Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-17
for SUNDAY Scbools.
STAR LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 10.
By Rev. !. E. Gilbert, DID,,
.. "a DAY OF MIRACLES AT oAPERNAUM" Mark i:2la4.

CONTENT. II will be remembered
by the Bible student that after His rejection
at Nazareth Jesus made his home I'm Caper-
naun. Having established His residence
In that city He went down to the Sea or
Galilee nearby. where occurred the events
studied I'm our last lesson. With the dis
oiples who followed Him on witnessing the
marvellous draught of fishes, He returned
to Capernaum to the work of His ministry
among the people 1t was important that
profound impression should be made upon
the minds OF all classes. Capernaum was
the metropolis of northern Galilee. lis
tradesmen dealt with the entire region
round about Immense caravans passed
through the city, leaving merchandise from
distant parts. Withal, the people possessed
that earnestness and practical intelligence
which are characteristic of commercial
communities We shall see how Jesus made
single day tell for His cause.
SURPRISE oversees 2l-22). Returning.
with the four disciples to Capernaum, which
was their home. also, Jesus entered into the
synagogue on the Sabbath to teach. This
was His custom duke iv:3D. Pre-eminent-
ly He was a teacher. Whatever else He
sought to do He desired above all to cor
rect the popular errors of the time and 60
lead men into the truth. He expected His
cause to prosper In and throuS h the truth
John viii:32l. What He said on that oc-
casion is not recorded. Without doubt His
words were full of wisdom were all His
utteranceS, But those who heald were sur
prised. not so much by the substance as the
manner of His speech. He did not apNI
proach His themes after the method of the
scribes, as If feeling about for the truth
but He spoke with authority, as If personal
ly endowed with knowledge.
OUTCRY Oversees 1920. In the syna-
gogue at the time there was man possess
ed by an evil spirit. There were many such
urfortunates in the time of Christ mark
k2O indication that the Internal
world sought to oppose the Lord of Glory,
after failing to overcome Him CMatthew
V;D. The man evidently desired rellef
from his hard master, else he would not
have come to the synagogue. But the
demon did not relnquish his control. On
seeing Jesus he cried out, using the man
vocal organs in an incoherent way. First
he asked that the two might be left alone,
in undisturbed union, and protested that IN
such state they had no relation with Jesus
and desired none. Next he raised the ques-
ton whether Jesus intended to dissolve the
bends by which they were Joined, intmat-
ing that both would be destroyed thereby.
Finally, speaking for himself alone, as a
confessed the divinity Of Christ.
RELEASE oversees 25-2d). This testi-
mony may have been intended TO coucIiate
the favor of Jesus and so avert what was
dreaded. 1t had precisely the opposite ef-
feet. It was not proper TO allow such words
from foul spirits and the demon was re |
buked and ordered to be silent (Acts xvi:16-
1S). This display of authority was follow
ed by a command looking to the release OF
the miserable man who was held In bond
age. Come out of him." was the stern
and peremptory utterance. 1t is probable
that the man, realizing that his deliverer
had come, attempted some self-asseruon
for liberty, while the demon true to the ma |
ture of all the demons, desired to be in
carnated. and dreaded to be forced into a
dsembodied state CMatthew vii:3D. A
fierce conflict ensued. during which the man
was thrown in the midst luke iv;35), and
finally left free. The devil, yielding to the
power Of Christ as he returned to his own
proper state, cried out with pain (Matthew
WILD.
QUESTIONS oversees 27-2s). The sur
prise awakened by the teaching of Jesus
now gave place to the wonder caused by
his deeds The authority OF wisdom had
been succeeded by the authority Of power.
All in the synagogue, the disciples and the /
hystanders We're amazed they beheld |
the Master not only full of wisdom. but |
q BILE to control Unclsan spirits. An animated !
discussion followed, as all sought solu- |
ton of the mystery. What had really trans !
pired-what was the nature of the deed? /
And what did It signify? As miracles were
supposed to be the credentials of divine
teachers John. tii:2), what new doctrine
was to be set forth by this miracle-%orkerE |
The questions could not be answered.
Jesus Himself, who alone could have an
left to make its own impression. But the /
deeper the mystery the more the wonder
full deed was reported abroad, and the fame
of Jesus spread far and wide throughout |
all the region round about,
SICKNESS oversees $500. Peter was
married as were most of the apostles q Cor, !
ix:5), the conjugal relation being then held |
essential to a bishop q Tim, HID. With |
him resided his wifes mother, probably an |
aged widow, and Andrew, his brother per
haps a bachelor. After the expulsion OF /
the demon Jesus retired from the syn |
agogue and sought the quiet of this little !
family just such a respite from public du- |
ties as every man requires TO prepare him |
for further service. James and John &C |
him. Opportunity was thus pre- |
scented for one of those confidential inter |