The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-17
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 81.
Lesson Text: GA Sabbath In Caper-
naum." Mark l., 21-3fGolden
Text: Mark l., 22-Com-
mentary.

mentary.
q. "And they went into Capernaum, and
straightway on the Sabbath day He entered
into the synagogue and taught" This les
son probably comes In order after the call OF
the four from mendinR their nets, etc.
rather than after the call from the draft Of
fishes. but let us see Jesus. and the order OF
events may not matter so much. Capernaum
signifies the village Of Nahum. the comforter,
and the true Comforter has come to His own
city CMath. *. y. It was his custom to be
IN the synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke w.,
16), and we may be- sure It was His custom
never to be late.
%. "And they were astonished at Bis doc
trine, and He taught them as one that had
authority, and not as the scribes." He al
ways preached the word and in the words
which the Father gave Him to say (John
Kill, 40; xiv, 10). His words were the as
sertions OF absolute confidence In God and
In the Scriptures. He said, "We speak that
we do know" (John i'll. ~. We also, II
sent by God, may speak boldly the message
which He gives US Ex w., 12; Jer. l. 2, g.;
Acts w., 31).
%. "And there was In their synagogue
man of an unclean spirit, and he cried out" s"
Evil spirits still 90 to church and Sunday
school IN the bodies of men and women and
boys and girls, but not without the consent
OF those in whom they 90. Anger. wrath.
malice, worldliness, deceit, hypocrisy, are
surely evil spirits. In fact, all that Is not
holy and true must be evil.
"a. Saying: Let US alone. What have
we to do with Thee, thou Jesus Of Nazareth?
Art Thou come to destroy US? know Thee
who Thou art, the Holy One Of God" Let
us alone is still the cry. We will 60 to
church and contribute to the cause II you
will only let US alone about the theatre and
the ball. social customs, Sunday newspapers
and Sunday driving, receiving Jesus, pre-
pairing to meet Him and such like. But 1t Is
no use we must all have to do with Jesus.
He will destroy the work of the devil (I John
ILL.,, 81, and II those works include any OF US
then we shall have to hear Msth. XIV, Al
Is. "And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold
thy peace and come out Of him." He spoke
to the spirit who was controlling the man.
He hates sin, but loves the sinner. Let US
also see to this and act likewise. Sin must
be destroyed, and II the sinner persists in
clinging to his sin he, too, must perish, but
the Lord wishes to save the sinner and blot
out his sins (II Pet. ILL.,, 81.
26 "And when the unclean spirit had torn
him and cried with loud voice he came out
Of him." He cast out the spirits with HIS
word (Math. viii, 16). Where the word ola
king Is there Is power (Eccl. WILL, ~, and
Jesus gave His disciples power over all the
power Of the enemy duke K, 19. What
strength It would be for service as We 90
forth in His lame II we would only believe
His word, Gall power Is given unto Me In
Heaven and on earth. and, 10, I am with you
allthe days. even unto the consummation OF
the age" (Math. xviii, 1920.
81. "And they were all amazed, insomuch
Atok onI fhny, n1x,nc
ing: What thing is this? What new doc
trine Is this2" The obedience of the demons
to His word surprised them, and we'll 1t
might, for whoever heard OF evil spirits con-
trolled by word which men resist? Let
His word be now received in all simplicity
and meekness, and no evil spirit OF fault
finding, fretting, SANDER or evil speaking
can abide In that person. Then will some
have to say, "What new doctrine Is this"
%. "And Immediately His fame spread
abroad throughout all the region round
church to-day should cure even the majority
of its members of the evil spirits which seem
to possess so many, what name Jesus would
get In the community! Why not with our
hearts determine that by His grace we will
seek in every way to magnify that honora-
bic name which Is called upon US (Jas. IL, z
r. v, margin).
20. "And forthwith, when they were come
out of the synagogue, they entered into the
house OF Simon and Andrew with James and
John" Happy men to take Jesus nome
from church with them. How many get oil
they want of Him while in church, more
than enough to do them whole week, Tor
once a week Is all that some pastors see
many OF their people In the house OF God!
II such should take Him home from church
with them, they could not 60 out driving IN
the afternoon, nor 90 visiting, nor read
novels.
so. "But Simon's wife's mother lay sick OF
a fever. and anon they tell Him Of her." Per-
haps a poor day for Simonto bring company
flour men) home to dinner-his vile might
think so. with her mother sick IN bed.
but we will hope she was one OF those blessed
women whom some of US know, who are
always glad to exercise hospitality, who 1--we
to minister.
81. "And He came and took her by the
hand and lifted her up, and Immediately the
fever left her. and she mlnlstered unto
them" It was a good day to have COM
pany, after all. especially His kind. Mark Is
specially the gospel of service, and Jesus is
here, in a very marked way, the servant
ministering; hence many touches Ike this,
"He took her by the hand" Note also the
words straightway, anon, Immediately,
forthwith, all tne same Woru IN the NEeeh-
see r. V.-used over forty times In this gos-
pei, and only about eighty times In the
whole New Testament.
so, SO. "And at even when the sun did set
they brought unto Him all that were dis
eased and them that were possessed with
devils. And oil the city was gathered to-
gether at the door," The Sabbath ended at
sunset, so they could then do this without,
in the estimation OF the Pharisees, breaking
the day. See chapters H., "a ILL.,, Q. The
manifest power Of God will draw the peo-
pie. There are weary and heavy laden ones
everywhere, sick in body and in soul. and
this Jesus is to-day the very same Jesus
(Heb xiii, 81, waiting to give rest OF soul
and quietness Of mind to every weary heart,
and when He giveth quietness who then can
make troublef (Job xxxiv.. 29).
"a. Sand He healed many that were sick
OF divers diseases. and cast out many devils,
and suffered not the devils to speak, because
they knew Him" The margin says that He
suffered them not to say that they knew
Him. The testimony of the evil spirit In
Acts xvi. IT, sounds we'll. What could be
better? Yet II was not tolerated. God re-
quires no help from the devil. When will
His people see this and stop seeking help for
the Lords work from those who are not His
children, and therefore must be children Of