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

404 THE MIRACLE OF REPARATION
compromising blow. Jesus forgave this mistaken
partisanship as He also forgave
the renegade denials
and blasphemies by which it was so quickly succeeded.
But, for the present, Simon Peter was a
victim of impulse, unable to trust in that temporal
salvation made sure for the apostles through the
healing of the wounded slave. Forgiveness for the
dire blunders of the past is extended to us no less
than to this offending apostle. Do not look upon any
error or infirmity as closing up the path of your future
usefulness, and stripping your life of its most sacred
promise. Jesus is a sympathising high priest, and
makes amends for your unwatchfulness and error as
He wrought this Malchus miracle in token of the fact
that the cause of His kingdom had not been finally
lost by the sword of a militant apostle.
Let us work on in the sure confidence that to the
wrongs wrought by an imperfect Church, gracious
and gentle counteractions are secretly set up in the
souls of men by the Lord who redeemed them.
The disciple is pitiably fallible, but above him there
stands unseen the infallible and ever-working Master.
We are inclined to despair when the seamy side of
Church life comes into view, and those whom we
desire to reconcile to Christ
have ugly experiences of
the things a professor of religion can sometimes do.
In the name of the Church and of our common
Christianity courses of action are sometimes taken,
which make us sick at heart and tempt us to say,
" Continued work is useless. We will bring our
activities to a close. Such a departure from the
Christian standard forecloses all hope of success."
Cherish no such gloomy views, and do no such