[b]The demon was gone![/b](J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Mark" 1857)"She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter." Mark 7:26"And when she arrived home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone!" Mark 7:30This passage is meant to encourage us to pray for others. The woman who came to our Lord, in the history now before us--must doubtless have been in deep affliction. She saw her beloved child possessed by a demon. She saw her in a condition in which no teaching could reach the mind, and no medicine could heal the body; a condition only one degree better than death itself. "She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter." She prays for one who could not pray for herself, and never rests until her prayer is granted. By prayer she obtains the cure which no human means could obtain. Through the prayer of the mother--the daughter is healed. On her own behalf that daughter did not speak a word; but her mother spoke for her to the Lord, and did not speak in vain. Hopeless and desperate as her case appeared, she had a praying mother--and where there is a praying other--there is always hope.Fathers and mothers are especially bound to remember the case of this woman. They cannot give their children new hearts. They can give them Christian education, and show them the way of life; but they cannot give them--a heart to love God. Yet there is one thing they can always do--they can pray for them. They can pray for the conversion of profligate sons, who will have their own way, and run greedily into sin. They can pray for the conversion of worldly daughters, who set their affections on things below, and love pleasure more than God. Such prayers are heard in heaven. Such prayers will often bring down blessings. Never, never let us forget that the children for whom many prayers have been offered, seldom finally perish. Let us pray more for our sons and daughters. Even when they will not let us speak to them about true religion, they cannot prevent us speaking for them to God."She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter." Mark 7:26"And when she arrived home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone!" Mark 7:30
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
This is an excellent excerpt from J. C. Ryle, especially for parents with wayward children.
I certainly have been enjoying the J.C. Ryle snippets you have been posting lately. This one really spoke to me. Thanks for taking the time to post these Greg.
_________________TJ
Ryle is becoming like a spiritual grandfather to me. Thank God, for the Lord's kindness in giving us Ryle's writings. Thanks, Greg.