The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-01-19
HEALING OF TIE LEPER.
LESSON III, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JAN. 20.
Text of the Lesson, Mark |, 3J-io-Com-
nit Verses 40, 4I-Goldcn Text. Mark
L. 1e-Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.

4, 52-Commentary by the lev. IL. N.
Stearns.
Compiled fron, Lesson Helper Quarterly, by
permission OF IL ) Hoffman. publisher ihila
delphia
IS. And in the morning, rising mp great
while before day, He went cut, and departed
into solitary place, and there prayed"
And so we find i'm again at the close OF this
lesson, after healing TIE leper; lie with
drew Himself into the wilderness and
prayed" duke V, lG., When the Lord sent
Ananias to Saul Of Tarsus He said concern
ing him, Behold he prayethn tActs TX, Ii;
but what are we to say OF this man, the Lord
Himself, who is ever going to some lonely
place to pray, sometimes continuing oil
night, and sometimes rising up before day.
Luke speaks of seven different occasions on
which He is found praying luke iii, 81; V,
10; Vi, l.; TX, IS, 20; xi, !; xxi, Al, 40,
but if ever man prayed without ceasing
it WAS this Man, and if ever man
needed not to pray, we would thi4k
it was this Man, for He was God
manifest III the flesh Now if lie found it
necessary to be alone and in communion
with His Father in Heaven SO much; if lie
deemed it more important than rest for the
body what conclusion can we come to, but
sensible of our need nor very intimately &c
quainted with our Father in Lleavenl y su-
preme and all consuming desire to know the
love and power of God and walk in fellow
ship with Him as His faithful representatives
here on earth would sure Y send US to our
knees and on our faces before God moro
often and more earnestly; if we have it not,
let Us seek till We obtain il. that we may be
more like Jesus and more in sympathy with
Him i'll seeking lost souls.
36. ''SimoiI, ard they that were with Him,
followed after Him. Not to pray with Him,
but to find Him for those who were seeking
Him. Il is practical and pertinent question
for those who have found Jesus and are saved
hy Him, do | now seek HIM and walk with
Hila that | may be happy, or that may
learn through Him to win others to Him that
they too may be blessedln The last is surely
the highest aim, bat the self in US is more apt
TO seek personal blessing than to be bless
ing TO others. Jesus pleased not Himself, nor
sought His own VIII or glory; Oh, to be more
like Him.
81. when they had found Him they said
unto lin, all seel, for Thee Seeing that
lie had power over devils and disease, that
He healed all freely and spoke such wonder
full words and with sach authority, they were
irrcsistibly drawn to Him; bat il they had
only known who He really was does it not
seem rs if they would have worshiped
Him in truth' The disciples, not finding Linn
in the house VIXEN they rose III the morning,
went out and sought TIL they found Him.
Do we thus seei, HIM in the early morning3
IS. And lie said unto them, let Us go into
tie next towns that | may preach there also,
fer therefore came | FORTH In Luke iv, IS,
lie says, Il must preach the Kingdom of God
to other cities also, for therefore am | sent"
In verses II, - of this chapter it is written
that He breaches that the Kingdom of God
was at hand, and that they should repent and
believe the gospel. The time being fulfilled,
Ic had come to set up tie kingdom. spoken of
in Dan. ii, 4, and elsewhere; these miracles
which lie wrought were lis credentials, as
TIE prophets had foretold Isa. xxxv, 5, G; Xxi,
y; He must make it known in all Israel, for
He came forth from tie Father, sent by Him
as son of David, son Of Abraham, according
to Matthews gospel, and as tie servant
Of God, according to this gospel
80. And lie preach d in their synaGogues,
throughout all Calico, and cast out devils"
Matthew says that lie preached tie gospel Of
the kingdom and healed all manner Of sick
ness and disease (,fatt ", 90. What king
don it VIII be when the devil and all his de-
mons are cast out forever, when the inhabit-
ant shall no moro say Il am sci.," when
there shall be no more death, nor pain, nor
! sorrow, for He, this same Jesus, shall have
subJucd all things unto Himself, and the in
heritauce lost through Adams sin shall be
moro than restored through Jesus Christ
Hallelujah. what Saviourl do let US
spread abroad HIS fame.
10 And there came n leper to Him, be-
see@hing Lin, ana Enceling down to Him"
Matthew says that it was when He came
down from the mountain that this laper
came to Him (natt. viii, l, p Luke says
that the man was full of lcprosy, and that
he fell Oh his face and besou5ht Him (Luko
Y, II. \ poor outcast, Shut away from
home and kindred fu!l Of this most loath-
some Of al diseases that sinful flesh
seems heir to, an utterly hopeless
case a. far as human help is con-
ccrned, doomed to a lingering death
/ by a slow but sure decay OF the whole body
ko makes bold to come near to this man with
the wonderful power, for whether it was by
hearing the sermon on the Mount or by
seeing or hearing OF some OF the miracles of
/ healing which jesus had wrought, he las
/ some way become possessed Of such faith in
Linn that he cries: Lord, if Thou wilt
Thou canst make me clean" Matt. viii .;
1 Lake V, ID He is sure that Jesus has tho
power to cleanse him; he has firm faith as to
that matter and So he just casts himself at
Jesus feet, virtually saying: Lord, if
rise up again Il lcpe!, it is because YOU refuse
to heal nc, for believe YOU are more than
man, ard can heal RE If You only Will; So
cast myself on your mercy"
Al. And Jesus moved with compassion,
PIT forth lis hand and touched him, and
saith unto him, | will; he thou clean" Five
times in the Psalms the Lord IS said to be
full OF compassion, rs. lxxvlii, 50; lzxxvi, Is;
I cxi, 4 cyii, 4 cxlv, 8; the same word being
translated ''Inercifuf il eight other places,
the FIRST Of winch is TX. zx1iy, g. where we
4 learn tie Eamo OF the Lord; and be boinc,
fun OF compassion, could not help having
/ compassion on this Icper. He even puts forth
! His hand and touches hlm, for He IS not
/ afraid; bat best OF all, He SAYS Il will.n O
! hat thrill Of joy indescribable must have
4 gone through and through this poor man.
-. AS sool as lie had spoken, inmedi-
Gteiy the lcprosy departed from him and he
I was cleaned" With the word came tho
I health, and instantly the man was whole
1 IS, ~. sec thou say nothing to any man.
+ TIC reason OF this charge and the result of
4 the mans GisObeying ii is seen III the next
+ verse. ''Sacw thyseif to the priestn Jesus
4 did not come to destroy but to fulfill the law.
+ -. Jesus would 10 more openly enter
i into the city, but was without III desert
! Places THIS was the result of the mans
+ blazing abroad the matter On, for thou
sands Of such publishers Of glad tidings as this
+ lepcr; then would the Gospel soon lie
preached to every creature and the glorious
! kingdom come. We are commanded to tell
/ it to every creature, bat from the conduct Of
/ Christians generally we might suppose they
/ Ead received the command given - this lcler
and were diligently o1eymg it.
They came TO linn from every quarter >
/ Only let Us hold up Jesus IN ali LIS Ioyc.i-
ness, AMI PEOPLE VIII como TO Lima today, for
lie has said, Il, if | DO lifted up lrol! tie
earth, VIII draw all men unto me-