The National tribune., 1889-01-17
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

indicated above.l
SUBJECT: CHRIsT's CURE OF THE PARALYTIo
MAN BORNE BY Four.
We now study the seventh specific miracle
performed by our Savior; the fourth of restora-
tion from disease; the first case of recovery
from palsy. This miracle in special shows the
need of the well and strong helping the weak
the duty of the Church to aid sinners.
l. Data.
This miracle is recorded not only by St.
Mark, but also by SITS. Matthew and Luke.
(See st. Matt, 2-S and st. Luke 5: 1926
The principal account is given in St Marks
Gospel. SITS. Matthew and Mark probably wrote
at Rome, and st. Luke at Achaia. The records
were made not far from the year SO, A. D., or
about So years after the events occurred. In
studying the Gospels one should have good
harmony and carefully read all the accounts
given, noticing simiIarites and differences in
the records.
q Time.
The miracle we study took place in the year
p, A. DIN the SD year of Christ's life and
| the 18th month of the second year of his min
istry, 1862 years ago. In verse l we learn it
was after some days" We would think it
some days after he cured the leper. (St. Mark,
4O-45.) The days are those referred to in
/ 80, or the time elapsing from Christs de-
parture from Capernaum and his return thither.
st. Mark, / 80. gives his exit, and, 81, his
| cuIIy again. 10 the words aIGer some days
add had interviewed. 1t is thought Christ COM
peed his first circuit of Galilee by weeks
absence from Capernaum.
8. Place
The miracle on the paralytic man took place
in Capernaum. (Y. H. That was Christ's own
city. Compare st. Matt, 9:1 with IL: 49,
| The cure was performed in a house. 1t was
probably the residence of st. Peter. (St. Matt,
| g: ID; St. Mark, :29; st. Luke, 4: 50; st.
! AToAH y
with fat roofs. In the center of the roof
square. large aperture was left, which went
| down through the entire house. From the bot
! tom OF said aperture persons could look up
! through the center of the house to the skies
At the base of the aperture was solid pave
ment. Sometimes from the center of the paved
floor a fountain poured forth its waters. Around
the pavement next to the walls were flowers
and shrubs in artificial vessels. Persons on the
roof were protected from failing through the
aperture TO the pavement below by railing
! (balustrade, balcony, breastWork parapet),
| built about the opening. All the rear
| doors of the rooms led into the central
court. Indeed the house was Square, built
around the middle opening. There was but
one door from the front. The first room, en-
| tered and reaching from the door to the central
| pavement, was the porch From said porch as
| Cended stairs to the roof. If the house were
two stories high there was gallery around
| the aperture in the center, and all the rooms
of the second floor opened in the rear into said
| gallery. In city where the houses were
crowded the roofs Joined, so that persons could
go long distance on the housetops Over
each aperture in the roofs an awning was at
times drawn to protect from heat or rain. The
1 roof was made of burnt clay, formed into slabs
or tiles. The aperture in the roof could be
called an opening III the tiles, and hence the
word tiling" in St. Luke, 5 10. They let
the man down tbraTI arartIfra IF he ti1ad
roof. To uncover the roof was to remove the
| awning over the central opening. 1T" in
verso of st. Marks account, may refer to the
railing around the central opening of the roof
1t would be difficult to lift the man over that.
To make it easier they may have, been obliged
to break an opening through the balustrade.
/ The crowd was great and the four men bear
| ing the paralytic may have entered the porch
OF q neighbOring house, ascending to its roof
| and passing along until they reached the OPEN
| ing below where were Christ and the crowd.
| Verse OF st. Marks account shows the porch
/ to St. Peters house was too full to admit the
four mep with their burden. Into the midst"
verse 10 of st. Luke's report, means into the
middle of the house; to wit, through the CEN
trail opening. Perhaps the men had ropes to
i the four corners of the mat bearing the sick
man. and so let him down; or the room may
| have been so low they could, by holding to the
corners of the mat, let him down sufficiently.
h.
| says: The roof is only few feet high, and
by STOPPING down and holding the corners of
the couch-merely thickly-padded quilt as
at present in this region-they could let down
the sick man without any ropes or cords to as
sist them"
Kitto "aupposes that Jesus stood in the
crowded gallery and addressed the multitude
that densely filed the court below. The bear
ers of the paraiytic, ascending the stairs near
the end of the court mounted the stairs lead
ing to the roof. As the gallery had but a slight
covering, the man was easily let down by its
removal"
Trench gives another idea worthy of thought:
at is impossible to read the words of st.
| Mark, otherwise than as saying that portion
| of the actual roof was removed, and SO the bed
on which the palsied man lay letdown before
| the Lord. This will not seem so strange, if
only we keep in mind, that it was in all like
/ ihood an upper chamber where were assem-
/ bled those that were drawn together to hear
/ the Lord. This, as the most retired y Kin, 1
| 10; Acts, 8: 81, and probably the largest room
in the house, extending oftentimes over its
/ whole area, WAS much used for such purposes as
| that which now drew him and his hearers to-
| gether." (Aets, L 10; 20:8.)
The whole affair" says Dr. Thomson, was
! the extemporaneous device of plain peasants,
! accustomed to open their roofs and let down
grain, straw and other articles, as they still do
/ in this country
4. The Patient.
| The paralytic's name is unknown. lie had
| a home and lived in Capernaum. lie was an
adult st. Luke, 20) but youthful, and hence
| sou in ST. Mark, 2: s. He was utterly un-
| able to help. himself. He had friends. -Four
of these bore him on COUGH or mat from his
| home to the roof of ST. Peters house and let
| him down through the central opening to the
| spot where Christ was preaching He was
sinner. Perhaps the afflicted man was the
more conscious of his sin from the fact it was
perhaps the real cause of his malady. Possibly
the disease could be easily traced to his disco
| luteness. Perhaps the idea of his sin was up
permost in the mind of the patient and this
may be the reason why Christ at once referred
to the sins of the man and was quick to relieve
| him of the burden. He was addressed by Christ
not buntly nor chidingly, but endearingly-
! son." He was Immediately encouraged by
our Savior to expect cure. He was FASHIONED of
sin. After little depression (episode)-a cruel
delay caused NY the Scribes and Pharisees-he
was cured of disease. He arose, took his bed
or mat, goriied God, worked his way out
from the crowd, and returned to his home. He
probably had faith in Christ's willingness and
power to cure, rs did the four men who carried
| him to the roof.
g. The -Four Bearers.
They had faith, Est. Mark, 2: 81 They were