Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-03-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
international scssou--Marche3, 100.

international hcssou Marches 100
Number XlI.--Iuke 5:l7-26.
TITLE.-Christ Forglving Sin.
TDptC, -Forgiving the sinful.
OUTblNE.-1. Suffering, vs. II, 1S.
2, Faith VS.. TO- 20.
=, forgiveness, va. 20-26.
GOLDEN TENT.-Who can forgive sins bu
God alone Luke SGT.
CENTRAL TRUTI.-Jcsus Christ forcgivo
the sins of all who come to him by faith.
LESSON CONNECTION.
After the healing of the demoniac III
the svn"gogue given in the lesson two
weeks ago, aud the healing of the multi
tudes that were brought TO him in The
evening, Jesus withdre " from the city
nt Cnpcrnaum and began a preaching
lour of Galilre. His cleansing IL lepet
compelled another withdrawal. Iii,
enemies were on the alert, and it was
his purpose to AVOID them for the pres
ent as much Az possible in order to com.
plete his missionary work. Although
Jesus never refused to heal any of those
afflicted with bodily infirmitirs who
came or we're brought to him, yet
tins was not his mission. His great
work was the healing of spiritual dis
ease, to lift the soul out of the degrade
ton of sin. The great multitude, how
ever, looked only to him as II wonderful
and skillIul healer of physical disease
On this return TO Capernaum the event
OF thus lesson occurred, and it proved to
be one that gave encouragement to the
Great Teacher for the subject desired
not only the healing of bouily disease,
but spiritual health as we'll.
The lime is placed by biblical author
tiles just before the second passover,
and the place is most probably at the
house of Simon Peter in Capprnaum
where Jesus made bis home when in
that city.
There was great multitude inside
and outside the huuse and in the midst
Jesus teaching. Included in the multi
,ude were the scotfiug Pharlspes and
doctors Of the law. who had come from
all paris of Galilee, Judra and Jerusn-
lem: tour men came bearing II paralytic
The incidents of the lesson are intense
ly dramatic Jesus is teaching in the
house; Il paralytc is brought but those
bearing him cannot reach Jesus for the
Ih' y AS I'd the outside steps
To the roof; then ar open the rorf, d
through they ht 'wn the paralytc
ON his mattress, in tro 1t of Jes Is: Jesl S
pI onOunces his sins forgiven; tn re Is
an & the Pharsr, al d
lhey regard Jrs, s rs basphemer; e
answers their reas ming, and enforc s
his answer with IIo miraculous power ;
the man Is kealed il antly, completely
as an incontro, ertibIr proof that Jesus
has the power 10 fors sins; all were
filled with amazvment at the stupenduus
IN ratl.
LESSON SUGG SSTIONS
Sufferlng-Ihe lame of Jesus az a
teacher independent of the ecclesiastical
power at Jerusalem had gone all over
the land and the religious authorities
were alarmed at what they considered
an innovation which threatened their
Influence and power, for the people
Undout dly the Sanhedrm
at Jerusalem had Issued its orders, and
directed the Phariscps and doctors of
the law to keep close watcn upon him,
and report 50 AS to give them II preteNt
critics sat by, and the power of the
Lord was with him to heal. He did
heel whenever opportunity presented.
lie was the great source OF life-hving
aud health restoring-power. Human
leeds can only he supplied through
divine help. There is no other source
for helpless suffering. I lie sufferer who
was brought there by his friends was
paIsied helpless, and they sought to
bring him IN, and TO lay him before
him. Here we nave the sufferer, the
seekers and the Savior, in admirable
illustration of the sinner and the seeker
for pardon through the Savior.
Failh-Ilere is also an illustration Of
sublime faith and confidence IN the
Great Teacher. Not finding by what
way they might bring him IN, ON az
count of the great throng that barred
entrance To the house, they went up TO
the house top, tore open the roof, and
let him down. Would they have gone
to SO much trouble, if they lacked con
tidence and faith i'll Jesus as IA Healer !?
Or, if they had any doubt, that he could
not help ,heir friend, would they have
thought of such IL method of reaching
Jesus: But when they found the ap.
proach obslrucled, they devised some
other expedicnt by which to overcome
the difficulty. They succeeded and
their faith WAS abundantly rewarded.
The desired object was attained, not
" outstanding the obstructing crowd
that besieged the door. Their purpose
was fully accomplished in getting the
sufferer in the presence of Jesus, and
they knew that he would do the lest.
They trusted implicitly in him. Jesus
saw their faith. the faith of those who
brought the sufferer he saw the faith
Of the paralytlc united with that of his
friends lie saw more; he saw IA yearning
in the paralytic for spiritual AS well AS
physical cure. He saw in all the circum
stances surrounding this case, faith filled
souls, faith discerning eyes, faith. hon "
ing acts, and this was rewarded with
Forgiveness-Man, thy sins are for
given thee. Deep down in the heart of
the helpless creature before him Jesus
saw strong trust and faith; he had seen
the faith of the friends who had brought
him. This faith was sufficient to be
rewarded with the blessing
of Jesus, for he only forgave sins as the
one desiring pardon believed. His
spiritual suffering from sin was swal-
lowed up in pardon and peace, in holi-
ness and heaven. The Pharisees were
astonished. In their unbelief they
him with blasphemy, at the
same time acknowledging his divinity