The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-02-11
JESUS FORGIVES SINS.

OCSOO FOhGiNEO bins.
Capernaum was by adoption Jesus
own city. He made it the center of
his missionary tour. He wrougt more
miracles, preached more sermons
there than in any other one place.
He recognized it as his residence by
paying his tax there-"using," as a
quaint writer says, "a flsh's mouth as
the purse from which he took the coin
for the taxgatherer. ut was no matter
of caprice that Jesus went there. 1t
was the center of population. There
were nine large cities in immediate
proximity And the combined popula
ton of the district Appropriated three
million souls. Comparatively remote
from the ecclesiastical center of Pales-
tine the prejudice to the new Teacher
and his doctrine was correspondingly
less. There Jesus reached the
masses" There was an irresistible
attractiveness in Jesus. People flew
to him like ironfilings to magnet.
He drew men to himself He could
not be hid. He is still the most at
tractive and conspicuous parsonage of
all history, and, having been lifted
up, is drawing an ever, increasing null
titude to himself. But each must
determine for himself whether this
attraction sLall result in permanent
to the Master. Alas for Capernaum.
1t was for the most part curiosity, or
mere bodily healing, or loaves and
fishes, that brought the populace to
Jesus; and so a city exalted to heaven
is brought down to hell. 1t is an
utter desolation, as indeed is the
whole region. One little, leaky boat
floats on Galilee, where once a goodly
fleet rode at anchor. Jesus words,
Woe unto thee, Capernaum!n seem
to wake the echoes of complete des-
olation. Once when Jesus, in the very
house where he was seeking repose,
was besieged by an audience that com
pletely choked up the courtyard and
the very approach to it, a stirring
incident occurred. Four men, one or
more of whom may have had a per-
sonal and happy experience of Jesus
power to heal, picked up an afflicted
friend as he lay upon his mat, and
brought him joyously and confidently
to the great Healer. They were not
dashed when they found the ordinary
approach hopelessly blocked. They
did not lay the sufferer down in the
street, or even return with him to his
dwelling. They were the kind who
takes the kingdom of heaven by
storm. They carried the paralytic up
the outside staircase to the flat roof.
They dug up the hard, sun-dried ear
then roof, enough to admit of their
lowering their friend into the room
below There were helping hands
reached up from the astonished audi
tors below, and the sufferer was gently
and safely landed at Jesus feet. A
mute, but powerful appeal, that!
Jesus first words were indescribab!y
comforting; "Son, be of good cheer"
But there is a surprising change in the
formula 1t is not rebuke to disease.
1t is a categorical, authoritative re-
mission of sin. The starting words
could not escape the notice of the
inquisitorial coterie of scribes and
Pharisees. 1t was not intended they
should. 1t was Jesus gauntlet at
their feet. They picked it up, but not
in audible words of dissent. Omnis-
cience unveiled their unspoken words
as Jesus said: "Omnipotence knows
nothing of degrees. One thing is not
easier or harder to it than another.
1t is equally as easy to forgive as
to heal, and vice versa. But that YOU
may know that | have authority and
power to do both, will also say to
this utterly powerless person, Arise. ,"
He spake, and it was done. No won
der the people said, as the audience
dis persed: 1--WE have seen strange
things today "Our eyes never be-
held anything to match this scene.n
1--WE never saw it on this fashion,
The Teachers Lantern
An admirable example, this strong