THE KING’S BUSINESS
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restoration preparing Israel for the return of the Lord. Thursday, March 11. Matt. 17:14-21. Peter, carried away by the wonderfulness of the experience of seeing our Lord trans figured before them and of seeing Elijah and Moses come back to speak with Him, had suggested that they remain in the mountain (v. 4). It was well that Peter’s suggestion was not followed; for there was work to do in the valley. The other dis ciples had gotten into difficulties as soon as Jesus was absent, they were in in ex tremity (vs. 14-16) ; but Jesus comes on the scene at this moment of their defeat and distress (cf. Mark 9:14, 16). The moment the father of the demoniac saw the Lord he forsook the disciples, whose help he had been imploring, and runs and kneels to the Lord Jesus. Anyone is wise who turns from even the greatest of our Lord’s dis ciples and representatives to our Lord Him self. Let us get beyond the priests and the preachers. Let us get right to Jesus Him self. The boy sorely needed help. The Devil, through a demon, had tried to do his worst with him (v. 15 cf. Mark 9:17, 18; Luke 9:39). The condition of this boy gives us a hint as to what the condition of this world will be when the Devil is unrestricted. The disciples could not cast out the evil spirit because of their little faith (vs. 19, 20 R. V. cf. Mark 9:28, 29). But this man did not miss the desired blessing because of the Church s failure in faith and prayers for we can do just what this man did, get right to the Lord. Our Lord is disap pointed and grieved over our failures (v. 17 cf. Num. 14:11, 22, 27; Ps. 78 : 6, 8, 22; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:25). There is deep significance in Jesus’ words, “Bring him hither to ME." The demon, though he made a desperate struggle (Mark 9:20-26) was. forced to yield to Jesus. The cure was in stant and complete. Unbelief was the whole secret of the disciples’ failure, and it is the secret of our failures. Nothing is impossi
ble to God and nothing is impossible to the one who is linked to God by a living faith. Friday, March 12. Matt. 17:22-27. Again our Lord announces to His dis ciples His betrayal and death and resurrec tion. They were so dull in understanging Him and so slow of comprehension that it was necessary to announce His death and His resurrection over and over again. He was seeking to prepare them for the event that was so near at hand, but even yet with His repeated announcements, they utterly failed to comprehend what He was talking about (cf. Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:45). As we read these records of how plainly our Lord spoke and yet how utterly even the innermost group of His disciples failed to catch His meaning, it appears incredible to us; but if we will just think of how many Christians today read in the Bible the plainest statements about our Lord’s per sonal, bodily and visible coming again and yet how it never dawns upon them that- He really is coming just as the Scriptures say ; yes, and if we will remember how we once read the plainest statements and never grasped their meaning for years, it will be easy for us to understand the dullness of the disciples. When our Lord reached His home a demand was made upon Him for the temple tax (v. 24). He was under no obligation to pay the temple tax for He was the Son of the King to Whom the temple was dedicated and kings take taxes, not from their own children b u t'from ' strangers. Nevertheless, He paid ttie tax last someone else should misunderstand and be caused to stumble. Here, too, is a lesson for us. The Christian ought not to stand even for what is his unquestionable right, if someone else will be caused to stumble by his standing for his own rights. We have another -illustration of our Lord’s om niscience in His knowing that Peter would find a shekel in the mouth of the fish which he caught. It is a very little thing but it gives us wonderful insight into our Lord’s omniscience and consequent Deity.
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