The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-03-14
LESSON FOR MARCH II.
THE PARALYTlc HEALED.

THE PARALYTIc HEALED.
LESSON TExT-Mark 21-i2
GOLDEN TExT-"Biess the Lord. O
my soul. and forget not all his benefits;
who forgfveth al. thine iniquities; who
hea.eth all thy diseases."-rs. 1o3:2-3.
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
1 picture Of him as servant.
Jesus had been upon a preaching
tour and now returns to, the town OF
Capernaum. AS soon as 1t 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 30 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 1t 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
suggestion for teachers? especially OF
some of the adult classes that the
strongest lesson you can present Is
not that which considers some prob
lem of the day" but that which is
founded upon Gods word. OF course
we must consider these problems, but
properly and only In the light of the
! Scriptures.
! 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 1t not only attracts the crowd,
but that 1t reveals sin also While
i Jesus is speaking the Gospel OF the
Kingdom mentioned in last weeks les
son, there came four friends bearing
one sick of the palsy. Graphically re-
lated in a few brief words we can
see these friends as they found the
crowd about the door, They determin-
ed at all hazards to get the sick man
into the presence of Jesus Quickly
gaining access to the dat-roofed east
ern home they tore hole in the roof
large enough to let their friend down
into the room below where Jesus Is
speaking. What an example of team
play. What an illustration Of Jesus
words that the violent shall take his
kingdom by force. The damage was
trivial as compared with getting into
the presence of Jesus. The roof could
easily be repaired.
Sickness Result of Sin.
Is it small wonder that Jesus at
ance responded to. this manifestation
cs determination and faith? Seeing
their faith" he at once granted their
petition.
| 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 good
deed = being performed. Note they
We're sitting idly by ". g.. 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. 1888, ~.
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 thing is a phys
teal impossibility. Surely this young
prophet has gone mad; was not this
boy let down few moments ago
through that hole in yonder ceiling. 30
helpless that It took four of his
friends to bring him to this placer"
In seeming reply to such a query
Jesus sells the man to take up his bed
and w,tlk.