Evening star., 1918-01-19
CHRIsTLAN.

1 r.. Sss
UNITED BRETHRDN.
United Brethren Nsasf's. ss1ss CAP ossisn; = NV
Charles 4. Fulty. D. D., Pastor.-11 an.
''The Rulers Question. 7:so p;m.' rive
| PARALLELS" Qllustrated-3O visMs:l
Moses and the prophets Of God This
spiritual authority, which He claimed,
when recognized by the world Will reso-
lutionize It's political, commercial SO
cial, diplomatic and rehslous NE. te,, lis MS
words were in power and they still con-
tain the dynamic force that Will recon-
struct society, after the days or war
shall have passed, and their adopelol
will make this world a better place TOT
man to dwell in and carry out the VIII
of God. Whenever men appeal to the
Lord Jesus the evil forces tremple ana
complain, as did the worshiper VINO, un-
der the control of the evil spirit, remon-
strated against Christ's interferences
with them, fearing that He would de-
stroy them. Jesus declined to allow the
demons testimony to be given, because
lit might bring discredit to His cause
and endanger its success. the deVlis
still cry to be let alone. but they must
be mastered and brought under control
of the Lord.
The multitude were amazed BY Chrlst
| in three things: His new teachlng lree
from tradition. marked by personal au-
| thority. which evidently was superior 10
Lords dominion over the unclean spirits.
/ While the New Testament does not de-
scribe the demoniacs as either simpy
| men or insane yet their actions resemoie.
as one has pointed out, that OF persons
suffering from what psychologists term
, diseases of personality" alterations IN
personality" and double consciousness
Jesus treated them along lines that many
lowed with success. Christ's manifesto
ton of power produced "amazement,
but astonishment is not conversion, al
though it opened the whole OF Galliee lof
the Master, especially the cities near the
Lake of Galilee that were TO witness Ills
mighty deeds and work.
When the Lord Jesus returned to the
home of Simon Peter from the success
that had greeted His public endeavor as q
preacher instead of finding seciusion ana
rest, which His tired body needed, there
was the call for the sympathic physician
to reveal once more His compassion ior
the suffering one, for Sinnon's mother-in-
law was sick with a great fever, which
was probably of a malaria type. due to the
marshy lands around Capernaum. The
members Of the home circle were appar-
emily filled with despair concerning her
serious condition and in their desire for
her by the hand and raised her up ihe
cure was instantaneous and complete be-
cause she Immediately ministered unto the
needs of the Master and His enthuslastic
demonstration Of power as preacher ana
physician. With the coming OF the even
ing the marvellous effect OF Christs MIN
istry of healing was soon seen, Tor from
all parts of the city the people. with the
departure of the Sabbath. which they
reverenced, brought unto Jesus their
friends who were physically or mentauy
sick to be treated Jesus showed his
compassion by healing them Of their dis
eases and casting out the demons. whom
He refused permission to testify because
He probably considered that the testl-
mony of Satan would hinder the develop
ment Of the kingdom.
Christ's personal power was due TO his
prayer life. Although He was weary from
His exhausting efforts to relieve the dis-
tress, during Saturday and again tnat
evening. so that it was late that nlgnt
when He retired. yet Sunday morning
about o'clock Jesus. turned His race
toward the nearby mountains so that He
could commune with God. Three times
in this first chapter Mark refers 70
His missionary journey through Galilee
Jesus must secure the Fathers COM
mendation The secret Of Christ's power
was due to the fact that He never neglect
ed prayer The failure Of modern Chris
tian life is frequently due to the neglect
OF prayer. Billy Sunday, as well as every
pastor, recognizes the need OF seasons OF
personal prayer. Stonewal Jackson ana
Chinese Gordon formulated their plan OF
from above. Every person should seek
help and power in prayer.
Jesus dared to turn away from
place where He had made success
and commenced a season of evangelism
throughout Gallilee. The crowds, that
fiocked to where He was living. couin
not detain Him from doing HIS duey
to the other communities. God COM
manded Him to go into other ~ Towns,
preaching and helping men and healing
the diseases of the people. 1t was dur
ing this tour that leper. falling upon
his knees begged Christ to cure his
infirmities The leper was segregated
by Jewish law The disease was feared,
not only because it was contagious. but
because it's start was SO subtle ana
insidious that one seldom knew that
they were victim until leprosy mac
worked it's way through the blood into
the body and the scales appeared upon
the skin pronounced mans doom. IL
destroyed the body slowly until the
whole body was rotten by its painful
process into the grave.
Others naturally fled from the leper'
but the sympathetic Jesus stopped to
listen to the poor suffering mans cry
for help. He was moved with compass
sion. put forth His hand and touched
the ieper. Only the priest has the right
to touch a leper. The law made all
Others unceremonially unclean who
touched a leper. Twice In this lesson
Jesus showed His compassion Tor tne
sick by touching them as He did the
leper Tt is impossible for the lip or
law to cure, the ills Of society. either to
remove the slavery of sin or Danish the
power of the saloon. There is the need
of compassion that will reveal itself
by stretching forth the hand Of as
sistance to aid the drunkard. debauchee
and depraved. Christ proved His COM
passion for men and reached mems
hearts, opened the door for the entrance
of the truth of His gospel. The Church
of Christ must show the Christly atti-
tude to the sinners who hit the saw
dust trail or come into the Christian
life in a normal manner by extending
the helping hand to them in their de-
sire to be like Christ and to be cured
of their sinful past life.
1t was easier for the 1eper to be
cured by the Great Physician than it
was for him to obey the Lords COM
mands In accordance with the policy
adopted to avoid notoriety. Jesus had
requested silence in regard to His mi
raculous works. While Christ's oppo-
sition to the traditions of men was
marked by a spirit of condemnation.
He was trying to secure a compliance
with the Mosaic statute, when He gave
strict orders to the leper to tell no man.
but to comply with the law by securing
from the priest an approval Of his phys
ical recovery. that would restore the
ieper to his place in society. The best
interest, both of the cured 1eper and
Hal %. I~~.lf