The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-13
Sunday-school Lesson for Jan. go.

Sunday-School Lesson for Jan. go.
Golden Text-As soon as He had spoken, i'm
mediately the leprosy departed from him, and he
was cleansed.-Mark, l, AZ.
Mon.-Healing the leper- Mark /, 3545
Tues--Naaman healed --..----2 Kings V, 81
Wednes.-The ten lepers. Luke xvii, 11-19
Thurs--The law of cleansing. Low. xiv, 21-32
Fri.-The testimony ofmiracles. Matt xi, 1-6
sat-Cleansng from sim IL John !, 5-1O
Sun.-Prayer for sOul-cleansing- Psalms Ii, lis
New York Independent
HEALING OF THE LEPER-MARK j, 3545.
Desert Place"-The lake of Gennesaret
was remarkable for its contrast of active
desert and retired places that Jesus found
his opportunity for prayer. And Simon
followed after him." Peter is
now getting to be prominent, and leads the
search. They feared lest something had
happened to him or that the benefcent
teacher was leaving the region. At any
rate, Christ seems to have had the start go.
ing alone. "All are seeking thee"
All who had been healed the
day before, those who wished to
friends. Next towns" Country towns
the unwalled villages in the neighbOrhOod.
Game i forth" This would be a lnyster-
io9s expression were it not qqallfied IN
to take the '.alls' literally. This would be
missionary tour of most oppressive work.
at this time Galilee had over 100000
people. JOsephus says there were 2Q tOMps~
of over Is 900 Inhabitants. There were about
1000 square miles to be travelled over.
Christ probably went t9 the central and
important towns aIa villages, as Moody is
said to make the tour of the Western States
when he visits fand holds meetings in the
principal citifs within reach of all smaller
villages ana, hamlets. "A leper'-The
most horrible and loathsome disease that
infested the jews. 1t was q living death.
1t is foul decay that eats through tissues;
bones, to ting very marrow: Many hold
that this disease is incommunicable by con-
tact Brtthe contagion in SO many ways ways
from the victim. Among the Sandwich
Islands one hospital island is set
apart for sufferers from this scourge: Lep-
rosy is incurabie. "Kneeling down"-This
courteous salutation. such as an inferior
pays one of higher rank. Say nothing to
any manifest the validity of the cure be
denied by the priests or the city, proclaim
Christ temporal king: Show thyself to
formed after "a careful examination would
be the best popular proof of the efficiency
of the miracle. Jesus kept the law even of
ceremonial particulars.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
In spite of the exhaustion of the previous
day, He began this day early, when ii was
still night, with prayer. Ut is wise thing
TO begin the days work early at any rate,
but 10 begin it early with solitary prayer is
divine wisdom. The more varied and active
life is the more necessary for recuperatlon
retirement becomes A chance for unin-
terrupted thought and prayer must be
had. Sleep invigorates, but our best
strength will come from these solitary
sweet hours of prayer" But don't put off
prayer until this prOpitiOus opportunity is
fOund. If you do 1T never viii come. Any
81 Con. not
All are seeking Thee" That is the popu-
lar movement along the line to-day. 1t is
healthful that it should be SO. even if it
does not always appear IN familiar stereO-
typed methods. Christ can be sought by
every science, every. beauty, every sweet
sound, every thought. that expand the
whole man and urge him TO aspire. Christ
had reason for coming forth from the Faith
er. The impulse that leads to Christ is the
searching for life. What am | born fOr?'
What am / to dot" are questions that he
who has found the Master is bound to ask.
Salvation saves from laZiness and aimless-
ness as well as spiritual degeneracy.
LeprOsy, as far as science knows, is in
never ask medical aid; They know their
case is hopeless. This leper was a
brilliant exception. So sin, of ali dis
cases. is incurable by man. Your
He who is above all and in all can alone eff
feet that miraculous cure and give the
cleanliness that all need. A physicians
cure depends on his own fitness and that of
his tools. Christ's cure depends on His will
combined with the fitness of His patients.
Christ can cure sin instantaneOusly by
eradicating the roots of the disease. A
change possesses one Immediately. though
it may not express itself fully at once. Zeal
should be thoughtfully directed in accord
ance with the best intelligence. Foolish,
misdirected enthusiasm for good does a
great deal of harm.