The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-01
1.-THE POWER OF JESUS"
sUND1i-stHooh
LESSON ron TOMORROW.
Beautiful Description off Acts ofChris'
by Rev. Edward l.. Peii
object Lessons.
Feb. 2.-rhe Power of Jesus.-Luke W.

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1925 ,.,,,,rss of
In our last session We had glihpse VI
Iesus as a teacher, and, like the Na~a-
reros wondered Al the gracious words
which nroceeded out of his mouth. Never
man snake ike this man. for he spaKe
of heavenly things as one who had CONT
down from heaven. But we have all
known men who werue mighty IN worn
and weak in deed, men VINO couin tauA
like angels and live like deViis'
men who are rich in promise ana poor III
performance. Jesus spake as one having
authority, and not as the parrouhs sCI'ps'
but did his deeds compare well WIN MS
words?
Luke anticipates us. and hastens 10
put on record series Of wonderful MIRA
Giles which followed hard upon Ms great
sermon in the synagogue at Nazare'h'
\ man possessed of devil was festoFe''
A multitude that were sick OF divers MS
eases" were neaied: the nets of the nshei-
men who had toiled all night and caught
nothing were miraculously filled 10 oresh-
ing: man full OF leprosy" was cieanssd'
a paralytic was cured. The picture Of the
woodworking Messiah Is nowhere more
beautifully drawn than in the account Oh
the last-named miracle.
Jesus was On Capernanum, probably IN
the house OF Peter, ana there We're fhaf-
ises and doctors of the law sitting oy
which We're come ont of every town OF
Galilee and Judea and jerusalem and the
power Of the Lord was present 10 neal
them" We are accustomed TO say OF
great religious meetings. where the very
atmosphere was electric with the Holy
Spirits presence. that THE power OF the
Lord was present to heal but We are
not to suppose that the gathering in Pc
ters house was such an occasion. 1T
could hardly be called warm meeting,
for the preacher was surrounded for the
most part by icy-hearted critics, and the
atmosphere must have been anything but
helpful TO so sensitive spirit as he had.
But wherever Jesus is. the power OF the
Lord is present-n0t 10 heal the critics
who come only to find fault, but 10 heal
those who come 10 be healed.
one would say that in such a c0ngrega-
ton the chances for healing must have
been slim. We have had Achan-in-the-
camp preached al US so much that We
have about come 10 the conclusion that
unless the congregation Is al right nobody
can he saved. IL il of great importance
20 have a warm church, but the sinners
salvation does not depend upon the
warmth of the church. There are church
members as we'll as outside sinners who
have gotten IL into their heads that they
cannot get any spiritual good until the
church which they attend has been
warmed mp 10 boiling point.
And behold men brought in bed
man which Was taken with a palsy
stricken with paralysis How long the
poor fellow had been in that plight is not
stated, for the reason that il is of no con-
sequence. Jesus could heal case Of long
standing as easily as a case of short
standing. Time is the enemy of human
strength, but it has never touched the arm
of God. The important thing about the
paralytic is that he came 10 Jesus 20 be
heaaed. Rather he was brought; not
against his will we may De- sure. still
he was brought II was his good fortune
To- have friends. We are prone to make
light OF friendship Men say that man
IS your friend so long as he can use YOU.
But what would this poor fellow have
done without his friends? What would
YOU and / have done If no friends had
led us to Christ? From friendships here
we climb 10 friendships above. II is
through human love that most men learn
of divine love. These four men were
friends indeed They were not men aho
were content each 10 do bis part. The
man who is always saying that he will
DO his part does not love. Love does
not work fractions. II does not ask what
IS needed. and then work a sum I'm long
division to find ont what IL ought to do.
II does not pun a sinner One-fOurth OF
the way out Of the ditch. and leave him
there with the assurance that III three
other friends will do as muchd he will
soon be on solid ground. On the other
hand. love is not selfish. Neither Of these
fI.ffaa fftn a IL 4.
conspired together TO take their friend
10 Jesus.
Such friendship has wearing qualities.
People embrace you to-day as their friend
and cross the street 10 keep from sneak
ing to you tomorrow The more we love
The more Interchangeable We become: for
the interchangeable God is love. These four
friends were interested I'm the paralytic.
and they were Interested i'm Jesus. and
when they found difficulties I'm the way
of getting to Jesus their interest dif not
decline. Love for their friend cau-.d
them to press forward. Faith in Jesus
caused them TO look forward. II their
love had been cold they would have hesi-
tated: IL their faith had been weak. they
would have been doWncast, and ten 10
one they would have looked down and
would never have noticed tho outside
stairway that led 10 the top OF he house.
The work OF breaking up the roof was
small matter. ana i'm a moment the
mat with its pitiable burden was let down
at the feet or jesus II Is not recorded
that a word was spoken by either OF the
four men. But what need was there for
words? poor, helpless paralytic let
down IN silence at the feet Of Jesus-what
more eloquent prayer was ever offered?
Silently the Teacher looked down into
the eyes Of the sDeechlesss man-dOwn
through his eyes into his soul. and saw
ii all. Like all Jews in that day. this poor
man thought that sickness was sent as
a punishment for sin. and the terrible
stroke was 10 him blow from the hand
Of God. IL had awakened him. Bad as
was the disease Of his body. the disease
Of his soul was worse. and evidently he
was silently longing and praying for mer-
cy Perhaps as he looked up into the face
above him there was kindled i'm his heart
the hope that the great prophet sent from
God could bring relief TO his soul as well
as 10 his body. IL was for his own ear.
then, that Jesus spoke the wonderful
words. Son. thy sins are forgiven thee"
after having seen his faith a. well 90 the
faith of the four men on the house-top.
The words which brought unspeakable
JOY 10 the heart that was prepared for
them caused the hypocritical Pharisees
10 raise their hands in holy horror
"fElsphenalf they whispered one 20
another. II was a good opportunity for
Jesus TO call attention 10 the real sight
fcance OF his miracles. These men adj
united his miracles, and yet would not
recognize his divine authority n was
preposterous. II Jesus could by mira
Gle heal the body, he could by a miracle
heal the soul. His miracles were the
seals OF divine authority-and proved his