Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-18
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
JESUS IN PETERS HOME:
Mark 1888.
Golden text-Jesus said unto
him: Today is salvation. come
to this house-Luke 1879.

him: Today is salvation, come
to this house-Luke 1879.
ny REV. HUGH r. STEVENSON.
It may be truthfully said that the
lesson for the week is more compre-
hensive in character than the sub
ject indicates. 1t is true that the visit
to Peters home is the central part OF
the selection set aside for study ana
meditation. but that it contains more
than that cannot be denied. The open
ing verse carries one back into the
service in the synagogue. where
Jesus taught as one having authority
as well as healed the man with the
unclean spirit. 1t was common to
ask any suitable person to speak at
the synagogue service, which resem-
bles the modern prayer meeting or
the opening Sunday school service
rather than our more formal church
that were present, Peter, Andrew
lanes and John, as well as the 9TH
ers recognized a new doctrine. The
scrfbes were mere interpreters. whose
message was not given over to great
principles but to forms, incidentals ana
details of little consequence. Here
was one who spake with the authority
Of divine ambassador, who inter-
ested and enchanted by the power or
His personality. All effective teach
ing and preaching must have some
thing of this quality, which charac-
terized the words of the Master. TO
carry conviction. the word written
perience and knowledge and the man
must be behind the message. 1t is
interesting to note that there is no
hint as to a critical attitude upon the
part of the congregation such as IS
found in another instance of Sab
bath healing in a synagogue. In the
third chapter of Mark It 10 recorded
would heal him on the Sabbath day;
that thew might accuse Him." AL
though Il is to be noticed that from
Capernaum those that were sick were
not brought to be healed until the
end of the Sabbath, "at even. when
the sun did set"
Leaving the synagogue service,
where His divine words had thrilled
the congregation. conquered demons.
and enthused the new disciples that
had been called to be fishers Of men"
during the preceding week. the Mas
ter sought seclusion and rest In the
house Of Simon, Peter and Andrew, to-
gether with James and John.
There He soon found that He was
needed. and Jesus never turned
deaf ear to a human cry. He was
never too busy" or too. tired" or
any Of the other too" excuses which
modern disciples sometimes offer in
explanation Of their failure to carry
out the example Of the Master. Luke
was i'll Of a great fever" one Of a
severe. malignant and dangerous
type. Yet it is recorded the Great
Physician merely took the i'll one by
the hand and lifted her up; "and i'm
the fever left her. and she
unto them" The cure
Jesus might have done it with
word, but not one OF the miracles:
His power. The Christ
was moved by sympathy. Modern
needs more Of the human
touch. The friendly grasp that VIII
ficient than the absent treatment
that would keep chasm between
those we seek by our generous gifts
to uplift and ourselves. The world
Is hungering for the sympathetic
touch and the personal greeting.
Present day discipleship may be
amply demonstrated by ministering
unto the sick and needy.
The miraculous character of the
cure is shown by the fact that the
mother of Simon's wife Immediately
resumed her womanly duties about
the home. Malignant fevers general
ly require q long period of convaies-
cence that are trying as well as often
Her ministry shows
clearly. that the Christ In healing
also impaired health and strength
The day of miracles is not past. and
the Master is still meeting the needs
Of the homes into which He Is in
vited. He comes with peace and
with healing touch and
strength. Where His spirit Is there
is happiness and contentment. Such
a home was that at Bethany where
Jesus used to go for rest and seclu-
sion with Mary and Martha and their
refers to another New Testament
home that was transformed by the
Christ. that Of Zaccheus. He was ar
outcast and publican. But he well
coined Jesus into his home. and when
He entered dishonesty. selfishness
came righteousness. honesty and
desire to do right by God and by his
fellowmen.
Sunset brought a multitude to the
door of Peter. The city of Caper-
naum was gathered with it's sick, and
Tic IeCoEu IS tHdL ne nealeQ many
that were sick with divers diseases
and cast out many demons, and He
suffered not the demons to speak, be-
cause they knew Him." 1t would be
quite inaccurate to speak of miracle
Of healing as a violation Of law" and
as magic performed to amuse or as
tonish the people. A miracle in the
New Testament usage Is. according
to one writer, a result wrought for
spiritual ends by divine power accord
ing to laws which at present lie out
side the field Of ordinary experience
It must be remembered that medical
practice at that time was stepped in
ignorance. 1t was not, as today, an
exact science with specialists of all
kinds. For example. Edersheim
points out that in the method used to
cure, a burning fewer the principal
part was to tie a knife wholly. of
iron by braid of hair to a thorn
bush and to repeat on successive days