The Green Forest tribune., 1912-03-08

| his gospel, "StralghtWay, or US equiv alent, forthwith" immediately" etc.
 Jesus, as was his custom, had been worshiping in the synagogue, and while there he had performed a great work of healing insomuch that his fame spread throughout the Galilean country; and forthwith as they enter Peters house there is presented an other difficult case, simon Peters wife's mother being sick of great fever" It Is a noticeable fact in the life of Jesus that he had his own par ticular intimate circle of friends with whom he loved to hold fellowship, the home in Bethany, and this home belonging to Simon Peter, are illus trations.
 Why does God permit sickness and sorrow to come to those who are manifestly his most intimate friends? To those who love him most? Why Peters wife's mother so greatly sick? Why allow Lazarus to die? These are heart-searching questions.
 Surely all suffering is not caused by sin directly, for many innocent ones suffer for the sins of the guilty; much is allowed "to manifest Gods glory; some suffering Is to test our faith, re- fining us as by fire; and some must be left to Gods inscrutable wisdom, i for surely we can allow him to do some things without explaining his acts to men. Note, however, that Jesus compassion caused him at once to show forth a beautiful example of the sort of personal work he would have us do.
 What the Act Teaches.
 Now note that the evidence of the cure is here also for "she minlstered unto them" It must have been a complete cure, else how could she go at once about her household duties? This act teaches us not only the fact of the cure but also that other lesson | spoken of by James in his epistle, viz, that the best method of showing our faith is by our works. God jus tif1es the believer through faith in his Son, but we are judged righteous be- fore the world by our works, By her loving ministrations to those of her household, and to Jesus who was their guest, this ancient mother-in-law showed her gratitude and love for this act of compassion on the part of Gods Son. God bless the mothers-in- law and stop our gossip.
 At the close of this busy day we can in our imaginations see the crowd of the city gathered about Peters door. "At even, when the sun did set 1 they brought unto him all, etc" One of the most charming and wonderful things about the Scriptures is that 1t says so much in so few words. One can feel himself a part of the crowd gathered at the close of that day, eager and anxious to see this new healer, and urgently, eagerly, present ing their loved ones that he may per form his healing ministrations ere the shades of night shut him from their sight, or perchanee he begin a jour- ney on the morrow. The record IS significant in the use of the word "all" in verse 32, and many" in verse 94, the plain inference Is that not all who came were healed Many are ] called but few chosen. Gods call Is to "whosoever," but man by belief or l by unbelief does the choosing; and further, even in Christ's day 1t Is plain that he did not banish nor heal i all disease.
 The next morning, "a great while before day" Jesus goes apart for | prayer. How much we need Gods | ,lal1 hN obtained only by going apart" to the place of secret communion, espe- cially in the day of our greatest sue cess and popularity. The danger of material or other success Is to turn mans thoughts away from God. AS man contemplates the prowess of his own arm or the achievements of his own brain the temptation is to trust | himself and not to trust God. Jesus knew the tests of service before Him and the need of vital contact with his Father Having gained this through this early morning watch, he was ready to reply to Peters unconscious test when he referred to Christ's pop ularity by saying that others had | u6Su Ol ulll. LHuSI picdCu lO liCh1 also, for this came into the world.
 Chief End of Christ's Ministry.
 The compulsion of a great mission gave Christ no time to consider the popular acclaim, or longer to pause at Capernaum, though there were doubtless others who needed his min istrations Healing of the body and | 4b iop oP iofr io 70 chief end of Christ's ministry. He came to establish kingdom and must preach the good tidings. for therefore was I sent" Social serv- ice Is indeed God-like, but Jesus tells us plainly that the soul is of more value than the body. (Matt. 6:33)
 But everywhere he went Jesus found opportunity for service, for in another city there came to him a man full of leprosy, that loathsome plague of the east At this point some refer ence should be made to medical mis- sions, to the work being done to re. lieve suffering in your own home town and upon the foreign field Refer to Isaiah's prophecy that Jesus was to bear our inf1rmities and our diseases. and emphasize that we are to follow in his steps. Contrast the human side as shown in verse 40 with the divine side manifest in verse Al and call attention again to Christ's personal touch In verse fl, with the result that having broken the eere monial law with regards to leprosy Jesus dare no more openly enter the city but dwelt without in desert places (v 45) Even there, however