The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-11-28

wi uisoppoihtmeht anu anguish ne
has found that the disciples are not
equal to the task OF healing. This
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 Case In Hand.
Jesus at once takes the case In
hand. Rebuke and pity are mingled
In His words, 20 faithless generation,
how long shall I bear with you,"
The disciples, the scribes and the null
utude. all alike. are involved In his
rebuke. All were In a 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 q lack OF faith. How frequently
We miss a blessing because OF our
dependence upon some one who
makes a failure OF faith and prayer.
Jesus was then and always has been
troubled and distressed at such failure
". 49,. However, the father was
rewarded when, In obedience to the
command. he brought his boy to Je-
sus. The conversation that ensued
10 interesting and pathetic. one that
is too often repeated today. At last
in his deep anguish the father cried.
III thou oanst do anything. have COM
passion on US and help up" He there
by, as all true fathers should. com
pletely Identified himself with his son
and his sons need. Fewer young men
OF today would be demon. possessed
II their fathers would have identified
themselves more fully with their boys.
The reply OF Jesus forms the gold
en- text What a magnificent response
this father made, Il believe: help
thou mine unbelief" Small wonder
that Jesus should again work a won
der OF healing.
u. The Masters vIetory-vv. ao2s.
The son OF man, who had just been
so wonderfully glorihed. again mani
tests to the world his power over an
afflicted son OF man. The evil one,
however. never gives up his posses
sion without a struggle. Hence IL was
that. as the boy was brought near
to Jesus, the very worst manifesto
tions OF his malady were exhibited. In
somuch, that as the multitude rushed
together to witness his paroxysm and
saw him as the demons left him. de-
clared the boy to be dead. We must
remember how long time the demons
had ruled the boy ". 2D. A small
boy once defined a habit as some
thing hard to break" very true. and
10 break. The fathers faith was small
but very earnest. II was sufficient
TO cry to Jesus for relief and that Ia
always enough. Jesus repeats the
mans use OF the word ''if' as though
to challenge the implied lack OF
power and at once throws the burden
OF responsibility upon the fatherH II
was not the question ''if'' Jesus could
heal but rather ~ the father could
believe. Realizing his lack. the father
cried, Help mine unbelief." IT'S such
a cry as this God always answers.
Quickly avoiding the fast gathering
crowd he takes the boy by the hand.
raises him up and sends him TO his
father on their way.
No father has the right to transfer
his obligations. spiritual OF otherwise.
TO any organization.
Entering the nearby house the dis
ciples set US q good example by In
curing OF Jesus as to the cause OF
their failure, and he tells them that
the great necessity is prayer. There
are more defeats In the church Of
Christ and In the lives OF his follow
ers that can be traced to a lack OF
prayer than perhaps any other one
element. These disciples had cast out
demons before this. but. shrinking
from fellowship with him In the death
he had foretold MARK s:32-3S), they
stood condemned before him, power
less In the fact OF great need. and
condemned by the multitude.