Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-03-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson x.-First Quarter, For
March 10, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


Matt. viii, 17-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. NJ. Stearns.
ing of the fever stricken and all man
ner OF diseased people and spirit pos
sessed people and the healing OF
a leper. are all samples OF the king
dom which was at hand. but w hich did
not come because they would. not have
Him. Verse 80 of our lesson summa-
rizes 1t briefly. He preached In their
synagogues throughout all Galilee and
cast out demons" II is more fully
stated in Matt. iv. %. And Jesus went
about all Galilee. teaching in their
synagogues and preaching the gospel
OF the kingdom and healing all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease
among the people" 1t was predicted
by the prophets that in the kingdom
the blind would see. the deaf hear. the
dumb sing. the lame leap as hart.
and no one complain because Of sick
ness. for iniquity would be forgiven
Qsa. xXxiii, "a; xxxv. ;. g.. 1t was
also predicted that in the kingdom
wolves and lambs. leopards and kids
calves and lions. cows and bears and
little children would all live in peace
together lisa. xi. 60: XIV. 25). No one
seems to expect these last mentioned
things until Jesus shall come again.
but many are wondering why they can
not be healed of all diseases even
though the Kingdom has not come.
They ask often complainingly, as not
the body as well as the soul included
In the atonement?" Yes; the great
atonement will reach the body, too.
and in the resurrection these bodies Of
our humiliation will be fashioned Ike
His glorious body. but till then we
must wait patiently in strength or
weakness, rs He may in His infinite
love and wisdom decide Some are
healed by His hand without a physi-
clan and some by His blessing upon
the physicians skill and medicine.
while some continue in weakness, and
many are passing out from the mortal
body. The truly devout soul says I'M
der all circumstances. Even so, Fa-
Their" and rejoices in the perfect will
OF God.
Our lesson verses 90 to 81 tell OF His
going from the synagogue to the home
OF Simon and Andrew, where SimOn's
wifes mother lay sick OF a fever. He
took her by the hand, rebuked the fe
yer, and Immediately she was we'll
and ministered to them. Compare the
ministry of angels in verse 13. Think
OF Samuel as n little boy ministering
to the Lord q Sam. Ill, ~ and let all
our service be unto the Lord and
before the Lord" Possibly more
might be healed If He saw that they
would minister unto Him, for He Is
seeking in every way to bring people
unto Himself that He may nil them
with His fullness (EX. xix. 1: ! Pet
iii, 1S).
Verses 81 to 81 tell OF all manner of
diseased and demon possessed people
being brought to Him to be healed
and it is written here and in the paral
lei accounts in Matthew and Luke tha.
He laid His hands on every one OF
them and healed them duke ~. 4O
that He cast out the spirits with Hi
word and healed all that were sick
that 1t might be fulfilled which wa.
spoke by Isaiah the prophet. saying
Himself took our infirmltieS and bare
our sicknesses" (Matt. viii, l6. n; Isa
lii. Il. If they had only received Him
as their Messiah the Lord would have
made bare His holy arm in the eyes OF
all the nations, and all the ends OF
the earth should have seen the saliva
ton Of our God lisa. Iii, 10), but be
cause He is still the despised and re
jected one OF Israel we continue H.
faith and patience TO wait for Ills re
turn. He needs no testimony from his
adversaries, so He suffered not the dc
mons to speak even though they said
Thou art Christ. the Son of God"
Lesson verses 80 to 80 tell of His ear
ly morning praying a great while be
fore day, having gone off to soil
tary place. Since He felt the need OF
being away from even these few dis
ciples that He might the better com
mune with His Father. how eau we
know much of real communion with
God in the constantly busy life that
so many lead? 1t is true that we can
pray to God anywhere and at any time.
but see no. He went away alone. 81
mon and the others found Him and
told Him that people were looking for
Him; then He said: Let us go into the
next towns" II must preach the king
dom OF God to other cities also" We
must not forget that "the field is the
world" and our orders are, Go ye into
all the world" The four lepers Of
Samaria should put us to shame with
their words: I'VE do not well. This day
is day Of good tidings. and we hold