Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-04-12
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR APRIL is.

Subject. jesus Power Over Disease and
Death, Luke viii, 1-17-Golden Text
John x,., 2b-Memory Verses. IA. 10
Tonic: A Great Faith and Helper.
]. The centurion asks aid of Christ
Tvs. 1-5). /. "Ended-sayings." The
savings recorded in the preceding
chapter and in the sermon just
preached. "In the audience" What
Christ said He spoke publicly. In Sc
cret He said nothing John 1870.
Into Capernaum." Where most OF
His mighty deeds We're performed.
Yet His miracles failed to produce re-
pentance Matt. 1929. 2. "Centur-
ions servant" A centurion was
Roman officer, ranking with our cap
tain, who had charge of 100 men. This
centurion. though Gentle, was fa-
vorable to the Jews, religiously III
clined, generous and kind. The SER
want was probably a slave.
3. Heard of Jesus" or His ar
rival at Caperraum. He must have
known Of His miracles before this.
"Sent-elders. The leading men-the
magistrates of Capernaum. "Beseech-
ing Him." Earnestly entreating Him.
These elders of the Jews must have
been strongly attached to .e CEN
turion. "Would come" They evident
iy thought it would be proper for Him
TO 20 to the house, even though the CEN
turion was q Gentle. 4. "Came to
Jesus" Distress drives to Jesus. and
Jesus comes to those in distress. In
stantly." That is, earnestly and with.
out a moments delay. He was wor-
thy" This is what the elders said OF
the centurion.
5. "Loveth our nation" He was
probably a proselyte of the gate-that
is, one of those who embraced Judaism
on the whole, but without becoming
proselyte of righteousness by accept
ing circumcision.
II. The centuricn's opinion of him
self Tvs. 6-S). 6. "Jesus went" He
was glad to go with them. He is the
Savior of the Gentiles as well as the
Jews. "Sent friends" This was the
second dcputatiOn. and it is quite
likely that the centurion also came
himself. See Matt. 1913. "Trouble
not thyself." If he had known Jesus
better he would have known that Jesus
was anxious 70 help him. "NOt wor-
thy" He was only a Gentle and
thus outside of the favored nation. He
regarded Jesus as superior being. Z.
"To come unto Thee" He felt as
though he could not approach into the
presence of one so great and so holy.
"But say in :. word" He had prob
ably heard few months before this
how Christ had healed the nohleman's
son when Mt . distance from him
John 446-54). 8. "Set under author
ity." That is, under the authority of
others. He is confident that Jesus
can as easily send an angel to cure
this servant Of his, as he can send
soldier OH an errand.
III. The centurion's faith rewarded
Tvs. .. I0).
.. "Marvelled at him." The only
other time when Jesus is said to have
been astonished is in Mark 6:6, when
He marvelled because of unbelief.
Christ was not ignorant of the centur-
ions faith, He knew all about that
before a word had been spoken; but
He expressed His admiration with
view to make it more conspicuous.
$50 great faith" Faith is that soul
element which enables us to grasp
God. 1t is the medium through which
we receive the blessings of the divine
life. "In Israel" After the return
from the captivity this term was given
| to all Jews. 10. Servant WHOLE
The healing took place at a distance
from Christ. He could heal by word
as well as by Il touch.
IV. The widows son raised from
the dead Tvs. 11-10. II. The day
after" "SoOn afterwards. r. V.
much people" Jesus was now reach
ing the height of His popularity. IL.
"The gate" Nearly all towns and vii
lagos were surrounded by walls as a
protection. Carried out" With the
exception of kings, all burials were
outside the city. "Much people"
Here was large company OF mourn
ers. Main is approached by narrow,
rocky path; there was only one Ell.
trance to the city; the two professions
met on the western slope Of the hill
side. 13. Had compassion" He did
not wait for her to ask for help, for
probably she did not know Him. Her
needs and sorrows were her silent
prayers. The fact that this youth was
1.-THE only son of his mother" and that
she was widow would convey to Jew.
ish notions a deeper sorrow than 1t
even does to ours, for they regarded
childlessness as special calamity,
and the loss Of offspring as direct
punishment for sin. Weep not" The
large company came to weep with her.
IA. "Touched." Here again. as In
the case of the leper, our Lord sacri-
feed the mere Levitical ceremonialism,
with its rules about uncleanness, to a
higher law. Bier" Jewish cOtfins
were open, so that the dead could be
seen; but in the case of the poorer
classes there would be no coffin, but
merely board supported by two poles
on which the dead would be laid. Il
say" Life and death are controlled
by the will of this a." arise" At
last death has met Its Master!
Is. Began to .peak." Which
proved that he was fully restored.
IL. "Came fear" A sense Of SOL
emnity and reverential awe. "GlOri-
| fed God" The miracle was witnessed
by large company of people, and they
! oil recognized the hand of God on the
One who could perform such mighty
deeds. "Great prophet" The Jews
were at this time expecting Elijah,
jeremiah. or one Of the great prophets
to appear.
II. This rumor." 1t appears that
| the report of this miracle spread
| throughout all Palestine: 1t reached
| the ears of John the Baptist who was
impriSoned nt Castle AIuchpvuS.