Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-10-23
LESSON FOR OCTOBER Fl.
WANDERINGS IN DECAPOLIS.

LESSON TEXT-Mark 7:s1-s:l0.
GOLDEN TEXT-"He hath done all
hings well: He maketh even the deaf
o hear and the dumb to speak."-Mark
':37 r. v.
Last week we saw our Lord IN the
region Of Tyre and Sidon dealing with
he SyrOphenlcian woman. In 81
(R. W We now see him journeying
back towards the Sea of Galilee
through the border of that section con-
tanning ten cities, for that IS what the
word Decapolis means.
l. JESUS THE HEALER wv 81
10. Jesus had gone north seeking rest
but he could not be hid" and now
lpon his return he continues to meet
these sad cases which need healing.
and who are brought to him by their
intensely interested friends. Jesus
does not need beseeching. He whose
heart was touched with compassion is
ready to hear the faintest cry.
This first section is rich with sug-
gestions. Jesus takes the man apart
suggesting the necessity for individ-
ual personal dealing with God. Men
are not saved en- masse but as sepa-
rate individuals, 1t could not be other
wise and have a man retain his per-
sonality. To work any cure for our
sins Jesus demands our individual at
tentiOn. Then Jesus placed his fin
gers in the mans ears; suggesting
| he added emphasis that we must come
into personal contact with God II We
would be healed. We may stop to rea-
son Elsa. 1:1S) with him but our sins,
| that be as scarlet. will not be removed
unless We come by personal, individ-
ual, experience under the blood, (Eph.
I'D.
His blood avails for all our race.
His blood avails for me-"
Moistening the mans tongue with
his own saliva suggests that the source
| OF healing is to be in Jesus own per.
son. Our salvation is not in the words
he spake. nor the life he lived. but the
life he gave (Heb. 9:1214).
Fellowship With God.
Jesus also looked to heaven, indicat-
ing that we must continue in fellow
ship with God, and also indicating his
own fellowship with the father. Jesus
sighed over the wreck Of sin. The son
OF man came to bear our sorrows and
to share our griefs. Elsa. $500. At
tention has been called to the signs
and the tears of Jesus. II our pray
ers were more accompanied by tears
and heartfelt signs they would be
more powerful. (cf. Romans S:26).
It is equally true that if our signing
were accompanied by more prayers
we would accomplish more in his king.
dom.
After these preliminary and sugges-
tive acts Jesus spoke the one word
"Ephphatha"-B opened-and deaf
ears were opened TO words of praise
and counsel and 70 the cry of distress.
Loosed was the mans tongue to speak
his word Of personal testimony and to
witness for his healer. Read Isaiah
321-4 and 1874, 5.
II. JESUS THE PROvIDER wv.
lilo, CT. Matt. 15:32-3S)
The tremendous stir Jesus caused
is graphically suggested by Mark IN
verse one OF this section. From far
and near they had gathered and now
at the end of the third day their small
supply Of food is exhausted. We are
told by John (6:26. ~ why they had
followed him. still they were deeply
interested in him and considered him
to be a prophet John GID. Never
theless Jesus was moved with a com
passion then, even as now he is moved
when he beholds US in our unworth,
mess.
No Hunger Too Great.
The compassion of Jesus is a very
active principle, it does not consist of
signs and lamentations, or of investi,
cations and condemnation OF cOndi-
tions. His compassion causes him to
act. But the disciples are aghast at
his suggestion that he feed this null
titude of about four thousand"
whence shall one be able to fill these
men with bread" (R W? On the 9th
er occasion Jesus had asked Philip,
who lived in the nearby town OF Beth.
saba, where they might find bread !;
but now they are in 4 desert place.
1t may seem strange for the disciples
to ask such a question. lie had fed q
larger number with smaller resources.
After taking stock ". 81 Jesus com.
mands the people to sit down. He
received their seven loaves ". g. and
brake and gave. first to the disciples.
and through them to the people. Such
as they had, first given to him. respond.
ing to his touch. was enough and to
spare ". 81. When we give him our
all he will bless. multiply and use.
Our Golden Text ". 80 is suggestive
of a wide application in teaching this
lesson. We have in this lesson two Incl.
Z dor,tc ill..s trn both xro n,