The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-01-23

l. Data.
We have three accounts of this miracle; to
wit, st. Matt, 9:2S; st. Mark. 2:1-12;
st. Luke, 5:17-26. The third one is ap.
pointed for our study. but should critically
read the other two Though st. Matthew was
most likely witness. he writes the brieicst ac-
count. If he were not actually present when
the miracle was performed. he must have
heard all about it, seeing that he lived in the
| city where it wrought and was man IN
public life. ST. Marks account is fullest. He
mentions several particulars for which, as
! students, we are very grateful to him. To
men. writing under the guidance and sugges-
tions of the Holy Spirit, personal knowledge as
to events reported is not necessary. 2 Pet,
1;21. And to such the interval of 30 years be-
tween events aud the written history is Of no
consequence so far respects accuracy.
9. Time.
This miracle was effected we may say, in
| March, A. ID. 81, or 1,sG5 years ago. We find
| that Christ went to Capernaum, remained
| a while, and then set out sort of circuit
| through some of the towns of Galilee. st.
| Mark l 81 SO, 80. st. Mark, 81, states that
| he returned. We do not know how long he
was absent The some days st. Mark, 2: u
seem TO he covered by st. Mark, l 80. st.
Luke, 3 IL, gives the definite day.
3. Where.
This miracle was wrought at Capernaum.
| st. Mark, Il. That was Christ's Town city"
! st. Matt, 9: !. Compare IL: %. The cure
took place in house. We are probably to I'M
derstand ST. Peters residence. St. Mark, S:14,
20; 1924, %; st. Mark, ! :29; st. Luke, :3S.
We are informed that the miracle per-
formed in probably the court OF the house.
Eastern houses were made with hat roofs
In the center of the roof square, large aper-
ture was left, which went down through the
/ entire house. From the bottom floor of this
aperture, inmates could look up through the
open center of the dwelling to the sky. The
base was generally 4 solid pavement. Persons
were prevented from falling through this aper-
ture, to the pavement below, by a railing, hav-
ing such names as baustrade, balcony,
breastwork, parapet. All the rooms of the
house opened in the into this central
court. We may say that each house was
/ square, built around middle, central
court. There was a single front door opening
into hail, running through the central court.
In the hall, stairs led to the roof. In thickly-
settled places houses were built in long rows,
their roofs connecting, go that one could 90
long distance on said roofs. Over the aperture
into the roof an awning was often drawn to
keep out The heat aud rain. The roofs were
often made of burnt clay formed into tiles or
slabs, and hence the aperture i'll the roof might
be called an opening through the thing. st.
Luke, ,: TO- They let the man down through
the opening in the tiled roof. To uncover the
roof st. Mark, "a. may mean to remove the
canvas which extended over the opening OF the
roof at" (St. Mark. 2 ~ is not the original
Greek and we may understand by that pro-
noun. the railing around the central opening
of the roof. 1t wQpld make it difficult to get
the man up over that. To make il easier for
the four men, and specially for the patient they
may have broken away portion Of tho balus-
trade. To get the man upon the roof OF ~.
Peters house was iupraciicahle on account OF
the crowd. The four probably went to the
porch of neighboritg residence, assembled the
roof of tie house, and then passed over the sew
eral connecting roofs until they reached the
opening down into the, court where Jesus was.
" Into the midst (St. luke. 49, means into
the middle of the house; to wit, through the
central opening. Or the idea may be That they
let the man down into the very presence of
Christ-uto, as it were, his very arms-bc-
tween him and the surging masses. We re-
member the hight of the room was not great.
We may therefore suppose, as art has generally
pictured. in representing the scene that they
tied ropes to the four corners of the pallet, let
ting the man down into the court.
II seems from St. Matt, o: Z, that the sick
man had house. Perhaps, however, the refer
encc is not to ownership. The residence WAS
probably at Cspernaum. A man so utterly
helpless could not have been brought a mat
from far.
4. The Patient.
We do not know the name of the sick man.
He probably an adult, and yet youth.
Christ, though himself not much over 80 years
Of age led the patient son" iSt. Matt, 9: 3
or child But 81. Luke, 500, has the title
IMAM" We may infer that he was full-grown,
from the fact that it took four men 10 carry
him. The extreme helplessness of the person,
and possibly the great pain from any joIting,
may have required four men rather for the
comfort Of the sick person than because OF
actual weight and size. We do not know how
long the man had suffered. We are not prob
ably TO understand st. Mark :32 and st.
Luke, 40 as absolutely universal, aud so in
fer the man of the palsy contracted the disease
since that curing of all persons sick in Caper-
naum.
Being an adult, it is quite likely the patient
was married person, since the almost univ
sal Jewish custom was TO we.., aud TO wed early
in life. He had friends. We cannot state
whether the idea of cure, through Christ, orgi-
mated with the four or with the patient. 1t
became known that Jesus WAS performing won.
derlul cures. The pasicd man could not 90
to Christ. Hence, four friends interested for
the sick man went TO his home aud offered
assistance in getting him TO Jesus The patient
was sinner We would think he had been
rather noted for evil. At any rate, his sin
the feature which first of all attracted the
attention of the Savior. 1t is possible the idea
of his sinfulness was nppcrmost i'll the mind of
the sick man. that Christ recognized the fact,
and wanted at once to relieve the sufferer of
said burden. 1t was quite possible the mans
disease was due to some wel-knOwn diss0iute-
ness But however this be- it Is more import
ant one be forgiven of sin than cured of disease.
Righteousness is first and other things after
wards Jesus rightly ranked salvation as of
most value, and taught the world foT all time
the relative position of piety. We are not TO
suppose the man totally passive. He probably
exercised faith.
s. The -Four Helpers.
We owe to the account given by st. Mark our
knowledge of the number engaged in getting
the sick man to jesus ST. Mark. 2:3. They
were true friends. Learning the power of
Jesus they recalled the helpless condition Of
the sick young man. They went to his home
and proffered their aid They were very eager
for the cure. They "soup lat" tSt. Luke. 5 49,
means they did not easily give up. Find"
in the next verse, corresponds with sought"
Then, having sought thus far unsuccessfully,
they carried the man up to the housetop of
neighboring residence. 1t must have been a
labor. The patient had to be carried up. Other
obstacles presented themselves-the balustrade
and tho covered roof. They broke away part
of the parapet. Then they were just above
Christ. Carefully, and evidently laboriously
and concertedy, they let the man down before
the very face of Christ
8. TIE Disease
Palsy is general name. 1t is loss of con-
troll in whole or n part of ones motions-mus.
cular relaxation, want of sensation in tho whole
hodv or mart tharenf Paralysis ia strictly