Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-06-06
sesame to Heaven and its glories. 4

only the healing, and since that day
the majority of those who have read
the record of this wonderful incident
have marveled at the raising to his
feet of the paralytic, and have passed
lightly over the cleansing from SIN OF
this man, and thus they have lost the
very heart of the matter and its deep
est lesson. It has come to be known
as the healing of the man sick with the
palsy. when it ought to be entitled.
The miracle of the cleansing from sin
of the man sick of the palsy.
A palsied soul is a more awful and
deadly condition than palsied body.
The sum of the years of this life are
soon passed, and the palsied body is
left behind, but the palsied soul, insen-
safe from sin and selfishness, passes
on beyond the grave, into the presence
of the One who could have given life.
but where the potency of the cross to
that soul is then lost forever, for "he
that believeth not is condemned al
ready, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of
God"
You may not realize your condition.
Only God can show it to you. He will
if you will but let His Spirit have en-
trance to your heart, where hidden
sins lie, for "When He the Spirit is
come He will convince the world of
sin, and of righteousness and of judg-
ment." David, with his kingly robes
about him and the elegance and ease
of his magnificent palace, with his vo-
taries about him to please and fatter
him, and lull his conscience to sleep,
IL Il - r {I,o4 low
hidden in the depths of his heart. But
when Nathan, the prophet, came, and
by his little parabl resurrected all
the awful record and exclaimed:
''Thou art the man." David began to
realize the exec eding sinfulness of sin.
But instead of trying to excuse him
self, or instead of becoming angry and
turning from Gods messenger. we find
David crushed to the ground before
the Lord with the consciousness of his
guilt. His cry is now: against Thee,
Thee only, have 1 sinned and done this
evil in Thy sight" In the ffty-frst
Psalm David has recorded his heart
searching experience before the Lord,
and has shown guilty sinners the way
to forgiveness and salvation.
And what more wonderful miracle
can you find anywhere recorded in
Gods word than here in the case of
David, who comes a murderer, an
adulterer, a thief, and throwing him
self at the feet of his Savior as a
penitent, he is raised up, redeemed
soul cleansed winter than snow.
| Yes, when we get over on the other
side and mingle with the hosts of
| the redeemed and meet the paralytic
| and the lepers, and the multitudes
of others who felt the healing touch
of the Savior's hands, we will not
marvel so much at the healing of
| the body as the saving of the soul.
And I do not believe we will hear
them going about telling of their
wonderful cures, but they will have
their whole thought centered in the
Christ, and will sing a new song,
| saying: "Thou vast slain, and
hast redeemed US to God by Thy
blood out of every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation"
The greatest miracle, the greatest
blessing that came to the paralytic
of our text was his cleansing from
sin. The secondary blessing was the
supplying of his bodily needs This
he left the presence of Jesus and
passed along. the street with spring
ing step and joyful tongue, the sky
seemed bluer, the birds sang sweet
er, the very air vibrated with the
blessed presence of God. See hin
as he enters his home. The as
founded wife and wondering children
gather about him and hear his won
derful story. While he is yet talk
| ing a strange sadness fits over her
face and a dread strikes into her
heart. Will he go back to his old
| life of sin? VIII the blessing be but
| fleeing? She recalls the successive
steps by which he had been reduced
to the helpless condition in which
Jesus found him. She realizes that
he has been restored to health by
the merciful hand of God, but will
it only be for a season? And while
she is bordering these things in her
heart, he begins to tell her of the
greater blessing which has come to
him. AS he realizes the sinfulness
of his life, with the tears strea ming
down his face, he tells her that the
Lord has forgiven him his sins and
will she, too, forgive him for the
grief he has caused her. Then the
joy of the new-found hope begins to
creep into her heart, her face begins
to tighten up and she knows that her
husband is a changed man inside and
out, and that the old sinful life that
had filed his body with the deadly
palsy has no longer power over him.
Delivered! Delivered from the pow
er of Satan. Oh, what joy in that
home that day. Oh, what JOY comes
into every home when Jesus gets