The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-03-07
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNMS01OOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR MARCH 10.
JESUS THE HEALER.
tBy r O SELLERS. Director Of Even
ing Department The Moody Bible In
sttute % ChicagoD


t,es and bare our disease. Matt s;i1.
Forty one times 81. Mark makes use
OF what Is n distinguishing word In
his gospel. "straightway." or Its equiv
alent. forthwith" Immediately" etc
Jesus. as was his custom. had been
worshiping In the synagogue. and
while there he had performed great
work Of healing insomuch that his
fame spread throughout the Galilesn
country; and forthwith as they enter
Peters house there IL presented an
other dificult case. Simon Peters
vifes mother being sick OF great
fever" II IL a noticeable fact In the
life OF Jesus that be had his ows par
ticular intimate circle OF friends with
whom he loved 20 hold fellowship.
the home In Bethany. and this home
belonging to Simon Peter are lllus-
trations
Why does God permit sickness and
sorrow to come TO those who are
mapifestly his most intimate friercs'
To those who love him most!
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-
hning us as by FIRE: and some must
be left 10 Gods inscrutable wisdom.
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 ls here also for she ministered
unto them" II must have been n
complete cure. else how could she 70
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
tifes the believer through faith In his
Son. but We are judged righteous be-
fore the world by our works. by her
loving ministrations 20 those OF her
household. and 10 Jesus who was
their guest. this ancient motherlnlsv
showed her gratitude and love for this
ac; OF compassion on the part OF
Gods Son. God Hess the mothers-in-
Law and stOp our Eossip
Al 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
they brought unto him all. etc" One
OF the most charming and wonderful
things about the Scriptures is that e
says so much in so few words One
can feel himself q part Of the crowd
gathered at the close Of that day.
eager and anxious 10 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 perchance be begin a jour
ney on the morrow. The record II
significant in the use OF the word
"all" in verse 81. and many" IN verse
%
The next morning. "A great while
before day" Jesus goes apart for
prayer How much We need Gods
presence and wisdom which can be
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 %
or other success Is To turn
mans thoughts away from God As
man contemplates the prowess Of his
own arm or the achievements OF bis
own brain the temptation is 20 trust
himself and not 20 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 10 reply 10 Peters unconscious
test when he referred 10 Christ's pop
llarity by saying that others had
need OF him. | must preach TO them
also, for this came into the world.
Chief End Of chrisrs Ministry.
The compulsion OF a great mission
gave Christ no time to consider the
popular acclaim. or longer TO pause
II Capernaum. though there were
doubtless others who needed his min.
situations. Healing OF the body and
he relief OF human distress Is not the
chief end OF Christ's ministry. he
,ame to establish a Kingdom and
must preach the good tidinEs, for
therefore was I sent" Social serv-
ee IL indeed God.llke. but Jesus tells
Is plainly that the soul is OF more
'alue than the body. Matt $3.50
Three great lessons can be empha.
,ixed, Eirst Llama husx uf. ~ -