The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-28

g CONNECTING LINKS. latter jesus 70
areth He went to Capernaum aud dl
definitely called Andrew, Peter, James an
John the second time. They now left all
and followed Him.
|, 81. "Into Capernnum." Christ now makoa
Capernaum His home, and the center OF
His ministry for more tGan q yedr. It Is
called His own city (Natt. 91), and here
rs citizen He paid the half shekel. Matt.
1921. His mother and brethren came here
with Him. John 2:12. 'The Sabbath Day"
His flrst Sabbath in Capernaum. "The
synagogue" This wns the gift Of a con
turion. Luke rs. Schools and colleges
were often connected with the synagogues
They were the centers OF religious and in.
tellectual lie. "Taught." "It WAS COM
mon to call upon any suitable person to
speak In the synagogue services" "1t Is
not unlikely that at this time He repeated
what He had said at Nazareth" Luke 4:16.
30. 1t was truth that produced results,
whatever may have been the subject.
"a. "They were astonished." At the
matter, manner, spirit and authority OF
His teaching. 81. At the range OF His In
tellectual gifts, 2. Tho force of His illus.
tratlons. 8. His acquaintance witG'tle hu.
man heart. 4. His deep knowledge OF the
Divine law" Authority" He spoke US
one commissioned by God and He laid
great stress upon Himself. He said, "I say
unto you," without quoting their teachers.
"He was, 1. Dlgnifled. 3. Original. 8. Con.
vlnoing. 4. Consistent" mot as the
scribes.' . The scrlbes were without spir-
itual life, their manner was cold, and, with
an unholy ambition, they sought their own
aud not Gods glory. They could only in.
stst on the observance OF petty rules In.
vented by men like themselves. Christ
IN ,,rtn tpIo toh
bore the impress OF the Divine approval.
2s. "A'man with uu unclean spirit" Luke
says he had 81 spirit OF an unclean devil''
aud "crled out with loud voice." Luke
4:33. There has been much discussion re.
garding this "unclean spirit" Many hold
that those who were said to have devils
were simply diseased people, and that thelt
strong paroxysms were only "llts." We
cannot agree with this, however, and must
insist that, difficult as 1t may be to under.
stand, yet real demons did inhabit this
man and those referred to In verse 80
"This country abounded In demons, 1. b..
cause they wore then advanced to the very
height OF implety. There was not nation
under heaven more wicked .hau they were.
9. They we're addicted to magic and 80 In.
rited evil spirits to be familiar with them. J.
"Criod out. can evil spirit is stirred tc
llo hOHliS NuCu III SOuluCL Will O0SuS.
"a. "Let us alone" The devil always
desires to be let alone, and bad men do not
want to be disturbed with anything good.
We hear this cry the moment we under.
take to deal with unclean things to-day
such rs intemperance and the social evils
"What have wo to do with Thee" Moth.
Ing ut NIL. There Is no concord between
Christ and Beliql. "To destroy u.s." To
drive us from our abode back to our native
place. "I know Thee" Imaglnesome dis.
case, like the upoplexy, thus addressing
Christ! No, Christ Is dealing with devils
now, and they know Him we'll. "The holy
one OF God."' The Messiah, who has como
to destroy the kingdom OF the devil.
John 3:s.
25. "Jesus rebuked him" Ho does no,
deslre the testimony Of devils to prove His
Me5siahship. Throughout His ministry
Christ never for moment countenances
anything that might be construed into d
truce with Satan. "Hold thy peace" Liter.
ally, "Be thou muzzled." Come out oil
him." he speaks with authority. He will
show who He Is, by casting out the devil.
&c. "Torn him." Or, convulsed him
Luke says the devil threw the man, and
came out OF him, and hurt him not. Never
wa5 tl:so person possessed by an uncloan
spirit who did not Sc fer co2yulsIoa, per.
hnps total ruin, by 1t. Sins OF unc!ea2.
ness sap the foundations OF life so that but
cery few Of this class live out half their
days. "He came out Of him." Even rthc
devils obey His word OF c5:Hsnand. THIS
Is an evidence ofthe great object OF Christ's
mission, to destroy tue works OF the devil.
1t is also q proof OF His love for lost man.
The Pharlsses said rhnt He cast out devils
by Beelzebub the prince Of the dovils, but
truth was .'that the very thought OF col!usion
with Satan would be abhorrent to Him.
27. "What thing Is this1" Goods wonders
are more wonderful than the DEVILS Won
ders." "Jesus taught by what He did as
we'll ns by what He said" "They do oboy
Him." Thus Jesus established His mis-
cion by the miracles He wrought. Aud
they could not doubt it.
%. "Fame spread abroad" This ms'aclo
was wrought in the public congregation
and those who saw 1t published 1t wherever
they went, and the people throughout all
.GalI!se we're soon discussing Him and His
Work. he did not need devils to publish
Him, and We do not need to compromise
with the world, the flesh or the devil to-
day In order to be able to carry on His work.
29. 1.-THE house Of Simon and Andrew.
Jesus, James and John had entered P?scS 9
house, s-
80. "Simon's wiis's mother" Peter was
q married man and lived in Capernauin.
1t is. strange indeed that the Roman Catho-
lie Church should lay 80 much stress on
tho cellbacy OF the clergy when Peter, their
chief cornerstone, had a vile. Lay sick
OF q fever" Luke calls 1t great fever
/. Luke 4:SS. She was prostrated with n
burning fever. "They. tell Him OF her"
This was really q request for healing. They
knew He could restore her.
81. "Took her bythe hand" Gould any
thing on this side the unlimited power OF
God effect such a cure? These proofs
Should demonstrate His divinity to the in.
telligence OF every man. "The fever left
her." Christ has power over disease. He
can, and frequently does, heal to-day; aud
yet we cannot test the spirituality by the
saints have suffered with bodily inf1rmittes
and have bsen sick. It Is the "prayer OF
faith" that saves tile sick, and he who
offers that prayer will see immediate re-
suits. "She ministered." She was per-
fectly recovered. She was not obliged to
wait long time for streugtllto return.
80. "When the sun did set" The Sabbath
ended with tue setting sun and then they
brought their sick to Him. 1t would not
have been desecration Of tile day IL they
had come before the sun went down. Jesus
had just performed cure on that day.
39. "Allthe city," Not necessarily every
person. but Il very lurse company. -.
81. "Healed many" Matthew says, call
that were SICK" Luke snys He laid hands
on them. Jesus healed Nil who came, and
they were many. Diseases. devils" A
distinction Is made here that we must not
fail to notice; diseases were "healed" and
devils "cast out" Suffered not" See on
verse25. This had been n great day at Cap.
ernaum, diy lllled with stirring events.
May God give US such days IN aU our cities.
aAneuEpc cccn MEM EIEI nc