetic, one that
ls too often repeated today. At last
In his deep anguish the father cried
III thou canst do anything. have com
passion on us and help up" He there
by, as all true fathers should, com
pletely identified himself with his Sol
and his sons need. Fewer young mel
Of today would be demon-possesset
II their fathers would have identified
themselves more fully with their boys
The reply of Jesus forms the gold
en- text. What a magnificent respons,
this father made. II believe; hell
thou mine unbelief." Small wonde
that Jesus should again work O won
der Of healing.
u. The Masters vletory-vv. 2o-2s.
Tho son of man. who had Just beel
10 wonderfully glorifled. again mani
tests to the world his power over al
afflicted son Of man. The evil one
however, never gives up his posses
sion without o struggle. Hence 1t wa
that, rs tho boy was brought nea
to Jesus. the very worst manifesto
tons of his. malady were exhibited. In
somuch. that as the multitude rushe,
together to witness his paroxysm an,
saw him as the demons left him. dc
clared the boy to be dead. We mus
remember how long time the demon
had ruled the boy ". 2D. A small
boy once defined a habit as "somc
thing hard to break" very true. an,
the longer the habit the harder 1t 4
to break. The fathers faith was small
but very earnest. It was sufIicien
to cry to Jesus for relief and that 4
always enough. Jesus repeats tn
mans use of the word "if' as thoug
to challenge the implied lack O
power and Mt once throws the burde
of responsibility upon the father? !
was not the question 1T" Jesus coul
heal but rather "if' the father coul
believe. Realizing his lack. the fathe
,ried. Help mine unbellef." IT'S sue
cry as this God always answers
Quickly avoiding the fast gatherin
crowd he takes the boy by the hant
raises him up and sends him to hi
father on their way.
No father has the right to transfs
his obligations, spiritual or otherwis
to any organization.