The New York herald., 1920-01-25

one sick of the palsy, Which WdS
borne of foW.-St. Mark, it,, ).
What movement there IS III this narra--
tive. as these men bring their needy
friend TO the Great Physician. 1t is a
march to victory. We witness a palsied
man borne of four to well being and
blessedness. Here we have the evangel
of Christ energized
1t was in the time of Christ's power
and popularity. He had pity and com
passion on the multitude. The unled
purposcless crowd is pathetic sight
They arc sheep without a shepherd out
side the fold. walking up and down the
streets Look at their faces. What are
they seeking? They know not what-gct-
ting and spending This great mass move
ment with its indefinite hunger, its in
articulatc longing, moves but does not
get anywhere.
The power Of God is present in this
incident. There is business TO be done
in one house. one life to be saved. How
many we know in the flood tide Of life.
wounded and laid aside Shut-ins. Per
haps it is your story. Possibly some
friend of yours, cut off in his prime.
lust when life was becoming interesting.
It is mysterious, but we must believe
lhat viewed in the light of the far reach
ing end, "all things work together for good
TO them that love God"
This man is with friends. They kept
him in touch with life. How grateful we
should be for the amenities of friendship.
These friends in the Bible story had seen
Jesus touch people and restore them.
They were resolved that their friend
should have his chance. Such friendships
help sweeten human life. The touch on
tic shoulder, the look or kindness. thc
word of encouras cement. means continents
of heavenly grace. Think what it meant
to that man TO have four men hold out
to him the hope of recovery. II was the
opening of window into visions Of larger
usefulness. 1t was gateway into
heaven.
Think. too what must have been in
rhat mans mind when he first saw the
Masters wonderful face. His friends
were bound 20 get him 10 the great spe-
cialist-Ch Christ-for what lie might do for
him, The crowd must give way. Here
we're four determined Andrews. Think.
also of the difficulty Of introducing their
friend TO Jesus.
The man had paralyzed body. Hc was
ial potent The blind can walk. the lame
can lean. but the paralyzed must wait.
To him the day had lost its joy the night
its rest
There is humor alongside of the patho,
in the story They had TO carry an Ori-
entail bed through the streets. It may
seem incongruous to some. bat do not be
afraid of humor in the sick room There
is room for the smile in religion. i Bos-
ton newspaper said one day The day
vas dark and drcary. but Phillips Brooks
walked down Newspaper Row. and all
,as bright" While We must admire their
persistency, we are amused at the situa-
ton They broke through the roof
Everything had TO give way. Here was
q sou! in desperate need The life of their
friend was Of more value than the prop
erty. They unfastened The conventions
and LEI them 60
At last they stand in the place Of vic
tory His presence. Christ spoke the
first word. "Son." Like the prodigal's
father. It revealed an illumined relation
ship. He did not wait to hear the story
for He knew what was in man. Thy
slrs be forgiven thee" That was not
what he came for. 1t was not what his
friends expected to hear. Jesus read his
need. His emphasis is first upon soul
health. The Doxology sang itself into
the mans soul. As he was cleansed by
the blessed touch the disease passed
away. After the greater need was met
tho lesser was provided for
The same path is troddcD today Men
WIN a lack Of correspoEfenee in their