The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-09
heir streets, and jostled against their

their streets, and jostled against their
booths.
Soon a rumor reached the crowd.
"Jesus has returned; he is at Peter
house," and in a moment. market day
had lost it's importance. In crowds the
people hurried away to the little house
on the beach, and the sellers of wares
threw them in some safe place and like
wise hurried on.
Some of the crowd were merely curl
osity seekers; they had come from dis
tant places, and but just heard of this
great preacher. Then there were Scribes
and Pharisees, who went that they
might find something to criticize; then
again. there was the large number of
the humble people who either believed
in him, or sought to believe in him.
The house was filled. the yard, the beach
and the streets as far back as anything
could be heard. Inside, Peters mother
received much attention. She had gained
back her health from Jesus and had
learned to know him well, for he had
made their house his home. "Why does
he go off to the mountains SO oftenY"
some one asked her. "To be alone;" she
replied. He says that only in that way
can he get strength for his work. But
he comes each time, SO worn and 30
white that my heart aches for him. He
is disappointed too. He says the people
only wish to have their bodies healed
They do not care about their souls.
They clamor much for king; they are
not ready for spiritual Messiah.
"But his family-where are theyY Do
they not assist him?"
mo, only in part; his mother, they say,
can not understand him. His brother,
James, expects to join him soon; also
Mary, his mothers sister, think he is
often very lonely for the home folks. In
truth believe he is the Messiah, but he
is yet very human in all his attach
ments. I love him as my own son."
But soon the crowd began to urge the
Master to begin. Standing in the door
way, so that those in, lie as we'll as those
without could hear, he spoke to the peo-
pie. But now there was a disturbances
from some late corners. Why we're they
so eager, and why did they demand SO
much room? Unable to get through the
crowd, they pushed around to the side of
the house; there were four Of them, and
they began slowly climbing the stairs to
the roof.
Their burden, borne in a swinging
couch, they took up after them. Quickly
they began to tear away the roof. SO
lightly built that to remove it was no
great effort. Then slowly, gently, they
began TO lower their burden down
through the roof into the room, at the
feet of the Master. The women pushed
back in fright, the Scribes, who had
chosen the best seats in the house, stood
up in amazement at this interruption,
and drew their robes little closer lest
they be defiled.
Jesus looked at the burden on the
couch before him. 1t was young man
sick with the palsey. He could not
speak; he could only turn his eyes toward
the One whose aid he sought. Jesus
heart was full Of pity for his illness, and
Joy at his faith 1t was 80 sweet to find
one believer among 80 many hostile
faces.
The Scribes scowled their disapproval
across the sufferers feet into Jesus eyes
But he saw them not. He only saw the
PROSTATE man before him; and so. even
while knowing that the Scribes were
ready to criticize his every word, he said
to the sick man, "Son, thy sins are for.
given thee" But the Scribes said to
themselves, He blasphemeth; who can
forgive ins, but One, even God?" And
Jesus, knowing what they thought, said
rs it easier to say, Thy sins are forgiv
en- thee or to say Arise and walk'Y But
that you may know that the Son of Man
hath power on earth to forgive SINS !
say unto thee. Arise. take eup thy couch
and go unto thy house. ;"
So the man was healed, and that was
the greatest market day Capernaum ever
knew. Now, the town is little more than
name. The black basalt, of which its
houses were built, and the white lime
stone of its synagogue, are tumbled to-
gether in fragments; the grass and tall
weeds strive to give them green cover
ing in spring time; but under the sum-
mer sun, weary of their effort, they fade
and leave them bare.
Only rarely is boat now seen on the
sea, where that day hundreds rode at
anchor; but desert waste, though the
place now is. its name and site shall be
remembered as long as the soul Of man
shall strive for higher things.
EMMA M. JAMES.
1882 Wentworth Av.. CHIC ,Go. ILL.
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