Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-03-15
INTERNATIONAL
SUNMSC[lOOL
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS. Director OF Even.
ing Department, The Moody Bible In
stitute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR MARCH II.


HE PAHAEY III nEAEEbs
LESSON TExT-Mark 2:1-12.
GOLDEN TExT-"Bless the Lord, O
my soul, and forget not all his benefits;
who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who
healeth all thy diseases."-Ps 1923.
Events tread upon the heels of events
in the life of Jesus, especially during
his early Galilean ministry, and none
depict these events more graphically
than st. Mark, who is presenting us
picture of him as a servant.
Jesus had been upon a preaching
tour and now returns to the town of
Capernaum. AS soon as it was noised
about that he was at his home a
crowd quickly gathered about the
door. So great was the crowd that
there was no longer any room in the
house nor about the door. that Is the
crowd was so dense that late corners
could not look in to see and hear the
prophet
That many of these were attracted
by his popularity there is no doubt,
but it gave Jesus an opportunity to
speak and preach the word which he
was quick to seize upon. He preached
the Word unto them" Is this not a
suggestion for teachers? especially of
some of the adult classes.
If your class is Bible class stick TO
your text or else change your name.
The apostles followed his example in
this respect; so have all the mighty
men of God.
The result of this teaching and
preaching is manifest in this record
and should be an encouragement to
preachers and Christian workers, viz,
that it not only attracts the crowd
but that it reveals sin also.
Sickness Result Of Sin.
While all sickness may not be the
result of sin, yet remove sin from the
world and an overwhelming proper
ton, perhaps all, suffering would
cease. We are promised that in his
newer and better kingdom there is to
be no more pain nor sorrow. Jesus
therefore said first of all, Child, thy
sins are forgiven" How his voice
must have thrilled with tenderness
and pathos as he uttered these words.
But the critics were there; they
ever have been wherever a good
deed is being performed. Note they
were sitting idly by ". 81. Showing
no such anxiety as the four that the
needy might come into the presence
of Jesus.
"Who can forgive sin but one, even
God? Their reasoning was correct
and their conclusion was logical the
trouble was that unbelief and preju-
dice had so blinded their eyes that
they could not and would not recog
nize the power Of God working through
his Son. Yes, they went farther and
made the fatal blunder of ascribing
to Beelzebub this work of God (Jno.
10:33).
1t would seem as though their SNUG
self-esteem would at least have been
startled when this young teacher
showed them that he was reading the
thoughts Of their hearts. "Why rea-
son We these things in your hearts"
Human reasoning can disprove God.
but the deductions of the intellect can.
not satisfy the cry of human hearts
after God Dob. 1913, ~.
The greatest lesson for us to learn
at this point is that the forgiveness OF
sin is greater in the estimation of God
than the relief of human sufferings.
Turning to the one sick of the
palsy he said, 'Arise!" What?
Why such a thing is a phys
zeal impossibility Surely this young
prophet has gone mad; was not this
boy let down few moments ago
through that hole in yonder ceiling, so
helpless that 1t took four of his
friends to bring him to this placer"
In seeming reply to such query
Jesus tells the man to take up his bed
and walk
Jesus Could Make Men See.
Small wonder that the mans new
power and this use of that power
should amaze those present SO that
they should exclaim: I'VE never saw 1t
on this fashion" Let us beware that
our eyes be not blind to behold SINH
lar miracles in this the twentieth CEN
fury. (Read, "Twice-Born Menu.
1t is very doubtful il the "all'' of
verse IL includes the certain" of
verse 6. We must be careful that
even as believers we do not crowd
away some needy, palsied one. Be-
ware also of loveless consciousness.
What is meant by clarifying God
(v. 12)? The answer is suggested by
the spiritual seer, St John. Gods
glory is wrapped up in the Son who
delighted to do Gods will. Gods
power is shown over all flesh in the
Son, and through the Son he is giving
life-eternal life.
Let us glorify God over the fact and
hasten to bring others to the feet of