Mexico Missouri message., 1918-01-31
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SUNDMSNOOL.
-
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course OF the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago)
lcopyrlght, 1917, western Newspaper Union;l
LESSON FOR JANUARY 27
JESUS FoReIvINe SIN.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERs-Psa. 80; Luke 15:11-2l; 1885,
80; Matt. 1:21; Heb. 7:25.
PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE-Forgive
us our sins.-Luke liza.
INTERMEDIATES TOPIC-Jesus heal-
ing soul and body.
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIC-Jesua
meeting mans deepest need.
This is one of the most dramatic,
spectacular incidents recorded In the
Bible. It is a good illustration for
Sunday school teachers on how to tell
a story by imagining what one would
naturally do. We ought to have our
scholars see with their 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.
%, the second year Of Jesus ministry,
O few weeks following the last lesson,
during which time he had been preach
ing and healing in the surrounding
country.
I. Introduction. Jesus could testify
in home as well as before the multi
tudes. Indeed 1t was after having tes-
titled in the home ". l) that the
crowds gathered about the doorway,
for 1t was not known that he was there,
until some days after he had been In
the house. Luke tells us that the
crowds which came, came not only.
from Galilee but Judea and even Je-
rusalem. Jesus did his work so well
In the home that wherever he was, the
world wore path to his doorway. No
tice verse two; when the crowd gath.
cred about, he spoke unto them "the
word" In this we see a parable,
Many a successful man, when he be-
comes popular, forgets to preach the
pure Gospel, the Word of Life.
II. An ImpelIing Need wv. 3:4.
This man who had paralysis, 1. e., dis
abled on one side, was not only de-
prived of his sensation but his power
of motion. AS to the cause Of his diff
Guilty, his previous character Of life,
there is no word Of suggestion. We see
abundant evidence today, however, to-
know that many such cases are the
results Of our own debaucheries and
one would gather from the course
which Jesus pursued with this man
that perhaps his case was likewise the
result of his early sin. The teacher
might well read in this connection
Luke 16:11-19. OF course, this man
may not have been a prodigal son.
Nevertheless, he had as much suffer-
ing as though he had been and as fur
as he himself was concerned, he was
helpless, a picture of all sinners. He,
however, had friends, very enterpris-
ing ones. And so putting him upon the
double quilt or coverlet, which could be
rolled together in bundle Of moderate
size, they carried him into the pres
ence Of the master. :;
III. Jesus ForelVes and Defends HE
Rights wv. 8 :12). The crowd was so
| great about the house that "they could
not come nigh unto him for the press"
They were not, however, discouraged;
but leaving the crowd, they went up
the usual outside stairs, bearing the
sick man with them unto the roof
which "they ncovered"-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 similar act perform
ed 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
the four upon the roof and placed him
In front Of Jesus. Jesus commends
"their deed" as indicated in all three
Of the Gospel records. Not alone phys
ical obstacles had to be overcome, but
the attitude Of the scribes ". y. Was
1t right, was 1t honest to break through
the roof of mans house? Would
they make 1t good? Was the owner
glad to have had it done? Jesus did
not hesitate or speculate over such
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
(are) forgiven thee" See Matthew's
and Marks account. "Son," is a 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 unforglven sin. Forgiveness
is not Of the judge who sentences mot
guilty." but father who welcomes
and restores one to sonshlp. 1t is reS-
toration to life. The Bible story of
the prodigal son and that scene pic
tured In the seventh chapter of Luke,
the feast where Jesus dealt with a
woman Of the city, who ministers unto
him, are good illustrations of the mas
ter's attitude of mind on this occasion.
The scrlbes charged blasphemy which
is to slander God and speak treason
against him. Blasphemy is practical
ly uttered treason. He perceived their
lnmost thoughts and answered them
". 81. To forgive sin, or to COM
mand the man to rise were both di-
vine actsi he could do either; he prov
ed one by the use of the other. His
command to the young man to take