The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-03-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson X.-FirSt Quarter, For
March 6, 1910.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text of the Lesson, Matt. viii, 2-17.
Memory Verses, 2, 3-GoIden Text,
Matt. viii, 17-Commentary Prepared
by Rev. o. M. Stearns.


these chapters that the King having in
chapters v-vii declared the principles
of the kingdom, makes proof in chap
| ters viii and tx of his power to Danish
| from the earth the consequences of
sin and to control the elements of ma
ture. He also says that the word
the New Testament as the divine title
of Jesus the Christ and is equivalent
to the title "Adonai" in the Old Tesla
ment Matt. iii. 3; iv. I. 10; xii, 43, 45).
In future when quoting from these
notes from his new edition of the Ri
bic ! will give his initials, c. l. S.
In speaking of the kingdom the Spirit
says through the prophet The inhab-
liant shall not say | am sick; the peo-
pie that dwell therein shall be forgiven
their iniquity;' They shall obtain joy
and gladneSs. ana sorrow and sigh
ing shall Zee away" dsa xXxiii. -;
xxxv, 1Ol The kingdom Of heaven, ac-
cOrding to Dan. ii. a, being at hand
in the person and presence Of the king.
as declared by John the Baptist, Jesus
| Himself and the apostles chapters iii.
.; iv. Il; Y, ., the King declares His
power by a manifestation of several
features Of the kingdom. As we con
template the righteousness Of the king
dom as set forth in chapters Y to vii
and then the actual condition Of things
as they are about US I'm the world it is
certainly a coming down to.a much
lower level but it is TO lift people up
/ by the power Of the King and His
kingdom. and the multiudeS are ready
to hear Of such a kingdom Every
form Of physical suffering is suggestive
Of some disease Of the soul. but moth
ing is quite so strikingIy suggestive Of
sin as leprosv. which is so fully describ-
ed in Lev. xiii and xiv. Sin is ut the
root of all our troubles Can this man
who in His teaching claims TO be God
do anything with leprosy: This leper
believes that He can, but is not certain
! that He will. How the reply Of Jesus
must have filled him with an indie
scribable JOY. Il will; be thou clean
/ But these words came with the touch
Of Jesus, and with the touch and the
/ words came the cleansing and the
health immediately and the outcaSt
! could return to his home and friends
as a we'll man. That he may not
think that his healer is in any sense
contrary to the law of Moses he is
told to show himself to the priest ana
offer the gift commanded. Well may
We sing. Unto Him that lovcth us
and hath washed US from our sins in
His own blood
His fame is spreading (are we helping
to make Him known =, and now 1t is a
centurion from Capernaum who has
servant sick Of the palsy, grievously
tormeuted. Luke, who was a physi-
clan. says that the man was ready to
die, SO that he must have been very
sick. He also tells us that this serv-
ant was dear unto him and also that
first of all the elders of the Jews came
TO Jesus on his behalf. saying that the
centurion was worthy. that he loved
the Jews and had built them a Syna-
gogue luke vii, l-5l. Jesus knew the
centurion. as He knows all men and
needs no testimony from any one con
corning anybody John ii, 81, 25l, and
He knew him to be a man with no
thought Of his own worthiness verse
and Luke vii. 6. y. He said, Il will
come and heal him." and He went
with them As He neared the house
the centurion sent friends to say that
he did not consider himself worthy TO
have Jesus enter under his roof; but,
inasmuch as lie knew what it meant
to obey and be obeyed, if Jesus would
only say the word he was sure that
his servant would be healed. Jesus
marveled at the map and said to those
who followed, Verify | say unto you.
| have not found so great faith: no,
not in Israel verse TO- His word for
the centurion was, las thou hast be-
lieved, so be it done unto thee" and
those who had been sent, returning to
the house, found the servant whole.
Such faith on the part of a gentle led
the Lord Jesus to speak Of the king
dom into which many gentiles from
all the world will enter, while many
who think they are entitled to the
kingdom will be shut out by their un-
belief
The next instance Of His power is in
the house Of Simon Peter. whose
wifes mother is sick of fever, but
just the touch of His hand dispels the
fever. and she is seen ministering unto
. them. Sin paralyzes our bodies or con
sumes them with burning, destroying
desire, but He who takes away the re-
suit of sin by being made sin for us
can also deliver from every manifesto
ton of sin to the intent that we may
minister unto Him. AT even He cast
out evil spirits from many with His
word and healed all that were sick and
thus fulfilled a word in Isaiah, Him
self took our infirmities and bare our
sicknesses' Q6. IL.
1t is often asked, Is the health of the
body included in the atonement? We
reply that the same great sacrifice
which takes away our sins makes us
sure of q perfect body just like His
risen body. which shall never again be
weak or sick or old or die, but that
will be in the kingdom. All Of His