The Dermott news., 1918-01-24
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL StJNLl1SCIlOOL,
 LESSON By F. 0. SELLERS, Acting Director of rhe Sunday School Course of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago) : -Cnrrrirht 1Q17 Mestern Newsna per I-nlnn.N
LESSON FOR JANUARY 27
JESUS FORGlViNG SIN.

0 Matt 1:2l; Heb 25
 1 PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-Forgivs l IS our sins.-Luke 1I4.
 l INTERMEDIATE TOPIC-Jesus heal l ug soul and body.
 l SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Jesus
 meeting mans deepest need.
 This is one of the most dramatic,
 spectacular incidents recorded in the
 Bible. It Is good illustration for Sunday school teachers on how to tell
 story by imagining what one would
 naturally do. We ought to have our
 scholars see with tlfeir imagination,
 the story of this lesson as though they
 were eye-witneSSes of the whole scene.
 The time was about May or June A. D. 1 2S, the second year of Jesus ministry, few weeks following the last lesson
 during which time he had been preach ing and healing in the surrounding l country.
 l |. Introduction. Jesus could testify l in home as well as before the multi tudes. Indeed 1t was after having tes 1 titied in the home (v. l) that the
 crowds gathered about the doorway, l for 1t was not known that he was there.
 until some days after he had been in l the house. Luke tells us that the i crowds which came, came not only
 from Galilee but Judea and even Je- 1 rusalem. Jesus did his work so we'll l In the home that wherever he was the
 world wore path to his doorway. No i tiCe verse two; when the crowd gath
 cred about, he spoke unto them "the word" In this we see a parable. l Many successful man, when he be-
 comes popular. foreets to preach the
 pure Gospel, the Word of Life.
 II. An lmpellins Need (vv. 3:D.
 This man who hud paralysis, 1. e. dis ahled on one side. was not only de- ] priyed of his sensation but his power | of motion. AS to the cause of his ditli- i culty, his previous character of life. l there is no word of suggestion. We see l nhaadant evidence today, however, to know that many such cases are the i results of our own debauCherieS and 1 one would gather from the course which Jesus pursued with this man ]
 result of his early sin The teacher
 might well read in this connection 1 Luke 16.if-t9. Of course, this man l may not have been Il prodigal son. l Nevertheless he had as much suffer 1 ing as though he had been and as fur 1 as he himself was concerned, he was 1 helpless. picture of all sinners. He, i however, had friends, very entcrprls- l ing ones. And So putting him upon the
 double quilt pr coverIet, which could be
 rolled together in bundle of moderate size, they carried him into the pres i ence of the master.
 | Ill. Jesus Forgives and Defends His | Rights (vv. 5:l2). The crowd was so l great about the house that they could
 not come nigh unto him for the press" 1 They were not. however, discouraged {, l but leaving the crowd they went up
 the usual outside stairs, bearing the | sick man with them unto the roof
 which they uncoyered"-lIterally they
 dug through the fiat roof made of branches and twigs and covered with
 earth. and which could be as easily re | paired. Travellers in eastern countries have often seen a similar act perform
 cd even In this day. They then let | down the bed or mattress by the four
 corners. The roof was so low that
 no cords were needed and those below
 received the man from the hands of l the four upon the roof and placed him l in front of Jesus. Jesus commends i their deed' as indicated in all three
 of the Gospel records. Not ulone phys | ical obstacles had to be overcome, but 1 the attitude of the sCribes (v. ?. Was l II right. was It honest to break through l the roof of mans house? Would l they make 1t good? Was the owner l glad to have had 1t done? Jesus did net hesitate or speculate over such 1 questions, but goes at once to the issue
 and said tO the man sick of the palsy,
 'Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be l (are) forgiven thee" See Matthews g
 and Marks account. ''Son." is word
 of endearment; the word "be" Is not as strong in the old form as the word
 'are' forgiven. Jesus went at once
 to the unhealed wound in the soul. the
 sense of unforgiven sin. Forgiveness
 is not of the judge who sentences mot ! guilty" but father who welcomes
 and restores one to sonshlp. It Is res
 toration to life. The Bible story of
 the prodigal son and that scene pie
 ured in the seventh chapter of Luke,
 the feast where Jesus dealt with a
 woman of the city. who minister's unto
 him, are good illustrations of the mas ter'S attitude of mind on this occasion.
 The scribes charged hiasphemy which
 Is to slauder God aud speak treason
 against him. Basphemy is practical | ly uttered treason. He perceived their
 mHoSt thoughts and answered them l {y. 9). To forgive sin, or to com.
 Hand the man to rise were both di-
 vine acts; he could do either; he prov
 ed one by the use of the other. Ills
 comnand to the young man to take
 up hls bed was a test to be proved by
 the mans faith. That the cure was ] aot,r.fn4.. ,,-a I-p,vxs e..