Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-18
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON JAN. 20


US with him, one SABBATH day, into the
Synagogue, where he taught The char
acter of His teaching astonished the
people because it was so different from
that to which they were accustomed
The Scribes had been telling them what
other men had said. Jesus did not re
fer to other men, except to present III
contrast His own Interpretation Mat
thew has recorded for us, in the 9TH
9th and eth chapters, something of the
character of His teaching at this time
which is summarized in this, "Ye have
heard-but l say unto you His teach
ing differed also from others in that He
got at the very depth of the truth He
gave and in the real meaning of the
truth which He was presenting. He
got the essence out of it and presented
it to them in a way which brought ev-
eryone OF them under condemnation.
The Dernoniac Healed
Whether this man was already in the
congregation or come in at this time
we do not know; but while they were
reasoning amongst themselves and ex-
pessing their establishment at His teach
ings, a man possessed with the spirit
of evil cried out, What have we to dc
with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art
thous come to destroy us? I know
thee who thou art, the Holy One of Is
.raeA Some have thought that this
man was just sick, probably an epilep-
tic; but how could an epileptic know
that Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter
was the Holy One of Israel? He may
have had fits like an epileptic, but he
was more than an epileptic; he was de-
mon possessed. The presence of Jesus
precipitated the crisis, as it did when
ever He came in contact with demon
possessed people.
Jesus did not want the kind of testimony
which this evil spirit would give, and so He
rebuked him; not the man. but the spirit, say
ing, BE muzzled, and come out of him." After
a terrific convulsion. the spirit did come out
of the man and left him in a normal condl-
themselves. like this: ''What is thit? is it a
new teaching? With authority He commands
the unclean spirits! Yes, and they obey
Him.
Was the question Of the spirit to Jesus a
correct one? Had He come to destroy them
John, 3:S, answers the question, and II
Thes.. 2:s, shows His final work in this
connection.
In the Home. and at Evening
Leaving the synagogue, they went to th'
home of Peter and Andrew, where Peter,
mOther-in-law sick of the fever. In this
early period of His ministry, the disciples were
not quite whether it was His plan to
heal the sick or not. They were not quite ns
know about this illness not; but finally
cnon they tell Him of her." That is thu
cure for all of our ills; nothing that we can
need be kept back from Him. In nothing
should we be anxious, but in everything, by
prayer and duplication with thanksgiving, u
we let our requests be made known unto God,
the peace of Col which pasSeth all understand
ing shall keep hearts and minds in Christ
Jesus. just to tell Him of 1t was all thai
was necessary: for He went in and took hel
by the hand and lifted her up; and straight
way the fever left her. There no weak
ness or prolonged cOnvalescence, for she min
istered unto Him that very day.
1t is rather interesting that the Holy Spiri
here should have mentioned Peters wife, in
view of the claims of the Roman church which
has taken Him as the head of their clergy
when they insist upon the cehbacy OF the
clergy Clement Of Alexandria tells us that
Peters wife wonderfully assisted him IN h1'
work, telling the glad story to the women IN
the places where he worked. thus giving TO
these shut-in Orientals opportunity they would
not otherwise have had.
After sunset, the Sabbath day being over
and the fame of Jesus having spread owe
the town, the whole village was gathered 10
gether at His door and He healed all tha'
were sick and cast out demons, not suffering
them to speak. What glad evening that wa
in Capernum, not sick person In the Whole
city, The joy of physical health and strength
colrsing through the veins OF every boy ant
girl, every and woman, and every Htti'
baby in that whole city; and all because jesus
was there, He must have been tired thaC
night when He went to bed; but early IN the
morning a great while before day, He arose
Il
nraved The Son of God himself found II
necessary to go back to the Source OF all
strength before He began another days WORE
discinIcs who said Master, where have you
beenY Everybody is looking Tor you, ,,t ~
which He replied, Let us go elsewhere into
the next towns, that ] may preach tnere dlso'
for this end came I forth
THE LEPER HEALED
One day, in His tour through GanLee' as ne
went through all the towns and villages, heal-
andn nEf
E,1ribIe snecime nof humanity came up to HIM
ana kneeled at His feet and said Loru r you
crIy choose, you can make Inc cream. AI a
EXPRESSED great faith on that lepers part lol
ttere was hardly n spot on his body that wa
not rottinG with that horrible disease: more
repuIsive looking object could not nave oeeh
ina pined but Jesus was not repealed. lie put
forth His hand and touched him even ana sara,
I do choose; be thou clean! And lmmeGlatey
his flesh became as healthy as a little emo 5
What a marvellous transformation took place III
tta+ man after Jesus touched BIN and spoke to
him, Jesus commanded MIN to go now 10 Jeru-
sa lem and show himself to the priest and oileI
for his cleansing the sacrifices whlch Moses nau
commanded and have the priest pronounce MN
clean. and commanded him strictly not 10 teii
anyone along the way. But the man dlsooeyeu
Him and told everyone ne met you can nsIuIS
hIsme the man in way, so that the iahe
~ Jesus became so great that He couid no
more openly, come into the city, but stayed N
the desert places around about, where people
came to Him. , . ..-
ice TO Jesus bad he obeyed Him; for the tesu-
mouv which He would have given would nave
been exceedingly valuable to Jesus when lie
came in contact with the priests two years
later His disobedience rather retarded tue
work of christ His obedience would nave
helped Him. 1000.
And thus we see through Marks eye picture
ne the marvellous power of Jesus Of Nazareth
who as the Son of God, was manifested 10 ue.
strov the works of the devil in taking hoId ol
the minds of men and making them act as Ihey
yvculd not act under any other clrcums Iances'
we see Him destroy the works OF the devI as
Ne brings sickness in Peters home ana IN tne
homes of Capernaum. We see Him destroy tue
works Of the devil Just as the deSn Is ABOUT 10
DESTROY the body of this poor leper VINO IN au-
dition TO his suffering, was an Outcast. just as
lie had overcome the devil in the wilderness oI
tcmptation now He is showing Himself power
f1I to overcome the devil as he has taken III
handage men and women. And let US renemoet
inst this that He is just the same yesterday
TODAY and forever, and that He can ana VIII ue-
stroy whatever work the devil is trying 10 90 IN
our hearts, He is ready to set us free as ne
dII the Gemoniac; He is willing TO heal us as
tIe did the people of Capernaum; He Is Wiling
10 effect the miraculous change IN our nVes as
He aid in the life of that leper II VS. VIII just
let Him.
CTS Fees A DAY