Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-24
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

was a most desperate one. who for
,thirty-eight years had been a victim
| of the vices Of his youth. He appeared
to be almost hopeless. and although
many had been cured none had return
ed to help him in when the waters bub-
bled up.
| The success of the Masters treat
ment was marked first by the diagnosis
| made of the mans wretched condition
by the observing Lord. The average
physician fails in his diagnosis because
| he neglects to consider all the factors
in the case. Jesus picked out this vet
| eran among the suffering multitude,
! knowing his infirmity and that he was
chronic case. His face betrayed to
the glance of the Christ that the man
was paralyZed both in mind and body.
/ 1t was the mental condition of the
; paralytic that called forth the search
ing question, ''Wouldst thou be made
whole?' Many mendicants are so NOR
| ally diseased that they prefer to remain
| in that condition. so as to trade upon
| the sympathy of the public and the
kindness of friends.
| The startling question accomplished
the Lords purpose. for it aroused the
dormant mental life. quickened his ex-
pectations, revived his dead hopes and
fitted him for the exercise of faith.
The effect of the words of Jesus is ap-
parent because his answer reveals how
that the man felt as if he had been
| charged with carelessness or indiffer-
ence. He claimed that 1T was due to
his poverty and helplessness that he
had not been able to take advantage
of the healing waters.
Christ gave him help from an unex-
pected source when He ordered him
walk" The command of Jesus was one
that the sufferer could not obey of him
self, yet they had been spoken in such
a suggestive manner that it opened
new world of hope to him, filing him
with the faith that If he obeyed the
words of the sympathetic stranger he
would be cured. He obeyed the Lord
without asking a single question or
stating any difficulties toward his obey
ing the command. He had not asked
help, but now when Jesus ordered him
to demonstrate his faith he obeyed the
Masters commands. and was healed in
the act of obeying. He proved that he
was completely restored by taking up
his sleeping mat and walking with it
to his home, even though it was the
Sabbath day, and carrying his bed
would excite as much comment then as
carrying any bundle will on the Lords
day in America
He justified his disregard of the Gus
toms of Sabbath observance by citing
the authority of his healer. who had
ordered him to do it. The fau1t-hndfng
members OF the Sanhedrin sought to
find out who was the healer that had
custom. The man in his joy at his re-
covery had gone on without stopping
to find out who was the physician.
Although the man was Indifferent to
unto him when He warned him against
the danger of relapse if he again
sinned. One can hardly think of any
thing worse than he had suffered. but
such Jesus warned him he would meet
If he returned to his old way of living.
OF n
thing Of the severity of Gods judg-
mentS.
One cannot state why the healed man
went and told the Jewish leaders that
it was Jesus who had healed him. He
may have been prompted by the spirit
of gratitude. desiring the rulers to honor
the Christ 1t may have been because
they had inquired and he wished to
comply with their request He probably
did not realize how they would COM
mence to prosecute the Master because
He had healed him. and commanded him
to carry his bed upon the Sabbath day.
The Lords reply to their charges con-
tanned the declaration Of His peculiar
relationship to God as His Father.
aroused their bitter animosity, SO that
they sought His life. There was no
misunderstanding Christ's claims to
equality with God and His being the
as the source of life He was the source
of law. The healing of the incurable
on the Sabbath day proved His claims.
The real root Of their objection was not
their love of Gods law. but the applause
that Jesus was receiving from men.
While Jesus justified His actions by
appealing to the work performed both
by the Father and Himself was to show
the sacredness of labor, His attitude
does not call for the abolition of the
day of rest He claimed that it's OBJ
servance was more than Jewish law,
that 1t was universal requirement
made for the welfare of mans physical
repose and spiritual culture. The cor
rect use of the Sabbath day promotes
the noblest interests in humanity. Jesus
left the specific ways of using it to the
dictates Of the spiritual life. Spiritually
minded men will always use it worthily;
unspiritual men will be apt to neglect
it's privileges and imperil the use of the
weekly day of rest by the masses. This
may call for and probably does demand
that the government. without interfer-
ing with the religious rights of its citi-
zens secure for all day of rest, which
every soul may use in accordance with
his own spiritual wishes and desires