The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-01

gotten his enterprise well fixed. Patiently
and wisely, in the face of such charges as
that he was not select in choosing his COM
pany; that he cOuversed freely with publ
cans; that his disciples failed to fast; that
he protested to forgive sins that he was not
particular in the observance of the Sabbath
in the face of even openly threatened
violence-he kept right on in his mission.
Great miracles sustained his professions
When too dangerous he moved on, quietly
withdrew to some other section, where other
crowds gathered about him. In various
ways news reached him of proposed con-
spiraces on the part of his enemies. (St.
Mt, -: IA; St. Mark, 3:6; st. L. 6: IL; ST..
Matt, 0;23; st. John, 11:54.)
/. JESUS WORKING MIRACLES
| Data.
We study ST. Mark, Bill adding chrome
logically ST. Matt, IL: To-
| Time.
We may date probably early in May, A.
| D. 81. This was favorable time in Pales-
! tine for multitudes to assemble out of doors
Place.
! The scene of the lesson was Lake Galilee.
in vicinity of Capernaum. ". 81 He had
a little before come from Jerusalem. The
II.
| Christ's ministry was for the most part spent
in that region.
Pulpit
A boat was extemporized by Christ from
which to preach to the multitude ". g. J,
while the people stood on the shore. The
intervening water prevented the crowd from
interrupting his teachings by bringing the
sick and others for his curing touch, Christ
wa oil IN OF NH Iry h,t
teach.
For the purpose of curing by touch, it was
necessary for Christ to be on shore.
Over 40 years ago the American Board"
called on the children of our country to
contribute toward a ship to be used among
the Pacific Islands Certificates of stock
were issued of 10 cents each. Each certifi-
cate had picture of n missionary brig with
the words printed above, I" He spake to His
disciples that small ship should wait on
him." Isl. Mark, 500
The. multitude.
We learn these came from the extremes of
Palestine. ". 81 Judea is mentioned, and
we may hence suppose some were from south
OF Jerusalem. Some were from Idumea
which bounded Palestine on the SOUTH
Some were from Phenicia, to wit, from Tyre
and SidOn and the regions about those cities
Some were from beyond Jordan, that is to
say, from Perea. The news of our Savior's
miracles spread everywhere, and persons
resorted TO him from all directions. The
methods of living and lodging were very
simple, and people could there, more readily
than in countries ordinarily, live much out
oi-door, travel from place to place, lodge
here aud there. Besides the multitude were
Christ's regular disciples. ". ~ There
al.INl
some children, in the crowds. (Cf st. Mt,
14:2l) The multitude were drawn TO the
presence of Christ by what they had heard
as to his wonderful deeds ". 81 Such
news spreads rapidly. We cannot estimate
the number in the crowd.
The commentator Alexander says: "This
Is the fullest statement to be found in any
of the Gospels as to the extent of our Lords
personal influence and the composition of
the multitudes who followed him."
We begin thus early in the life of Christ
to see the inclination to make him the
King.
We must not, of course, suppose the peo-
pie thus crowded to Christ from desire to
know the truth, but largely from anxiety
to get relief in their physical distresses
Men are often led from lower to higher mo-
tives.
Chfaa'S IedchlngS ana 0rES.
We have no report of what our Savior
taught at that time. He followed, proba-
bly,, in lines similar to the Sermon on the |
Mount. The deeds" what great things he |
did " ". S)-are mentioned in general, but |
no specific case is detailed We notice three |
kinds: q. Healings b. Plaques. C. Uuclean |
spirits These do not probably include all, |
but are specimens. Compare St Mt, 4:24;
IA: 14.) From st. Matt, II: Is, we find |
Christ in the instance of this lesson cured
all. The method mentioned is touch. Com
pare st. Mt, IA: SO; st. Mark, 5:27, %;
So; ST. Luke, 8:46; Acts 5: 10; 10: II. |
Healing is a general word, and is applied to
many of Christ's miracles. The word
plaques means scourges. Our word plague
mlsleads us, since to plague another indi-
Gates very unjust treatment. God does not
plague anybody. Since in early times whips
were much used for furnishing criminals,
the word came to mean correction, chastise-
ment. Such punshments suffered by NOR
tails for their correction and reformation
were in special likely to be called plaques,
scourges. Dr. A. Clarke notices on the 10th
verse as 10 plaques, rather disorders; prop
erly such disorders as were inflicted by the
Lord" Bloomfield says rs to plaques: "The
word properly signifies scourge, but, meta
Phoi''iiJ, any vi turing duecblOu, especially |
disease" The word plague is often used
too, of disease inflicted as was thought by
any evil power; as, e. g., Satan. BY sun
clean spirits" we understand the people
believed that evil spirits had power to incite
to wickedness-the spirits themselves were
thought to be foul, vulgar and persons under
their influence We're very unclean in Ian
guage and exceedingly obnoxious in habits.
Evil is i'll at ease in the presence of purity,
and not any wicked person or spirit could
feel comfortable when near Christ. His
presence was exercising.
Suggestions.
i. 1t is often wise to withdraw from any
threatening violence. It is not necessary
one be in exactly any one place. Study
usefulness and go where one can effect the
most good. A local principle may at times
be involved, requiring one to stick to his
position and meet violence, perhaps; but,
as a rule, when one can move on and be
more effective, withdrawal is the thing
Each, however, must study carefully his
peculiar environment
g Would the masses were as concerned
for the mental and spiritual cure as for the
physical! Persons yet go many miles and
from place to place seeking health. This is
we'll. We must also get a realization Of the
value of soul health, and be contented mo-