Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-01-04
LESSON FOR JANUARY 7
JESUS HEALING ON THE SABBATH

GOLDEN TEXT-It is lawful to do well
on the Sabbath day.-Matt. 2:12.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Ex. GOSH;
lisa, IS; 56:1l-S; Mark 2:23:3-5.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Jesus Doing Good
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus Healing Help
less Woman.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Right Use of the Lords Day.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Right Use of the Lords Day.
What Jesus did on the Sabbath fire.
quently brought him into serious con-
fiict with the Pharisees. Through the
petty rules and regulations they had
made this holy day. which God de-
signed as day of rest and the doing
OF deeds OF mercy. a day of burden
and hardship. Jesus did not disre-
gard the Sabbath, but broke away
from their traditions and showed that
the Sabbath was made for man, and
not man for the Sabbath. Religious
rites and ceremonies should not be
hardened into letters to bind the wor-
shipper.
J. Jesus Teaching on the Sabbath
Day ". 10).
1t was the Lords custom to 60 to
the place Of worship on the Sabbath
day. His disciples will initiate Hin
In this. At the place of worship there
IL opportunity to be nearest to God, to
worship Him. and to show mercy and
Kindness to our fellow-man.
u. Jssus Healing on the Sabbath
wv. 11-13).
l. A Woman in Need ". III. This
poor woman's back was bowed down
with eighteen years OF great suffering.
Though thus afflicted she found her
way to the place Of worship. Men and
women are In great need today. Their
bodies may not be bowed down with
physical suffering, but there are many
bowed down with the burden Of sin
and sorrow.
2. Called to Jesus ". 12). He is al
ways quick to discern those who are
burdened. He spoke a word of heal
ing to her. How welcome must have
been His words. He is calling today
to the many who are weighed down
with guilty consciences to come to
Him.
3. Laid His Hands Upon Her ".
49,. At His touch she was made
straight and glorifed God. 1t was not
enough to teach. He showed His SYM
pathy by coming into touch with the
suffering woman. Christ's followers
are to initiate Him in teaching, and
also in coming into direct touch with
the needy, sinful. and burdened world.
III. The Indignation of the Ruler
OF the Synagogue ". 14).
Under the pious pretense of loyalty
to God he showed that ritual is of
more Importance than mercy and love.
1t was not primarily concern for ritual,
but hatred for Jesus that moved him to
indignation. He was too cowardly to
attack the Lord directly, so turned to
the people and hit at Him over their
backs. He pretended great concern
for the healing of the people but ad-
vised that they come in the six days,
and not thus have the Sabbath pro-
famed by such a sacrilegious act as
the healing of this poor woman. This
man is the type of the many hypo-
critics among us today.
w. The Lords Reply to the Ruler
wv. 10, 49,.
Jesus removes the mask Of hypoc-
risy from the ruler as He points out
their own custom as condemnation
of their pious pretense. He argues
from the lesser to the greater. If it
was right to take animals which had
only been tied for few hours, to
water on the Sabbath day, certainly
1t was right to bring relief to this
woman who had been bowed for eight
cen years. Human beings are of
more value than animals. This wom-
an was daughter of Abraham and
not sinner of low-down character.
The principle which Jesus set forth
restored the Sabbath to it's true pur-
pose.
v. Shamed Adversaries and Re-
joicine People ". ID.
The tide was now turned Their ex-
posure was so great that their con-
sciences smote them. The arguments
against morals and the church are of
the same type today.