| Finding the Way |
Chapter 11 |
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“I am able” is the only fit reply to make to every command and requirement of Christ. James and John did not know what they were saying, but they faltered not. Their answer showed courage, the courage of the soldier. Soldiers never say “I cannot.” They know only to obey. The answer of these men also implied love for their Master. They were ready to suffer anything for His sake. What it would cost them to stand close to Him they did not know, but whatever the cost would be they were ready to pay it. It was also the answer of faith. They knew that Jesus was the Messiah. What Messiahship meant they did not know. They had indeed most confused ideas upon the subject. Yet they believed in Him. There always are those who have their difficulties with Christian doctrine. They cannot understand the teachings concerning the person and work of Christ. Yet they may cling to Him and follow Him ignorantly, loyal to the uttermost, as James and John did. Some day all will become clear. One of our poets makes an Oriental who had been listening to Jesus of Nazareth, utter these strong words–
“If Jesus Christ is a man,
And only a man–I say
That of all mankind I will cleave to Him,
And to Him will I cleave always.
“If Jesus Christ is a god–
And the only God–I swear
I will follow Him through heaven and hell,
The earth, the sea, and the air.”
“I am able” is always the motto for Christian faith. Faith deals with the unseen and invisible. We never know what we are engaging to do when we pledge ourselves to follow Christ unto the end. When Abraham was called, he went out, not knowing whiter he went. In every life there are experiences of darkness. When we come up to the edge of things we dread, the Master asks, “Are ye able to drink My cup?” That is, “Are you able to follow Me through this trial, this sorrow, this mystery of pain, this great sacrifice?” We must remember that the richest blessings of grace lie beyond experiences of pain. The question of the measure of blessing and good we are to receive is ofttimes another way of putting the question, whether we can pay the price or not. “Can you drink the cup which I am about to drink?” If we cannot, the blessing is beyond our reach. If these two men had said, “No; we are not able to drink the cup with Thee,” what would they have missed? There are many who do miss life’s highest and best blessings because they cannot accept the condition. It should help our faith and courage in time of sore questioning to remember that it is the Master’s cup we are to drink, and that we are to drink it not alone, but with Him. Surely we can drink any cup with Him.
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