Evening star., 1924-09-27
Sunday School Lesson

Jesus revealed to her the fact that He
was the Messiah and won her, so
that she became a city missionary,
bringing all of her community to
hear Him. He also declared unto her
the magma charta of religious, lib
erty," by His message concerning re-
ligious freedom and worship. He had
a gospel for both.
Miraculous Ministry.
When we consider the unlimited
supernatural power of the Christ we
realize that there is a reason why
He restrained Himself in performing
those acts that testified to His divine
mission. His miracles were the nat
ural overflow of His personality.
They were symbolical of His spiritual
and saving service. They were easily
misunderstood by the multitude. who
would be attracted by them, not as
an evidence of His Messianic effort.
but because of personal benefit and
profit There probably was nothing
in His life among men that filled
Christ with more pain and pleasure
than His miraculous power. Min
Cling with men. He naturally desired
to remove the evil effects of sin in
their lives and bodies. He enjoyed
doing good, but His first duty was to
preach, so He enjoyed silence about
His miracles Of healing and helpful
ness.
His first miracle was performed at
the wedding in Cana of Galilee
shortly after winning His first dis
ciples. 1t marked the commencement
of His public ministry. 1t convinced
His new disciples that He was the
Messiah. He indicated by His few
words the range and character of
Iad 4
was to be of a social nature, which
defied the attitude of the Pharisees.
who insisted that a religious man
should be separated person from
the affairs of the world.
After He had spent year in Judea
seeking to win the leaders of the
nation to accept Him as Messiah,
Jesus returned to Cana and in re-
sponse to the petition of nobIeman
cured his sick child. who was seri-
ously i'll at Capernaum. The fathers
faith had secured the cure. When
Jesus visited Nazareth and outlined
His program and principles, they de-
manded that He perform miracles for
them. This He declined to do, be
cause of their unbelief He pointed
out that He was filled with the Holy
Spirit and that it was His duty to
preach the Gospel to the DOOR He
concerning social righteousness. They
were aroused by His views of a new
freedom. They rejoiced in the prom
ised sight for the blind. They well
coined the promised liberty for suf-
fering mankind. but they rejected
Him because of His claims to be the
Messiahship. Prejudice prevented
them from seeing in Him the Christ,
so they sought to destroy His life,
but He overawed them by His power.
Galilean Ministry.
Capernaum now became the head
quarters of Christs ministry. The
center of commerce became hence
forth His own city" Apparently He
dwelt at the home of Simon Peter,
whose mother-in-law He healed of a
ieVer' after day of preaching and
healing in the synagogue upon the
Sabbath. His record as healer
spread rapidly, SO that the home was
surrounded by many seeking to be
healed. whom He cured that evening.
Early the next morning He sought in
secret prayer guidance from above,
as to His future program. This re-
suited in His first missionary tour
throughout Galilee. During that tour
we have the record of His healing a
leper, that was the theme of last
Sundays lesson.
The work of the Master during His
opening ministry was twofold He
preached the gospel of the kingdom
or God and performed many wonder
full cures. The healing of disease was
Incidental He recognized that His
mission was distinctively spiritual
He emphasized the truth proclaimed
in our golden text: For God so
loved the world that He gave His
only begotton Son. that whosoever
belleveth in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life" In His
message to Nicodemus He pointed out
the need of all being spiritual born
anew. He revealed to the woman of
Samaria the necessity of spiritual
worship. He adapted His message to
the person or the congregation ad-
dressed, but to all He presented
spiritual conception of the kingdom
and the requirement of spiritual
life. His own life revealed the ma
ture of the spiritual life, that He
came to impart to men by His minis
try of preaching and healing