The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-10
THE sUNDAY-sCHOoL LESSON.
March IL, 1900; Mark XII, 13-32-The
P~araIytfc Healed.

Paralytfc Healed.
Capernaum was by adoption Jesus own city.
He made ii the center of his missionary tours.
He wrought more miracles. preached more ser
mons there than in any other one place. He
recognized II as his residence by paying his tax
there-"using." as a quaint writer says. "A fsh's
mouth as the purse from which he took the coin
for the tax-gatherer." . 1t was no matter
Of caprice that Jesus went there. 1t was the
center of population. There were nine large
cities in immediate proximity. And the COM
bined population Of the district Appropriated
three million souls. Comparatively remote from
the ecclesiastical center of Palestine. the preju-
dice to the new Teacher and His doctrine wa
correspondingly less. There Jesus reached the
masses" . There was an irresistible at
tractiveness in Jesus. People few to Him like
iron-nlings to a magnet. He drew men TO him
self. He could not be hid. He is still the most
attractive and conspicuous parsonage OF all his
tory, and, having been lifted up. is drawing an
ever-increasing multitude to himself. But each
must determine for himself whether this attrac-
ton shall result In a permanent attachment to
the Master. Alas for Capernaum! 1t was for the
most part curiosity, or mere bodily healing. or
loaves and fishes that brought the p~opulace TO
Jesus: and so a city exalted TO heaven is brought
down to hell. 1t is an utter desolation. as In
deed is the whole region. One little. leeky boat
floats on Galilee. where once a goodly feet rode
at anchor. Jesus words. Woe unto thee,
Capernaum!' seem to wake the echoes Of a
complete desolation. . . . Once when Jesus, In
the very house where He was seeking repose
was besieged by an audience that completely
choked UP the court yard and the very approach
to IT, a stirring incident occurred. -Four men.
one or more OF whom may have had a personal
and happy experience of Jesus power to heal,
picked up an afflicted friend as he lay upon his
mat. and brought him joyously and confidently
to the great Healer. They were not dashed when
they found the ordinary approach hopelessly
blocked. They did not lay their friend down In
the street. or even return with him TO his dwell
ing. They were the kind who take the kingdom
of heaven by storm. They carried their friend
up the outside staircase to the fat roof. They
dug up the hard. sun-dried, earthen roof. enough
to admit of their lowering their friend into the
room below. There were helping hands reached
up from the astonished auditors below, and the
sufferer was gently and safely landed at Jesus
feet. A mute, but powerful appeal that!
. . Jesus first words were indescribably
comforting: 'Son. be of good cheer" But there
is a surprising change in the formula 1t Is not
a rebuke to disease. 1t is a categorical. au-
thoritative remission Of sin. The startling words
could not escape the notice of the inquisitorial
| coterie of scribes and Pharisees. 1t was not
intended they should. 1t was Jesus gauntlet at
their feet. They picked IL up, but in audible
| words Of dissent. Omniscience unveiled their
| unspoken words as Jesus said: "Omnipotenc
knows nothing of degrees. One thing is not
easier or harder to 1t than another. 1t is
equally as easy to forgive as to heal, and vice
versa. But that you may know that 1 have
authority and power to do both, I will also say
to this utterly powerIess person. Arise" He
| spake. and IL was done. No wonder the people
said. as the audience dispersed: we have seen
| strange things to-day Our eyes never be-
held anything to match this scene" I'VE never
saw 1t on this fashion"
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
An admirable example. this. OF strong and
practical human sympathy:
Art thou stricken in life's battle7
Many wounded round thee lie.'
This gathering UP of those who have been feiled
to earth by adversely. disease and sin; this
carrying them in the arms Of a strong faith TO
Him who is mighty to save-tis angelic work!
Power of combination-see that. too. In
this stirring word-picture. No one OF these four
believers could alone have carried his friend to
Jesus. The four together did it with ease. The
children of this world are wiser in this respect.
1t is the age Of combination In every sphere
Let Christians get together for the accom-
plishment of definite ends. . . . Persistence
is finally illustrated here. No one of the four
got weary in well-doing, or let go his corner OF
the mattress. Faint hearts would have failed al
sight of such obstacles. But these believers
were not made Of such stuff. They did not once
look back. They ran their furrow to the end OF
the field This is the quality that wins in every
sphere: in religion no less than in art, literature,
commerce exploration. and all. Conven.
tional rules were broken and set at naught that
day. The sermon was interrupted. Plaster
came rafting down on the heads of the auditors
Property was injured. % But what OF that, sc
a sinner was saved? Welcome any mode thai
really brings the unsaved to the golden mercy.
seat, sprinkled with the blood of the crucihed
Public worship is a means to an end, not an enc
in itself. 1t is a ladder to convey us to tn,
treasury of grace. Bare ritualism grows very
dextrous in gliding up and down the ladder
but 1T never takes one anywhere what