The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-25
LESSON STORY.

The Story Of the cure of the paraly.
tic is one of the most complete and
graphic of the New Testament narratives.
1t recounts how Jesus first came into
collision with the scribes.
The scribes were at this time the lead
ers of the Jewish nation. The priest
hood had become obscure; the minis
tries of the priests we're confined to the
temple. The scribes were the daily adj
visers of the people. They travelled
from place to place. and as the author
lied expounders of the law we're held in
high esteem. They we're accounted
rabbis. that is. teachers; they we're &C.
corded the chief places in the syna-
gogues. 1t increased the respect in
which they were held that their service
to their religion was nominally without
price.
To antagonize this numerous and in
fueniial party required in Jesus great
moral courage.
The occasion on which he openly broke
with these traditional Jewish leaders
must needs be memorable.
The story of our lesson is SO wildly
reproduced by Geikie in his Life of
Christ" that we can do no better than
condense and reproduce his words.
L. A Paralytic Brought to Je-
Sus,-vs. 17-19.
Soon after the return of Jesus to Ca.
pernaum the incident occurred. The
crowds had gathered in such numbers
at Peters house that not only the house
itself but the space before it was filled.
Among the audience were scribes from
all parts, to see il they should unite with
the new movement. and turn it to their
own purposes, or take measures against
it.
The house was probably one very low
story high, with fiat roof, reached by
stairway from the yard or court; and
Jesus may have stood near the door, in
such position as to be able to address
the crowd outside as we'll as those in the
house. Possibly there were two stories
in this particular house; and in that case
the upper one would be the best cham
Der, such as was used by rabbits for
reading and expounding the Law; and
Jesus may have stood near the open
window, so as to be heard both outside
and within.
From some favored spot Jesus was
addressing the crowded audience about
the Kingdom of God. SO long prophesied
and now at last in their midst, when four
men approached bearing sick person
on hammock slung between them. 1t
proved to be a man entirely paralyzed.
Unable to make their way through the
throng, the bearers went round the
house to see what could be done. The
outside stairs to the roof offered them
solution of their difficulty.
The sick man was bent on getting to
the feet of Jesus, and willingly let his
bearers raise him, wtieh they were able
to do SO by fastening cords to the ham
mock and pulling it up. after they had
got to the top of the narrow and ladder
like steps. Their trembling burden once
safely on the roof, the rest was easy.
Eastern houses are in many ways diff.
ferent from ours; but in none more
strikiugly than in the lightness of the
roof. Rafters are laid on the top of the
side walls about three feet apart, and on
these short sticks are put till the whole
space is covered. Over these again a
thick coating of brushwood, or of some
common brush, is spread. 1t is easy to
break up roof when necessary, and it
is often done. The earth is merely
scraped back from part, and the thorns
and short sticks removed, until an open
ing of the required size is made.
Through some such simple roofing the