The Green Forest tribune., 1918-03-08
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNlGSC[lOOL
 LESSON \By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of the Sunday School Course of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago) Copyright. 191S Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR MARCH 10
JESUS RESTORING LIFE AND
 HEALTH.

frmities and bear our dseases.-Matt. S:17.
 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR TEACHERS-Matt 9:27-35; Luke 7:16-17: 11-19; John 5:1-9; 11:1-46 1O:7-1S.
 PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus restoring the little girl to life
 MEMORY VERSE-Bless Jehovah my soul, and forget not all his benefts.-Ps 103:2.
 INTERMEDIATE ToPIc-Jesus the giver of life.
 MEMORY VERSE-John 1O:1o
 SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Medical missions.
 This is one of the most beautiful stories of the Bible. It appeals to the loving parents hearts and charms the attention of every child. The intro- duction of the woman who touched the Masters garment is referred to by three of the gospel writers and gives us an intensely interesting sidelight on the reception accorded to Jesus during his Galilean ministry.
 The dramatis personae is as fol- lows: CD The Father is about to lose all the poetry and music of his home. CD The Child, twelve years old, is just on the threshold of Jewish woman hood. It takes little imagination to picture how her life had entwined it. self about the heart of the father and the other loved ones. The stricken child is still to be found in the land, and it is this background which makes the picture so vivid. Why the suffer- ing? Why the separation? Only our Heavenly Father knows it all, and some day we will read the answer in the glory of his presence. (3) The Woman, who-where from or whither to we are not told-only one of vast throng who had just faith enough to touch the hem of his garment and be made whole. (4 The GaIiean Proph- cts response to the furtive touch of need was instantaneous, but without the marring movement of haste. We can fancy these characters walking along the highway. Jesus paused as they were interrupted. The woman was healed the moment she touched his garment. What is the meaning of the pause?
 Having taught the multitude and en- couraged the heart of Jairus, they reached the home, where Jesus exclud- ed all but Peter, James and John, who entered with him into the house of tumult, made somber by the weeping and wailing of professional mourners and relatives. Again we are impressed with the
 Calm Dignity of Jesus. as he asked, "Why this tumult? the child only sleeps" Their laughing scorn is due to their ignorance of the power of the Mighty Christ in face of the fact that the child was really dead. When he had turned the unbelievers out, Jesus took the father, mother and disciples into the chamber of death. The occasion was not for spectacular demonstration of power. Having re- stored the child to life and to its par ents, Jesus admonishes them not to publish the news broadcast. Evident ly he was not yet ready to precipitate matters in the minds of the multitude, for of a surety he knew that in certain quarters the fact of the cure would be made known.
 HIS lS u DCdulllQl plCluIS LII lONc. CD The Fathers love (vv. 22-24). (a) His need; (b) his position lat Jesus feet;" Co his plea. T pray thee;" (d) his insistence, "besought greatly" (2) The Strangers Plea (vv. 25-35). (a) An interruption; (b) "Of long standing ," Co Jesus knowledge; (d) Jesus re- sponse; (e) her confession; (f) her blessing. (3) The Masters Love (vv. 35-43). (a) Jesus knowledge; the child was not dead In his sight; (b) delay does not mean refusal; Co the tender resurrection in answer to faith; (d) the provision for her needs.
 Sorrow brought Jairus to Jesus. Sor- row today brings more men to Jesus than perhaps any other means. Ger. tainly it has been so during this great war. AS the ruler of the synagogue Iairns laid aside his pride and hostil- ity to make his plea for help and ac- cept service of Jesus.
 There are three recorded instances where Jesus raised the dead. This "only daughter" which was simple and apparently easy matter. (2) The "oDly son" of a widow, when he "stop- ped the bier" This was apparently attended with more difficulty than that of the little girl, for 'she only slept" The raising of Lazarus, a grown man, apparently presented still greater diff faculties. Viewed from our human an- gle there were difficulties, but with God there are none. His fiat created the time and matter worlds. To as. cribe difficulty to God is but to judge hib by our standards
 The great need in the foreign field Is evangelization supplemented by educa. ton and the ministry of healing through dispensaries and hospitals. In the midst of the present war situation let us not forget our responsibility to the unevangelized at home and abroad. Jesus is still the Resurrection and the Life for sleeping" children, commu- mites and nations.
 Why did Jesus spend so much time in working miracles? To impress the value of his life upon the world as testimony to his divine office, and a prophecy of his authority in his com.