The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-19
set aside the seventh day and appoint

another.
ENAITY.-The Pharisees were silenccd
because there was nothing further for
them to say. but their opposition was In
creased. They saw plainly that the Mas
ter was superior to them. they hated Him
for that reason, and determined to find
some mode Of accusing Him to the au-
thorities. The occasion was soon pre-
scented. The whole company moved on,
entered Capernaum, and went into the
synagogue. Verse 80 There was found
man with withered hand-the afflicted
OF those days were accustomed to visit
places OF worship that they might ap-
peal for aid. tActs tls:2.) Here Is Phar-I
isaic opportunity Drawing near, the
question Is gently put to Jesus: rs It
lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?"
-(Luke xill:14.) That appeared like con-s
fessed ignorance in the presence OF
acknowledged wisdom. It was intended
to be snare. Knowing the goodness OF
tho Sayiour's heart, and remembering His
many cures. they expected to provoke
Him into an act that would warrant a
legal process against Him. (Verse 14.)'
Relying upon the gloss Of the rabbls,
who held that the fourth commandment '1l
eek. xX:9) forbade even acts of mercy,
they expected an easy conviction.
RESPONSE This new phase OF tho
Sabbath question was met first In the
concrete and second In the abstract
VERSES 10 and 10 Turning to the
PharIsees, Jesus asked II any Of them
would hesitate to pull his sheep out Of
a pit into which 1t had fallen on the
Sabbath. That appealed to them and
they could not answer. Every man VII!
protect his property. The hearers must
have felt tho force Of the inquiry, even
though Ignorant Of the law eek. x,tiii:5)
(0aI1t YHfi,1 l.i Racaivtng
no reply, Jesus added, "aow much better
is a man than a sheep?" VIII you save
a beast and leave man In disease and
pain? The far-reaching influence Of the
Sayiour's question can hardly be known,
1T revealed the hypocrisy Of His enemies.
and laid the basis OF humanitarianism In
all after centuries. The interview closed
with, great moral truth. the positive,
side OF religion. Judaism IN that DAY
concerned itself with many negntions.
hut Christianity Is built on the words OF
Jesus: ut is lawful to do we'll on the
Sabbath days" usherlng in q dispensa'
ton Of Idoog deeds to the souls and bodies
of men.
MIRACLp.-The doctrine and practice OF
Jesus were always In accord, each Illus
trating and supporting the other, Hay
Ing declared that It was proper to % Well
he could not withhold His power from
the untOCLundt6 3IHdu W'V4| WIS NtsttStnN
hand, Had He done so the value Of His
words would have been dimlpi 81 d and and
He would have been proven to pc Tess
than the Divine man. Without heslta'
ton, therefore. He commanded, and the
hand was reached forth and instantly
restored, Verse 12,) Imagination may
easily picture the scene that followed,
The rejoicing and thankfulness Of the
cured man, the wonder Of his friends and
of the bystanders, the Increased admira-
ton and devotion q the {, a ta ehs
as they went out Verse ~ to hold a
council, and the benlgnant dignity Of
the man Of Galilee, who had trlumphed
over the opposition--all these qualities
displayed themselves In the faces Of those
who heard what was said and witnessed
what vas being done In the synagogue
at Capernaum.
suNaIARY,-The. lesson !s rightly
titled: "Jesus and the Sabbath" "
touches nearly every element Of the doe-
trine concerning the Chrl stlaA pa bbath.
Note these poipts, Jesus is the Lord
5ofI the SABBATH, u Il not a Jewish. but
aS Christian Inst tut! on. N Lord day.