The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson lIl.-Fourth Quarter, For
OCT. 20, 1912.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

2s-GoIden Text, John vi, 37-conn"
Ensntary by Rev. .. VI. stsarns.
The two incidents OF these lessons,
though far separated as to the time of
their occurrence, are both Illustrations
Of great faith on the part Of two people
who were not Of Israel-foreshadow.
ings no doubt, of the time when bless
ing shah so from Israel and her right
eous king to all other nations, as set
forth In Ps. xvii and many other
places in such wonderful words as
these, "God be mercifuI unto us and
bless us, that Thy way may be known
upon earth. Thy saving health among
all nations" and meantime contrasting
the '7ittle faith" or mo faith Of Is
rael with the great faith" of those OF
lesser privilege.
The story OF the woman Of Tyre and
Sidon follows In the regular order of
events, while that OF the Roman CEN
turion takes MS back to a time just
after the choosing OF the twelve apes
ties. Both events are recorded by
Matthew; the centurion also in Luke
vii and the gentle woman In Mark in
the lesson OF today. The great words
In each lesson are, to my mind, 20 wo-
man, great is thy faith, be it unto thee
even as thou w.t." and Verify / say
unto you, I have not found so great
$nS%h Nn ~~A a. T,s.naI a. kh~
way, and as thou hast believed, so be
it done unto thee" QLatt. XIV, Is: viii,
1913.
Taking the story Of the centurion
drst, we note that his servant, who
was dear unto him, was sick unto
death, and the messengers who came
to Jesus on his behalf spoke Of the
centurion's love for the nation and how
he had built them a synagogue; but
the centurion himself said, either per-
sonally or by his messengers, that he
was not worthy to have the Lord Je-
sus come under his roof, but that II
He would only speak the word his
servant would be healed. When the
messengers returned to the centurion's
house they found the servant whole
that had been sick. He had been heal
ed In the same hour that Jesus had
said, ~As thou hast believed, so be 1t
done unto thee."
AS Jesus commended the centurion's
faith He said to the people that many
would come from all parts and share
the kingdoms with Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, while, many who supposed. they
were sure OF it would find themselves
cast into outer darkness. How essen
tial 1t is that we become In Gods way
His children and know that our names
are written I'm heaven duke K, 20; Rev.
Xxx, 15; xxi, 3, for many who profess
to be His viii have to hear Him say,
II never knew you, depart from Me"
CMatt. vii 21-23). Mark the poverty
of spirit of the centurion, no self con-
ceit or consciousness Of the importance
Of his position, but evidently from his
heart, lord, I am not worthy, Some
thing of the spirit of him of Luke xviii,
13, IA, who went to his house justified
There Is only one who Is truly worthy,
and when we take our right place be-
fore Him He is ready to honor all the
faith we place in Him.
AS to the other incident I have often
thought that Jesus went away of there
to be refreshed by that woman's great
faith, for knowing all things He knew
all about her and her trouble, and the
way she would come to Him and cling
to Him and take no denial. Nothing
pleases Him like faith, and without
faith it is impossible to please Him.
1t is written that the centurion's serv-
ant was dear unto him, but here 1t Is
a mother pleading for her own daugh-
ter who must have been dear to her,
and specially dear because OF her af-
fiction, for the sick one In a home gen.
orally has the sympathy Of all. AS we
think Of those who are dear to Us do
we consider the words Of our Father in
heaven concerning His only begotten
Son, '"This is My beloved Son in whom
/ am well pleasedY' John lii. 10;
Matt. iii, II; xvii. B.. Let us also lay
to heart that we do not honor the Fa-
ther unless we honor the Son; and that
since God spared not His own Son He
will with Him also freely give us all
things John v, %; Rom. viii, 32).
Probably this distressed mother did
not know these great truths, but she
knew that she had a greatly afflicted
daughter, she had heard of this won
derful teacher who could heal all dis
eases and cast out demons and had no
doubt longed to reach Him, but He was
too far away, and SO her case seemed
hopeless. But now He had come near
to her, the blessing was within her
reach, and as o o as possible she Is
at His feet ~beseeching Him for her
daughter. To get the complete record
we must put the accounts in Matthew
and Mark side by side. To her first
appeal Jesus answered her not a word.
The disciples besought Him to send
her away. He then said that He WAS
sent only to the lost sheep Of the
house Of Israel. She first cried unto
Him as the Son OF David, now she
says. Lord, help me-" To this he re-
piled. "It is not meet to take the chill
dren's bread and cast 1t unto the dogs"
Then came her conquertng appeal,
"Yes, Lord. yet the dogs under the
table eat of the chiIdren's crumbs"
willing to own herself q gentle dog
pleading for a crumb. she gets all she
On mo FOR IHfnr this saving 90 thy