The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-14

February 25. 1906. Mark ii. 1-12.
GOLDEN TEXT
The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive
sfns.-Mark H. 10.
DAILY HOME READINGS.
M-Mark ii. liz THIS Wifi 1Aos
mark H. 1928. F.-Ezek xxxv $3.50
W.-Mark Xi1-13 S-Matt " %
S.-Luke V. 1926.
After our last lesson, Jesus with his few disci-
pies made a short preaching tour through Gaee
ana returned to Capernaum, when the incident of
this lesson occurred. 1T was noised that he was
In the house" The houses usually one story
with fiat roof outside stairs-this NAV havd
been the house he occupied with his mother and
brethren or that of Peter. and many were
gathered together" Jesus becoming widely
known as a great teacher and miracle worker-rt
was about the middle of the second year of his
ministry. In his audience were some of the most
lhhuentlal and learned of the Jews, Pharsees and
doctors of the law. He spake the word unto
them" We will be tempted to envy those who
heard him preach, if lose sight of our richer
privilege in having completed revelation and the
Holy Spirit to take of the things of Christ and
snow them unto us. The subjpect of lesson is
a miracle that illustrates the forgiveness of sins
The account is that helpless paraIytc carried by
-FOUR of his friends, is unable get through the
crowd to Jesus; they uncovered the flat roof
and lowered the bed in front of Jesus. This shows
faith on the part of the sick man, or his friends
most probably of both and the obstacles to be
overcome to reach Jesus seem to have increased
their faith. Obstacles in the way do not always
mean that God wants us to stop but are often IN
increase our earnestness and to fit us for larger
blessings
Jesus who can read all hearts, seeing their faith
sald unto the sick of the palsy Son, (Matthe--
adds, be of good cheer,) thy sins be forgiven thee
TO mans eye, bodily healing was all thew were
seeking. Jesus saw deeper, and gave the best
along with the lesser blessing. Many times he
gives us the best while denying us the lesser bless
ing; ana IL we are trusting him. content for
the best is always Himself But certain of the
scrlbes were reasoning in their hearts and Jesus
Immediately perceived it. The scrfbes, reasonine
was right. Sins against God and in the ma
ture Oh the case he only forgive. So that thew
might know that the Son of Man hath power ON
earth TO forgive sins. He exercised divine power
saying. L say unto thee, Arise take up thv bed and
go unto thy house. The obeyng Jesus ex
PLANTATION to the scribes being that it was easier +
say Cnot to forgive) thy sins be forgiven thee be-
cause not one of them could tell whether thew
were or not Than to say, Take up thy bed and
go INTO thy house, when each one could see whetb-
er ne did it or not If they were convinced he was
heaed they should be convinced that his sins were
forgiven; and that he Son of Man who hath novver
on earth to forgive sins-fs the Son of God
Ihey were all amazed and glorifed God
Ihey ala ascrfbe honor and glory to God as the
source of this benefcent power
Our lesson gives us a study on What is Sin and
what is forgiveness, and some one has arranged
Tor u.s. with references, nine words used i'm the BIZ
Die for sim Missing the mark; 2 Debt; 3 Law
lessness; 4 Disobedience; 5 Trespass; Fault.
Defeat; Unpiousness; Discord. And nine ex
pressions for forgiveness-F remit taI,o
away cover up, blot out, destroy. wash AVA,
cleanse, remember no more
CHE did not affirm that it was easier to forgive
than to heal)