The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-07-26
Jesus Dimes With a Pharisee

Asceticism finds no encourage
ment in the example of Jesus. So
ciability was a conspicuous trait
in His character. 1t gave a ham
die to His enemies, who described
Him as wine bibber and glutton-
Gus. He is not known to have
ever declined a social invitation.
If hidden TO banquet or wedding,
He went. Nor was He a spectral
figure. He marred no festivity
with melancholy air or disapprov-
ing frown. He filled we'll the
function of guest, adjoining and
beautifying with His presence and
miracles the amenities of life.
\ foremost Pharisee, about to
give lordly banquet, covets, as
an ornament of the occasion, the
grace of Jesus presence. He will
fain garnish his feast with the
young Rabbits novel and superb
tabletalk.
The vestibule of the Pharisee's
chateau is the scene of a miracle of
deed, as the banquet after
ward echoes to a miracle of word
An unfortunate creature lies there,
his skin distended to the point of
rupture by the watery collection
beneath it. Jesus screens not His
eyes to disgusting sight, which
would spoil the appetite of the av-
erage voluptuary. He losses no
small coin to the sufferer, as other
guests are doing. But before He
can bestow that gift which will be
of more value than silver and gold,
He must forestall the deadly criti-
cism of the Pharisees, which he
knew to be lying in wait for him.
1t IS not necessary to suppose, as
some do, that the sick man had
been placed in Jesus way with a
malicious purpose. He was there,
and the critics of the Master saw
their opportunity. They seemed
to have Him coming and going"
for it was desperately bad case,
1 and He might ANONYMOUSLY fail
of cure; and if He succeeded, He
would, in his very success, have
f1agrantly violated the Sabbath.
Jesus manfully takes the Sab
bath-desecration horn Of the di-
lemma; for He intends to heal the
sick man. He springs His snare
in His categorical question, "Is it
allowable to work a cure on the
Sabbath-day, or not?" Actions
speak louder than words. Jesus
answers His own question by an
instantaneous and complete cure
of the sick man. After this be-
nevolent parenthesis He clinches
the nail which he had driven in
His first question by asking an
other. (Which of you shall have
all ass or an OK fallen into a pit,
and will not straightway pull him
out on Sabbath day?" Amid
oninious silence the prescribed alb
lutions are attended to, the fe stive
cloak from the hosts own ward
robe is thrown about each guest,
and at length the banquet hall is
reached.
Now is witnessed the disgrace
full scramble for place at table, as
for the chief seats in the syna-
gogue. Although a concrete act
is specified, reference is in fact to
the subjective state of which the
act is "a true expression. The doing
Of the deed (for example the tax
ing of the lowest place at table,
without the appropriate subjective
state would either be destitute of
significance or it would be an in
stance Of hypocrisy. The outward
manner is the expression of all in
ward condition.
Jesus words may also be under
stood as picturing in an ironical
way Pride's defeat ofitself. Then,
too, he may be placing a premium
upon prudential course of con-
NOTABLE CAREER OF
AN AMERICAN GIRL.