The Pleasantville press., 1924-09-20

| TOPIC-Medical Missions.
|. Jesus Praying ". 35).
| After a series of most strenuous ef-
| forts, Jesus retired to a lonely place
to pray. Doubtless He felt the need
of having His spiritual strength re-
| cruited He who the day before had
shown His mighty power in casting
out devils and banishing disease now
needed to be alone with God. In or
| der to do this He arose long before
daylight. He had slept at Peters
house and withdrew to a solitary place
unperceived. The very best time to
pray is In the morning when our phys
ical powers have been renewed.
II. Found by Peter wv. 36, 81.
His work of the preceding day had
made such profound impression that
| the mutitudes sought Him. Since
| the people were so aroused the dis
ciples thought that it was the oppor-
| tune time to press the campaign. For
! that reason Peter, and perhaps An
| drew, James and John, eagerly sought
| Him and told Him what the multitudes
| were doing.
III. Preaching in Other Towns (vv.
3S. 39).
The great Missionary persisted In
| His program despite the success which
| had attended His efforts at. Caper-
naum. Popularity in given place is
not the criterion by which to deter
,f,,o Of f.fr <hor
| He preached in their synagogues
| throughout all Galilee and cast out
demons. for 1t was for this very pur-
pose that He came forth from the
Heavenly Father.
w. Jesus Heals Leper wv. 40-45).
This deed Is highly significant 1t
not only shows His mighty power and
divine love but it is symbolical. Lep-
rosy is a type of sin.
(1) 1t was defiling. The leper was
an outcast because of this defilement.
Sin banishes from the presence of
God.
(2) 1t was incurable. There was
no cure for leprosy. Only God could
cure 1t. SO there was but one remedy
for the cancellation of guilt-the re-
moval of mans sin-that is the cross
of Christ
from one to another. Segregation
was necessary in order to keep it
from spreading. Sin is contagious.
(4) 1t is in the blood. Sin is hered-
itary.
l. His Great Need ". 40). This
caused him to break through all cere-
monial regulations and cast himself
Mt the Savior's feet. The sinners
great need should cause him to break
through all barriers and cast himself
at the feet of Jesus.
q His Request ". 40).
He was quite sure of Jesus ability
to cure him. He knew quite we'll that
no human physician could do this but
he was somewhat doubtful as to His
willingness. We can be assured to-
day. not only of His ability. but His
willingness.
3. The Compassionate Lord ". Al.
He put forth His hand and touched
the leper. Only the divine Lord could
touch leper and not be defiled. Ac
companying the touch was the declar-
alton of His willingness to heal. No
doubt this greatly strengthened the
leper's faith but startled the people
who looked on.
4. An Immediate Cure (v. 42). Di-
vine healing is always instantaneous
and complete This is the outstand-
ing difference between divine healing
and the so-called faith healing"
5. His Stern Charge (vv 43, 44).
Christ dismissed him with a strict
charge that he should not make this
known. The reason for this was that
wide publicity would create such ex-
citement as to interfere with His
preaching Furthermore, he was still
ceremoniallv unclean. His going TO
Athe priests with a proper offering
would Indicate his regard for the laws
and customs of Moses and therefore
disarm prejudice.
6. Willful Disobedienee ". 45). In
stead of rendering grateful obedience
he blazed IL abroad and thus hindered
the Lords work Thus we see that
the stupid self will of one man may
prevent many from hearing and seeing
the blessings of the Lords preaching
ood healing