The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

THE MIRACLE OF REPARATION 395
quick of His pride and sting Him into revenge.
The
last act of the unbound hand is to render good for
evil by its
mystic touch, as the first word, when cords
are exchanged for nails, is one imploring forgiveness.
Jesus is not dependent upon His outward
associations for the inspiration of His high motive
for endowments of healing power. If He could forgive
the slave whose heel was planted for the
moment upon His neck, will He not forgive those
who lie in contrition at His feet
This incident is typical and represents two rival
principles which are seeking to assert themselves in
human history. The disciples of Jesus seek to deal
with men by a rude law of justice according to their
deserts ;
whilst Jesus seeks to deal with them according
to the riches of His grace and by the gentlest arts
of persuasion. Simon Peter believed that the sword
was the best remedy for wrong, but Jesus believed
that healing sympathy which undid the mischief
of the sword was the only effectual cure. This was
the last struggle of a half-regenerate apostle for an
earthly kingdom in which his Lord was to reign.
or
The
hasty matter-of-fact man had armed himself, perhaps
at the cost
of his raiment, because he mistook similitude
and hyperbole for solemn counsel. Recent
experiences of hostility had ripened him for
the error. Martial tempers had been rekindled by
the thickening wrongs of the last few weeks, and at
length burst into flames amidst the indignities
which succeeded to the agony of the garden.
Zeal to redress wrong by the traditional methods
was widening the breach between the Twelve and
he Master. For some time past the disciples