The Madison journal., 1912-11-30
NTERNKTlONAI.
SUNMS(|1|N|
LESSON
LESSON FOR DECEMBER
CBy +. .. SELLERS. Director q, |
ming Department The Moody Bibl.
stitute Of Chicago.)
THE lUNATlC BOY,
.ESSON TEXT-Mark 9:li .

Il
lesson in close connection with
mount of TRANSPORTATION Sorrow
sin, crushed and bleeding hearts
always TO be found at the foot a,
mountains of vision and of priyh,
50 also is to be found human Inn
tence. Let us get the picture. As
little party reaches the base q,
mountain they find an excited nj,
tude surrounding the remaining
ciples who were undergoing a son
of questions propounded to them
the scribes. Arriving in the mil
of this questioning Jesus challens
the scribes by sa! ing, Why pu.ssil
ye them? Before either the scrib1
or the disciples could answer "oDs
the multitude" ". 10 told his s,o
to Jesus. The speaker had brou
his only son, demon-possessed. to
disciples TO be healed. He goes
to tell Jesus the terribleness Of
boys sufferings, and that to his
ter disappointment and anguish
has found that the disciples are
equal to the task of healing. M
inability upon their part gave d
scribes their opportunity and lad
doubtedly raised in the fathers mn
a doubt as to the power OF Jesus
well.
Takes Case in Hand.
Jesus at once takes the case
hand. Rebuke and pity are ming
in His words, 20 faithless generat
how long shall | bear with you
The disciples, the scribes aid the nj
titude, all alike, are involved in
rebuke. All were in greater or I'd
degree faithless. Jesus had been I
their midst performing his migt{
deeds, speaking his marvellous wor1
and manifestiDg his wonderful posa
yet they were without faith u
often the present-day church q
Christian workers stand impotent
lOiC TIC "Oliu SlSdI Accu ucV91
of a lack of faith. How frequG
we miss a blessing because Of
dependence upon some one
makes a failure of faith and p7y&
Jesus was then and always has bs
troubled and distressed at such fails
". 49,. However, the father q
rewarded when, In obedience to
command, he brought his boy 10
sus. The conversation that enU
is interesting and pathetic, one
is too often repeated today. AA
in his deep anguish the father us
IF thou canst do anything, have %
passion on US and help up He ne
by, as all true fathers should, u1
pletely identified himself with bis (
and his sons need. Fewer young y
of today would be demon posses
If their fathers would have idents
themselves more fully with their m
The reply of Jesus forms the ID
en- text. What magnificent respos
this father made, Il believe;
thou mine unbelief." Small wous
that Jesus should again work VI
der of healing.
%. The Masters vIctory-vv. 2eH
The son of man, who had Just BE-
SO wonderfully glorified. again ma
tests to the world his power over
afflicted son of man. The evil
however, never gives up his pose
sion without q struggle. Hence It
that, as the boy Vas brought
to Jesus, the very worst manifs
tions of his malady we're exhibited
somuch, that as the multitude rus1
together to witness his paroxysIn
saw him as the demons left him,
clared the boy to be dead. We
remember how long time the dena
had ruled the boy ". 2D. A
boy once defined a habit as w1
thing hard to break" very true
the longer the habit the harder !
to break. The fathers faith was
but very earnest. II was suino
to cry to Jesus for relief and tnh
always enough. Jesus repeats
mans use Of the word "if' as tno4
to challenge the implied laei
power and at once throws the buI
of responsibility upon the father
was not the question IF" Jesus CO.
heal but rather "if" the father
believe. Realizing his lack the nl'
cried. Help mine unbelief" Tlss
cry as this God always ansse
Quickly avoiding the fast gatns
crowd he takes the boy by the
raises him up and sends him /"
father ON their way.
No father has the right to trsn
his obligations, spiritual or otner
to any organization.
Entering the nearby house tne
ciples set us a good example |"
auiring of Jesus as to the caus
their failure. and he tells them
the great necessity is prayer
are more defeats in the chules
Christ and in the lives OF his ""
ers that can be traced TO A'
prayer than perhaps any otnei
element. These disciples had cas
demons before this. but shris
from fellowship with him In tns
he had foretold MARK s:S2'SS,.
stood condemned before him. ~
less in the fact of a great neea %
condemned by the multitude n,
canst." Success in the work ol
gospel is never conditioned upTT s1a|
ability. but always upon our VIZ
ness. A broken fellowship
smells defeat. Failing here
reproach upon him and 'a s.a" ss