Question: Please explain “I see men as trees, walking” (Mark 8:24).
Answer: The Lord, for the express purpose, it seems to me, of showing the patience of ministry according to His mind, first touches his eyes, when partial sight follows. The man confesses in reply, that he saw men like trees walking; and the Lord applies His hand a second time. The work is done perfectly. Thus, not only did He heal the blind, but He did it well. If He puts His hand to accomplish, He does not take it away until all is complete, according to His own love. The man then saw with perfect distinctness. Thus all is in season. The double action proved the good Physician; as His acting so effective, whether by word or hand, whether by one application or by two, proved the great Physician.
Question: Is it right to say that the Father hid His face from His Son during the last three hours on the cross (Matthew 27:46)?
Answer: God hid His face from the sin-bearer; but never was the Son more precious to the Father than in those terrible hours. It is not according to the integrity of Scripture to speak of the Father as hiding His face from the Son.
Question: Is it true that Satan now has access into the heavens?
Answer: It is very plain from Romans 12:10, Ephesians 6:12, and other passages, that Satan has access into the heavens. Milton has filled people’s minds with the thought that Satan is confined to hell. He will, ere long, be so confined, but it is only too plain that he is not so now.
Question: How can I become more like the Lord Jesus? It seems that the harder I try to be conformed to Him the more miserably I fall short.
Answer: You are entirely too much occupied with your own state and feelings. Seek to be more simple, to rest like a child in your Father’s love, and stay your soul upon His faithful Word. It is of no possible use to “try” to be this or that. The more you dwell in calm sweet confidence, on the love of Christ—the more you think of Him and feed upon His Word, the more you will grow into His likeness. “We all beholding... are changed” (2 Cor. 3:18). May the Lord keep you, beloved, and make you very sound in His own precious truth! To His own loving pastoral hand we commend you.