The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-12
THE suNDAY-scHooL LESSON.
May 13, 1900; Luke vii, 36-5O-Jesus
at the Phnrfsee's House.

Ascetcism finds little encouragement in the
habits of Jesus. He came eating and drinking.
He was social He declined no invitations
know Of He worked his first miracle at
wedding which, in the language of the ritual,
He adorned and beautified by His presence"
He was no cold guest; no distant observer OF
what transpired. He entered with real zest,
and made His contribution to the amenities OF
each occasion, while at the same time He hal
lowed and elevated all. No one who HES him
self TO desert shuns the face OF his fellows
and retires, literally or hgurativeiy. into her
mt's cave need quote the example of
Jesus in justification. The seasons of retirement
were the exceptions which proved the rule of
contact and fellowship with men. So
we find Jesus the guest of Simon, the Pharisee.
He did not stand upon His dignity He might
well have been offended at the patronizing air
I'm which His invitation came, and the economy
of courtesy shown Him on His entrance to the
home Anything seemed good enough for the
Galilean rabbi. and He ought to be glad to be
hidden at all-such was the cavalier spirits Of
the place and hour. A smaller nature must
needs have resented such indignity. Jesus could
afford to ignore it. until time came ID feather
His arrow with II. We have revival
OF an Oriental custom In, our own country,
where people admitted to the gallery TO
see others banqueting, in the case of the
Home Market Clubs dinner TO President Nc
Kinley in Boston. 1t is resemblance with
difference. however, for in our commercial age
spectators are charged an admission, which
helps defray expenses. Awaiting herself OF the
freedom of the banquet room an outcast woman
entered. What attracted her was that Jesus
was there. She had heard Of His brotheriy
words of His helpful deeds. She was weary
and heavy laden. She had come for the rest
which He had promised. According to custom.
she had brought her gift with her. Jesus did
not disdain IL. though IL may even have been
the gains of her unhalIowed life. Her patience
sublimated 1t. - The host. true TO His
caste Pharisee-separate). thinks his guest
hopelessly denied by the touch OF the sinner.
even though II is the touch Of a weeping peni-
tent seeking a new life. He constructs arti-
fetal dilemma. Either this man who poses
a prophet knows the character of this woman.
or He does not. If He does not know it, then
He is prophet. II He knows IT, and yet al
lows her to touch Him. then He Is dehled by the
touch. He has lost His caste. and cannot T.,
my teacher" The searcher of Hearts
was reading His host like a book when this
circumstances transpiring-and little later
He gave him bit OF table talk that set him
thinking Debt" Forgiveness Love"
were brand new words for the vocabulary Of a
Pharisee The application fastens like wise
around smon's heart The common civilities
water, kiss and oil. which acknowledgements had
Omittcus ptiitrhSc hau Suppiico- A. ohoh h~A Aoii
OF it's exceeding great reward And He said
Unto her, thy sins are forgiven
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Jesus exceedingly slsilful IN the OF
passing incidents for the illustration OF truth
He seized upon them as on this occasion. He
held them up with the hand OF adept
This incident is only an illustration OF a larger
situation. . The clash between Christ and
the Pharisee~ was Inevitable. They stood for
venerable ecclesiastical establishment buttressed
by tradition and authority IL sheltered them.
and by its craft they had their living. Not
that all had sordid motives; but the situation
stunt the mind and spirit. They
were naturally alert against innovations. sus-
D.cious and bigoted- They could not under