The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-10
INTERNATIONAL S. S. LESSON.
AFsrrh II, 1890, Mark n, ls-s2.
The ParaIytie Healed.

cabrfnnum was by adoption IeGnF
own city. He made It the center OF his
missionary tours. He wrought more
mlrstIes preached more Fermons there
than IN any other one place. He reeos-
nIzed II as his residence. by paying his
I'M tbore--..ualng," as a quaint writer
SAYS. "a fish's mouth as the purse from
which he took the coin Of a tax-gath-
9rrr" il was no matter Of ca
nrISc ttat Jesus went there. It was the
otnier OF population. There WERE nine
Iaree cldes In Immediate proximity
And The combIned population Of the als-
trict appropriated three million t9 'Sl5
CompaTaIivcly remote nom the eS ~. ~
Gstical eenterfot Palestine, the ~ ~.
10 The rev 1eacher ana ms aocslllg I W.
corrtspondIngIy lees. There Jesus
';rc,cbsd me masses" There
was IA Irresistible attractlveness ~ Je-
sus. people new to him Ike iron. plng5
n 4. naafnel. He drew men 70 himaeh.
- Sniiid not be hid. He Is gdll the
most attractive personQGe OF " HISTORY,
and having been lifted up, Is drawing
nm ever-Increasing multitude 70 him-
gelL But each must determine Tor
himself whether tails attraction thall re-
suit ina permanent attachment 70 tne
Master. Alas for calernauml II was
for the most part curioaity, or mere D 9-
lily healing, or loaves and hshes, SnAt
brought the pOpulacs to Jesus; anu "
city exalted to heaven - ntou 1il
down 10 hell. II Is an utter des0lation,
rs indeed Is the whole region One nj
tie. lenky boat floats or Gulilee, where
once goOdly feet rode at anchor. Je-
sus' words; "Woe unto thee, Capefna-
uni" seem TO wake the echoes OF
complete desolAtlOn.N Z. Once When
JHsua In the very house where he was
seeking repose, was besiCged by an au-
dIence that completely choked up the
courtyard and the very approach TO H.
a stirring Incident occurred. Four men
one or more Of whom may have had
personal and happy experience OF Jesus
power to heal, picked up an aniicted
friend az he lay upon his mat and
brought him joyoualy and conhdenliy 20
the great Healer. They were not DASH
ed when they found the ordinary APP
proach hopelcsSly 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 stair
case 10 the fiat 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 lndescriba-
bly, comforting: "Son. be OF good cheer"
But there Is surprising change in the
formula. 1t Is not a rebuke to disease.
1t Is a categorical. authoritative rcmis-
sion OF sin. The startling words could
not escape the notice OF tAe inquisltorial
coterie OF scribes and Pharisees. It was
not Intended they should. II was Je-
sus' gauntlet at their feet. They picked |
II up, but not In audible words OF dis |
sent. omnlscIencs unveiled their un-
spoken words os Jesus said: "omnlpo-
tence knows nothing of degrees. One
thing Is not easier than another It Is |
equally as easy to forgive as TO heal
and Vice versa. But that you may know
that have the authority 10 heal and |
that you may know that have authori- |
~ and power TO do both, will cay to
this utterly powerlcss person. Arise.
He spnkc and It was done. No wonder
the people said. as the audience dispers-
e: eve have seen strange things to-
day" I'VE never saw it on this fash
IS1 ~