The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-02-12

| freatAliE TOUR. Mars .-,- 81
| preaching r--..................Lukt ~
| Hea.ing "A leper..................Mat ). 4 4
| ittailnH a irplr. ...-+..........+.M Mark 500.
healins "A leprf ...................l-pks 5.l--lt
| ltta-ins paraiyt.c. Matt 9. 4 .
iiraiins a pai~ y iic..............M Mark .. LII
iiealng "A iaraly tic..............l.l ke 5.i7 ~
Time The early summer OF \ u ~
! OEary in 'The Year Cf Public Favor
Place Jesus temporary home q. Ca
pernaum. probably ite Louise " ,At iogmer
fisherman. Simon Peter.
NOTES AND COMMENTS
Into Capernaum Jesus headquar-
ters Tor about half OF His ministry.
After some days. During which lie
was on a preaching tour among the
towns of Galilee (l.39J. 1t was noised
that He was in the house; or, al home.
as in the margin. lilo still had place
He could call home IL was probably
Peters house. Since Jesus had left Ca
pernaum He had been much talked
about, both by the common people who
were His stanch friends. and the
scIibes and religious teachers. who very
naturally looked upon Him with suspl-
. cion. New methods and teachings. es-
pecially II they are religious. are usu-
ally looked upon with suspicion Many
were gathered together" The friendly
common people were ia the majority
but in the most prominent places were
the scribes and members OF the reli-
giOus aristCcracy. They considered
Jesus an Unauthorized and unsafe teach
er. and meant to watch His movements
very closely He snake the word unto
them" He was in private house. and
simply and Informally speaking TO them
OF the kingdom that was at hand. and of
goodness and faith as conditions OF en-
trance into IL.
The crowd was very dense. both in the
house and about it. so that those who
were bringing the sick man 10 Him,
and who were likely TO be a little late.
could not even get near Him. They
come" The relations and friends OF the
man. The palsy A form of paralysis.
Borne of four Only four OF those who
came with him actually carried him.
when they could not they uncov-
cred the roof" When they could not.
they did: there was no way. SO they made
one: there were obstacles and they sur
mounted them. Such determination is
magnificent OF course they accom-
plished their purpose. Broken IL up.
Remember that the roofs OF the small
oriental houses were usually fiat. and
reached by a small outside stairway
They were made OF rafters laid close to-
gether. then a layer of brushwood. and
upon that 10 or l2 inches OF solid earth
This. of course. could be dug through
without permanently injuring the roof
Naturally the scribes who sat under the
places where the digging was going on
were not in the best frame of mind by
the time the man was let down
Their faith" Men who hew out a
way for themselves in spite Of all OBJ
stacles. do not do il without faith that
success is possible. and that the struggle
is worth while. Those men had faith
in Jesus II was nothing mystical
perhaps not religious. but real They
had good reason 10 believe He would
actually heal their friend. II they gave
Him the chance The sick man. too.
had faith Son" A sympathetic word
Matthew adds. be of good cheer: words
calculated 10 increase the mans assur-
snce- Thy sins are forgiven" Jesus
ssw in the man a desire for more than
physical cure. He knew the mans
heart. and saw that they were recon
ciled He blasphemeth." He insults
God "Straightway perceiving:
The scribes did not speak. but Jesus in
stantly felt their displeasure and knew
what caused II. He would convince His
critics Of the truth Of what lie said about
forgiveness by healing the mans body
as his soul had been healed The Son
of Man hath authority 10 forgive
sins" When we consider that two ele- /
ments enter into the question OF for
giveness. namely. the heart OF the sin
ner and the heart of God. and that God
is waiting to forgive the instant the sin
ner is ready. we see that the mean
ing is that Jesus could with authority |
announce forgiveness OF sins. Ordinary |
men cannot do this. because they have
not the Divine knowledge OF the hearts l
of men and the heart OF God that Jesus /
had.
inns - IOlldIA SHOW ing j
the beginning OF the opposition OF the I
orthodox religious teachers AS vet the /
cloud was no larger than a mans hand. /
but within two years IL would be a storm /
which should break above His head and /
increase in fury till II had taken the 1
life Of the young man. Jesus OF Nazareth. I
who went about doing good
the power and authority Of Jesus. They /
were all amazed" Including the scribes.
who were probably most surprised OF |
all But demonstrations have little e. /
feet on those who are most interested In I
maintaining their old opinions than In
getting at the truth. And elorihed |
God" This ca:.Iot include the scribes
Jesus influence among the common peo-
pie was growing rapidly; the opposition
Of the religious aristocracy was solidify-
Ing no less rapidly
----
~. IA o - I. ~