The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-24
The International Sunday
School Lesson.
First Quarter. Lesson VIII.
Mark ii.1-12. February o5. 1906.
BY Rev. Davis W. Clark. d. D.
Jesus Power to Forgive.

It was no matter Of caprice that Jesus
went to CapeInaum. 1t was the center
OF population. There were nine large
cite, o., In n immediate proximity; And the
proxinated three million souls. Com
parntively remote from the ecclesiastical
center OF Palestine. the prejudice to the
new Teacher and His doctrine was cor
the Masses. There was an Irresistible
attractiveness in Jesus. People flew to
Him Ike Iron filings to a magnet. He
drew men to Himself. He could not be
hid. He Is still the most attractive and
conspicuous parsonage of all history, and
having been lifted up. is drawing an
ever-increasins multitude TO Himself.
But each must determine for himself
whether this attraction shall result In a
permanent attachment to the Master.
Alas FOR Capernaum! II was for the most
or loaves and fishes, that brought the
populace to Jesus: and so a city exalted
to heaven is brought down to hell 1t
rs an utter desolation, as indeed is the
floats on Galilee. where once goodly
fleet rode at anchor. Jesus words. Woe
unto thee. Capernaum!" seem to wake
the echoes of complete desolation.
Once when Jesus. in the very house
where he was seeking repose, was be-
seiged by an audience that completely
choked up the courtyard and the very
approach to it, stirring incident
whom may have had personal and
happy experience OF Jesus power to heal
picked up an afflicted friend as he' lay
upon his mat, and brought him joyously
We're 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
take the kingdom of heaven by storm.
They carried the paralytic up the out
side staircase to the fiat roof.
They dug up the hard. sun-dried, earth
ing their friend into the room below.
There were helping hands reached up
from the. astonished auditors below. and
n anaes at w Jssus gently feet ana mt
but powerful appeal, that! Jesnss
first words were indescrlbably COM
forting: Son, he Of good cheer" But
there Is surprising change In the for
mula. II Is not a rebuke to disease. 1t
Is a categorical. authoritative remission
OF sin. The startling words could not
escape the notice of the inquisitorial CO.
terie of scribes and Pharisees. 1t was not
intended they should. 1t was Jesuss
gauntlet at their feet. They picked IT ,lp,
but not in audible words of dissent. On
niscience unveiled their unspokcn words
as Jesus said: "Omnirotence knows notfl-
ing of degrees. One thing is not easier
or harder to it than another. 1t is equal
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 wonder the people said, as the
audience dispersed I'VE have seen
strange things to-day Our ives revar
beheld anything to match this scene.''
We never saw 1t on this fashion"
The Teacher Lantern.
An admirable example, this. of strong
and practical human sympathy. This
gathering up of those who have been
felled to earth by adversely. disea,,> and
sin; this carrying them In the arms OF a
strong, faith to Him who Is mighty to
OF combination--see that. too, in this
stirring word-picture. No one OF these
four believers could alone have carried
his friend to Jesus. The four together
did 1t with case. The children OF this
world are wiser in this respect. 1t is the
age of combination in every sphere.
Much spiritual force is frittereI away III
sporadic effort. Let Christians "get to-
gether" for the ACCOMPLISHMENT of def
mite ends Persistence is finely
illustrated here. No one of the four got
weary in well-dong, or lot go his corner
of the mattress. Faint hearts would have
failed at sight OF such obstacles. But
these believers We're not made of such
stuff They did not once look back. Tney
ran their filrrow to the end of the field.
This is the quality that wins In every
sphere; in religion no less than In art,
literature, commerce, exploration and all.