Evening star., 1922-11-04

Human suffering, sorrow and sickness
constantly appealed to Christ. One Of
the elements Of His popularity in the
early days Of His ministry in Galilee
was that He healed every form of sick
ness that was brought to Him. While
His work as a physician was only Incl
dental to His mission, He was SO
"stirred with compassion" by the condi-
tions Of men that it became an i'm
portant part Of His ministry He cited
it to John as an evidence that He was
the Messiah. The beloved physician
who Is the author OF the gospel that
we are studying gives us in the portion
eral cures performed by our Lord.
Shortly after He transferred His
headquarters to Capernaum and made
His home there He commenced His
healing ministry. 1t started In the
synasogue where Jesus relieved one
Peters home, they found that the
mother-in law Of Simon Peter was suf-
fer1ng from a severe fever. which is
quite common in that section, due to
the malarial- breeding character OF its
marshes; the Master cured her Instantly,
so that she ministered to them. When
the sun had gone down great multi
tude fiocked to His home. as a result
Of His miracle in the synagogue in the
morning. and Christ healed all who
We're Ill or possessed by demons During
His first missionary trip in Galilee He
cured leper. The news Of this miracle
spread rapidly and people in Judea and
Galilee became interested in His min
istry
1t did not take long after He
had returned 10 His home, which was
probably the house of Simon Peter.
before the crowds commenced to assem-
Bile to hear His teaching and seek help
from the Great Physician. who could
.racted the attention of the religious
leaders. who had rejected Him during
His ministry In Judea. They came seek
ing to find some basis for charges,
which they desired to file against the
young Teacher and Physician, so that
they could destroy His popularity and
power. Their presence marked the COM
mencement Of hostilities They found
what they were seeking during Christ
healing OF the man with the palsy, who
Jesus to be healed
Luxe gives US certain details, con-
cerning the Masters work as a physt.
clan. which are omitted by the other
eVangelists, but none Of them tell US
how the four came to bring their
friend to Christ. His palsy NAV ma have have
been caused. as David Smith suggests,
by his .unbridled excesses" They
carried him upon an improyised
stretcher made by taking hold Of the
four corners of the rug. which was
ms bed. When they reached the
Masters headquarters they found
that they could not carry the man
sick with palsy through the crowd,
who were Indifferent to the mans
need. so they made a way TO reach
Jesus by their own initiative and in
vention. Love and friendship never
a.
which are usually on the outside Of
Palestinian house, gave them ac-
cess to the roof They then removed
the temporary covering that kept the
heat from the court where Christ was
I teaching. They let their friend down
through the opening in the courtyard
roof in front of the Lord Jesus
, Many Grumbled at their action, but
/ the Master revealed His poise. He
was not disturbed by the interruption
. He read in their actions the faith of
the four men. as we'll as that of the
one with palsy He had been en-
couraged by their endeavors and the
! anxious look of the man with the
palsy to cure him. The healing
, miracles of Jesus We're always deeds
| in which those who Were cured them
selves or brought to be cured had a
part No one was healed in Naza-
reth because their unbelief and hos
tility prevented any miracles being
performed. The poor paralytic would
have been lost without the help of
his friends. The door Of ministry to
the sick is open to all of US. We do
not fulfill our duty by noting hos
! pitals. visiting nurses and better
health departments. The profession
OF interest in the sick is valueless
unless we attempt to help them by
personal service, as well as by pro-
noting cooperative effort for human
welfare. 1t is the calls for individual