Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-03-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson xL.-First Quarter, For
March II, 1912.
TIE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Mark II. lie.
Memory Verses, s-f1-Golden Text.
Ps. CHI, 2, @Commentsry Prepared
by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.

AFTER the meaning OF the leper great
multitudes came together to hear Him
and to be healed by Him of their in
firmities. We can hardly imagine the
innumerable happy homes. because
where once sickness and suffering
ruled now all Is health and peace be
cause OF Him who. being anointed
with the Holy Ghost and with power
went about doing good and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil, God
being with Hin facts X. 3S). See In
this verse. aS in so many others. the
Father. Son and Holy Spirit. all fOI
us. and compare Rom. viii. 20. 31-34. In
Luke V. Ii. we read that He withdrew
Himself into the wilderness and pray
ed. There was always a conscious
oneness with the Father which we do
not experience, because He always in
all things pleased the Father John
wifi. 20; Matt. xvii. -. The healing
OF today's lesson Is recorded in Matt.
TX and Luke V, as we'll as in Mark
Having returned TO Capernaum, the
people soon found it out, and such
crowds gathered as to prevent all ac-
PhariSees and doctors of the law from
Galilee. Judea and Jerusalem hat
gathered to hear Him, and He preach
ed the word unto them. and the power
Of the Lord was present to heal then.
(verse .: Luke V, Ia. But in theil
own estimation they needed no heal
ing. for they did not know that with
all their learning they were wretched
and miserable and poor and blind anG
naked Rev iii. la. The religious god
of this world. the devil, had blinded
their minds lest the light should shin,
unto them III Cor. iv. A.. What a con
trast to their proud self suficiency ana
Indifference to the welfare OF Others
Is seen in these four men who brought
their palsied friend to Jesus. no doubt
fully persuaded that II they could only
reach Him with the sick one they
would not need to carry him away. foI
he would certainly be healed. l have
met people who were afraid that they
had not come TO Jesus in the right
way, but did ever any one come to
Him in so strange a way as this? ]
have often wondered what the Phari-
sees and doctors thought Of having the
roof broken up over their heads, YET
we cannot help laughing within US. No
matter how they might scowl, for the
friends succeeded in getting him into
the midst before Jesus" duke V, 49,
In each OF the three accounts it Is
written that Jesus saw their faith, the
faith of the four who brought him. Sc
In Matt. viii, 10; XIV. IS: John ". 30
1t was the faith Of another that
brought health to the servant, the
daughter and the son. May the words
i'm Ps. Xxx. 4, .. Grant thee according
to thine own heart and fulfill all tn!
counsel, all thy petitions,
strengthen some to lay hold upon Goo
for others. In Matt. TX. =. we have the
first BE OF good cheer" from the lip'
OF the Lord. See other four in Matt
tx, %; xiv, 81: John XVI. 33; Acts xiii
IL. The four words are In the Greek
just one word of six letters. but wha
word. All from Him who alone &
able really to cheer or comfort us
Then hear what follows. Thy sins ar
forgiven thee" This is what the maj
heard it for my own soul In the sum
mer OF 18iJ from / John ii. l.. wit
John 1, -. Have you heard Him sa
IT to you? II not, why? There ca,
be no real comfort without It, Tn
scribes anC pharisees began TO reaso
in their hearts: This man Is a bias
phemer. " no can forgive sins bu
God only. If they had though
This mus be God come down
earth, for only God can forgive sins.
they would have been correct. but I
them He was only n man. man c
the commo. people and blaspheme
Knowing t.elr thoughts. He read thel
aloud to 4 1. and we might Suppos
that this aid have led them TO sc
in Him more than mere man. br
they were Oroughly blinded by tn
god OF this world. Then. announciI
Himself al the Son of man havin
power on earth to forgive sins. Il
said to the sick man. arise and tai
up thy bed and go thy way into thiI
house" Immediately he did as
was hidden. and they were all amaze
and glorified God. saying. I'VE new,
saw it in this fashion" I'VE have SEE
strange things today (verse II: Lul
V, 2G,. We may imagine the 70,
friends rejoicing greatly and saying
others that Is what we expected. a
we giving the Lord cause to say
us, 20 We Of little faith" or. Great
thy faith, be It unto thee even as tn,
wilt" His calling Himself Son
Man" might have led them to thir
OF Ps. viii and of one who was
have all things subdued unto Him,
OF Dan. vii. Is. IA. and of one who
dominion would be an everIastil