Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-17
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

I ters method to lead the agonizng
father, whose son was at the point OF
death, into a more substantial ialtn
in Christ's power than that OF a mira
Gle worker. He wished men to see the
spiritual Significance Of His deeds OF
mercy rather than the power and man
Hesitation of wonder. He condemned
the attitude evidently Of Galilee that
cause of His miracles. but failed to
note His spiritual message.
The nobleman was not discouraged by
the Masters attitude, for he appealed TO
The faith that was so weak that 1t de-
pended upon Christ's actual presence
needed to be developed. 1t could only be
strengthened by being proved. SO Jesus
turn home, assuring him that his son
would live. He proved his faith in Christ's
word by starting toward home.
The result Of his trust In P9T Se
fore he reached home. for his servants
met him with the good news that the fever
had left him at o'clock on the previous
day. John used the Roman method OF
reckoning time, so in all probability the
nobleman had left after his conference
with the Lord and did not reach Ca
pernaum until after midnight, as the trav-
cling would be difficult at night. The re-
covery of the son evidently from the very
hour that the Master had spoken the word
confirmed the fathers faith In the Mes
house came to trust in the Lord. He had
asked for the recovery Of the phys1cai
life of the child and he received spiritual
and eternal life for himself and all his
family.
The winning of this family. which may
have been that of Chuza. Herod's cham
berlain, whose wife showed such devo-
ton to the Masters cause, gave Christ an
entrance into Capernaum. that was the
strategic center for His work in Galilee.
From there Jesus went through all the
region, including "all the towns and VII
lagos, teaching in their synagogues, pro
claiming the good news of the kingdom
and curing every kind of disease and
every kind Of sickness" 1t was during
these Galilean trips that Christ called HIS
disciples and trained them for His service.
Capernaum has been identified be-
yond question as being located at the
modern Tell Hum by the exploration
of Rev. Xavier Cettler Wendelerus,
who. a few years ago, with three help
ers the writer found to be the only in
habitants of what was a city of fully
10000 in the days of Jesus. This emf
nent German scientist and Roman
Catholic priest has unearthed the ruins
gogue that the wealthy centurion built
for Jews, and established with absolute
certainty the location of the city on the
northern shore of the Sea of Galilee,
close to the frontier of Nephtali and
Zebulon, being the nearest frontier
town to the great caravan route from
Damascus to Cesarea and Egypt. Near
here, and in the surrounding villages Of
Bethsaida, Chorazin, Magadala and the
city of the Gergesenes, across the lake,
lay the scenes of most of Christ's Ia
bors." Tiberias-on the shores of the
Sea of Galilee. the only town standing
today that existed in the days of the
Lord JesuS-was the capital built by
Herod and named after his Roman pro-
tector. Nowhere in the New Testament
is there any record of the Master hav-
ing ever visited this city and the local
traditions are also silent.
Although Jesus commenced his min
iStry at Capernaum under such auSpf-
cious circumstances and in fulf1llment
of prophecy, yet the great preacher, who
preached more sermons in Capernaum
than in any other place, and, as a
performed more cures there
than elsewhere, was compelled to pre-
dict that 1t would be cast down to
hades, the grave and gate Of death, be-
cause Of its attitude toward Him. The
individual or nation that turns to the
Lord in faith for assistance will be aid
ed, although not always in the way re-
Quested. Just as Jesus was the refuge
and strength for the nobleman Of Ca
pernaum, SO He is today for all who
are heavy laden and need assistance.
He helped, though absent physically
from the suffering child, and SO today
He can and will help oil who draw
near to Him in faith and prove their
If we refuse His aid. our end will be
great opportunity.