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

396 THE MIRACLE OF REPARATION
had wrought no miracles of healing. Perhaps the
resentments aroused by growing persecution had
dried up their compassions and made them less
susceptible channels of healing power.
The exhortation
to forgiveness repeated at the foot of Hermon,
when Jesus was instructing them in the faith which
could save from failure, seems to
imply that tempers
of retaliation were sapping their strength. And as
spiritual power failed, they were tempted to fall back
upon brute-force in furthering their Master's name and
cause.
But the mood of Jesus Himself was unruffled
by the culminating hostility and persecution of the
last three months. He could not regard the worst
men for whom He was to die as mere antagonists to
be fought with, mutilated, and trampled underfoot
The final act of His life as a free citizen was a protest
against the use
of force to avenge wrong and uphold
His cause. The victories of His kingdom must be
achieved by a love whose touch can
bring ease to rankling wounds.
banish pain and
The Malchus miracle did not settle the controversy
between those who fall
flesh and those who would serve
persuasions of a gracious spirit.
back upon the weapons of the
the truth by the fine
Echoes of the dispute
are still heard in our churches as well as in our
Houses of Legislature, and the old issue is being
waged. It is a part of the enduring strife between
the first Adam and the second. We want temporal
kingdoms still, churches not only protected against
persecution but buttressed by force and pampered by
privilege, the veiled sword laid side by side with the
Bible, schools kept by the loot of distraint officers to
serve the policy of petty religious sects, a bouncing