Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-13
BY REV. HUGH T.. STEVENSON.

In selecting these examples of the
Lords wonderful works, Matthew
was moved by his desire to prove
that Jesus was the Messiah who
Iulnlied lsaiah's messianic prophecy,
himself took our infirmities, and
ocre our Slcknesses." by His healing
ministry. The miracles of JESUS grew
out of the Lords compassionate heart
Ihey We're deeds of kindness, which
he performed when the sick. sorrow
ing and suffering appealed to Him
| .or aid: We find in natural events"
a divine purpose moving steadily
across the ages, keeping it's appoint
menus with foreseen human needs
, In those events, which men call
miraculous Ga name not found in the
Gospeis) We find the same divine
which are not understood by us in
our present state of knowledge and
experience. The group given us in
this weeks study gives compre-
hensiye view of Christs power and
| reveals His willingness to save.
In the first three cures of Jesus
! we see the power of the Master to
cleanse the outcast Jewish leper, to
heal the palsied gentle slave and
to restore to health a member of the
household of one of His apostles, with
the result that he was called upon
to minister to the sick of Capernaum
Inc leper who sought Jesus was
iuil OF leprosy. which terrible dis
! ease was feared because its subtle
insidious start in the blood could not
be detected until, working out, it's
scales appearing on the skin pro-
nounced the man doomed He then
became an outcast and was not al
lowed to enter within the city. be-
| DESTROYED the whole body by its
painful process, until the whole BODY
rotted into the grave
While all others would have fled.
the compassionate Christ. moved with
sympathy for the stricken sufferer
stopped to listen to his appeal for
help. put forth His hand and touched
the leper. 1t was a thrilling. healing
, touch that brought complete re.
covery to the leper. The law made
touching the leper, as only priests
| were allowed to touch the outcasts
and to pronounce them healed. Jesus
recognized the validity of the Jewish
! law by His command that the healed
man should tell no person of his cure
but present himself to the priest and
obtain the latter's certificate to his
cure. This called for the leper to
give in accordance with the law
some gift of thanksgiving to God and
|. showed the spirit of Christ to ha
] not antagonistic to the law. which
he came to fulfill.
| The next cure was performed upon
the request of the Gentle centurion
who had demonstrated his interest in
religion by building for the Jews of
Capernaum a synagogue. where posi-
bly, Christ had preached and healed.
and proved that he was humani-
| tartan by his interest in the welfare
of a slave. He had sept rulers of the
synagogues to the Master and friends.
who interceded with Jesus to help.
When the Roman official personally
appealed to the Great Physician he
| found Him ready to go along with
| him to aid the suffering slave, PROV
/ ing Christ was interested in the Cen
/ tile as we'll as the Jew. The CEN
! turion recognized that the Master
was under the authority of Cod and
! that his power to heal was not limit
ed by space or presence. He expressed
faith in the will of Christ to effect a
cure by speaking the word. Christ
commended the faith of the soldier.
who, although a Gentle and follow
| ing career that made difficult the
development of a religious life. had
proved his faith by his humanity and
humility and confidence in the author
ity of Jesus to effect a cure of the
suffering slave. His faith was re-
| warded, and the boy was healed, as
requested. by Christ's word
Peters faith and love brought Jesus
informed about the sickness of Peters
| mother law, He proved that a re-
quest to help members of the house
hold of His friends was sure of being
answered, for they only told Him
Immediately. when He touched her
the fever, which was symbolic of the
ravages of sin, left her. 1t usually
required weeks to recover from the
fever. but in this case she was able
\ Immediately to commence to minist Ell
unto the Lord. Thee city recognized
His power to heal and many were
brought to Him, whom He cured by
His word of their disabilities and OF
their illness, that the prophecy might
be fulfilled.
The conversation upon the journey
proves that Jesus did not minimize
the difficulties Of His service in order
to win followers, and that He de-
manded absolute devotion as a condi-
ton of entering His work. Christ
laid down the terms upon which men
could enter His service. He demanded
the whole-hearted faith of His follow
ers. as he showed in His question to
| the troubled disciples in the storm
why are you afraid? How little you
trust Cod" The storm, which was