Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22

ity. In doing this they went to an ex-
treme. thinking that "A mere conformity
was all that was necessary. Hence they
carefully Interpreted every comma ndment
and learned men devoted their time and
talents to explain the various enactments.
They were particularly strict in sabbath
observance. that stood in the very
heart of the DecaloEue Exodus. NX Gid,
and was commended in many ways with
promises fsiah. lviii:13l. This cured
man. carrying his bed in the streets OF
Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. attracted
the attention OF these legaiists. They
wholly overlooked the fact that the man
so long helpless had been restored and
chided him as a Sabbath breaker. The
carrying of burden was not lawful.
UNKNOWN PHYSICIAN Oversees. II.
l3)-To this accusation there was hut one
defense. and that WAS quickly made. He
was only obeying the command Of Him
who had affected the cure. And that was
defense enough. a man who had power
to restore. certainly had authority con-
corning a holy day. The right 10 regu-
late institutions is involved i'm the ability
To bless men for whom institutions are
made. That was Christ's logic mark.
ii:2O. The responsibility for carrying the
burden was thus transferred. But who
had presumed to grant s;fch privilege?
The Jews Were determined to know. Tor
they were shocked by this open violation
of the established custom and the rab-
binical Interpretation of the law. They
pressed the cured man Tor ln1OffndllOns
but he could not give i. After speaking
the authoritative word. Jesus had immedi.
ately departed. He mingled in the great
throng that Was gathered about. and no
one could distinguish Him from any other
man. He did not care for recognition. He
had performed in an una assuming way an
act of great kindness and then disappear
ed.
LATER REPORT tVerses l4-1SD-But
the search for the transgressor did not
the broken law would have been overlook.
ed in the great desire to find Him who
could do such mighty work. and that.
having found Him. all would hasten to do
Him honor. Not So-these legaliSts fol-
lowed the man until he laid down his bed
and afterward to the temple. not to re-
joice with him. but TO learn who had
authorized unlawful deed on the Sab
bath. AT last they succeeded. Jesus
met the healed man and gave him whole
some advice-;lot to sin again. lest worse
thing come upon him. implying that the
first infection was the result OF sin. A
worse thing? What could be worse
than to be helpless thirty eight years. a
stranger TO all the delights Of ordinary
life? So ChriA came to be known to the
one He had befriended, and he. as the
Jews pressed him for information. told
them. He probably meant no harm Ina
this. He may have thought that the per-
son would justify the deed. But. instead.
some were ready to STAY Jesus as a male.
factor (yerSe 49,
CLOSING THOUGHTS. 1t is a hap
py day when an unfortunate man Is
brought near to Jesus. A word from Him
will assure that which is needed. =.
Mans helplessness affords opportunity for
Divine power. What we cannot do God
can do. 3. But God works on condition.
We must be made. ready for Him. Our
desires must precede His gifts a prep
aration for them. 4. Was ever a good
deed done that did not excite some criti-
cism? Need We expect to escape OPPOSE
ton II Jesus encountered it? ;. Most good
deeds are done without publicity. He
labors best who is least ostentatious. Let
the deed speak and its doer be forgotten
q. 1t is a frightful condition of society
when regulations. enacted in the name OF
religion, interfere with the privilege to do
good. Z. Some of the consequences OF
sin are I'm this life. affecting the body.
to escape which requires constant care.
g. The law of man was broken, that one
might be prevented from breaking the law
Of God.