XVI. A WORK OF FAITH by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 16, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 33.

XVI. A WORK OF FAITH.

By Editor

Healing of an Epileptic.

WE will find the record in Mark 9:14-27, and the parallel passages are in Matthew 17 and Luke 9. It occurred near the Mount of Transfiguration, which some think to be Hermon.

ON coming down from the mountain, Jesus finds several of His disciples perplexed and humbled, surrounded by a multitude. As Jesus came near, the multitude pressed toward Him. Jesus asked them what questions were between them and the disciples. He was answered by one of the multitude who said: "Master, I brought unto Thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit; have mercy, for he is mine only child, he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; and wheresoever it [the spirit] taketh him, it dasheth him down; and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away; and I spake to Thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able."

WHAT a pitiful case it was! Many of us have seen similar. Epilepsy is a dread malady, which, if continued, ends in the destruction of the intellectual powers, and a constant weakening of will and purpose. Modern medical science has done something, and it has been said that cases have been cured by relieving the brain of skull pressure, or piercing the brain repeatedly with a very fine needle. In this case an evil demon had seemed to take advantage of the poor soul, and to hold him in abject slavery; and the father's hopes were trampled in the dust by the raving of his son. Aretæus, a physician of Luke's day is said to have admitted that the disease may be produced by demoniacal agency. It was formerly called by physicians "the sacred disease," doubtless referring to the part of demon possession and its manifestations.

THE disciples were humiliated; that is, those who remained at the foot of the mountain. When Jesus and Peter and James and John had tarried in the mount, the people came to the disciples who had not gone with them, and the needy man asked healing for his son. What a type he met of the church to-day! The Master is in the "far country," waiting the time of His return. He has left His church here to represent Him, to give light to the world, to bring blessing to the multitude, relief to the souls that need healing. But in so many cases is it again said, "They were not able."

THE disciples who were with Jesus in the mount did not appreciate their lesson. When the glory shone upon them, they wished to build and abide there. Jesus saw the suffering one waiting below, and encouraged by the heavenly vision and the voice of His Father, approving His work, He descends with renewed zeal to help the poor lost world.

JESUS felt it all. He knew heaven was full of blessings and open to all earth's needs; God's Word, which that people possessed, was full of promises, verified over and over in Israel's history. What wonder that He groaned, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you?" Yet would He not turn away from the afflicted lad and the burdened father.

"BRING him hither to Me." And they brought him. But as they brought him, the tormenting demon makes one more effort to destroy, if possible and forever, before the very eyes of the Deliverer the boy He would deliver. And so the spirit "tore him grievously." Yet Jesus stops and asks, "How long time is it since this hath come unto him?" And the father replies, "From a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." And all the time the boy lay on the ground in pitiful convulsions.

"IF Thou canst;"—Jesus echoed the father's unbelief,—"All things are possible to him that believeth." He pitied the father. There was reason for his lack of faith. It had been helped none by his association with God's professed people, nor by the disciples of the great Healer; and he judged the Teacher by His disciples. But when he thought that his son's salvation depended on his faith, not in humanity, but in God's power, he cried out in complete surrender, "I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." And then the Master rebuked the unclean demon, "Come out of him, and enter no more into him." One last convulsion that the lad's life might go out with him, and the demon obeyed, leaving the child so seemingly dead, that "the more part said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose." "And they were all astonished at the majesty of God."

THE Stronger One had again met the strong man and spoiled his house. The Majesty of God did not humble and quail before the power of the enemy. Faith, the faith of Jesus, brought the mighty power of God, triumphant over all the powers of the enemy. It again taught the lesson that the heart believing God, yielded to God, open to all the power of God, could receive according to all its needs. Once more, too, the assurance is given that the eventual victory over all the power of evil rests with Christ and those who trust Him. The disciples were made to understand that their power did not rest on nominal discipleship or appointment. Faith like a grain of mustard seed—there is no doubt in faith—was better than any nominal place or office; and faith against the direct power of the devil can only be exercised by hearts humbled by a sense of need, filled by the power of God in answer to prayer. Is your belief marred by doubt; seek God for simple faith.