Evening star., 1928-03-24

Our lessons for the quarter have all
been selected from the Gospel Of Marx
The IL studies taken from his graphic
narrative have been like windows that
opened up to us visions OF the PERSONAL
ity, preaching and power OF Jesus CHRIST
as a teacher and healer. Marks story
of the Masters early ministry thrilled
us and convinced us that God had
equipped the Lord Jesus in a unique
way with power from above. He opened
his record by linking up the work OF
Jesus with that of His forerunner. John
the Baptist, who came preaching re-
pentance and the coming OF the king
dom, according to the prophecies OF
Malachi and Isaiah. BY uniting the
ministry of Christ with that of the Old
Testament Mark showed that the germs
of Christianity had developed in Juda-
ism.
In accordance with the predictions OF
the prophets. John the Baptist appear
ed and by his preaching and dress re-
minded the people Of the prophet Eli
iah, whose ministry had saved the ma
ton His demand of reformation in the
personal life of individuals and the ma
ton and the requirement OF the con-
fesSion OF their sins and baptism had
u
Jesus marked the commencement of
His ministry. BY that act the Master
identified Himself with humanity and
dedicated His life to the work of estab-
fishing the kingdom of God. Heaven
gave John the promised evidence that
Jesus was the Messiah, whose coming
the Baptist had predicted and prepared
for by his ministry at his baptism OF
the Master Christianity was product
of the movement that John had inau-
gurated and was closely identified with
the nations hopes for a Messianic
King whose coming the prophets had
predicted. The kingdom that Jesus
proclaimed was a fulflllment OF Gods
promises TO His people, although He
breathed into its meaning holy and
spiritual conception OF fellowship with
God and friendship with men.
Ministry Of Authority.
Mark introduces Jesus as a
preacher of authority, after the Master
had made Capernaum his headquarters
upon the imprisonment OF John the
Baptist. He passed over the Judean
ministry that followed His temptation
so that our lessons were all taken from
His Galilean ministry. during which
time His messages gripped the people by
their freedom from the customary type
of instruction OF the scribes. for they
were astonished" at His claims OF au-
thority Back of every appeal was no
quotation from the traditional teachings
OF the various schools, for He set Him
self up as the standard Of authority. 1t
was Verify, verify. say unto you"
Seven of our lessons revealed Him as
a doer of miracles All but one. the
feeding of the 5000, had reference to
His healing the sick In His work as
physician Jesus revealed His sympathy
with man In his sorrows, suffering and
sickness. He healed many of divers
diseases until His fame as healer in
terfered with His ministry OF teaching
and training the IL. While His mission
called for Him to preach the gospel OF
the kingdom 70 the whole nation. the
Master never looked upon crowd with
out being moved with compassion, for
He saw them as individuals and recog-
nized their personal needs. He healed
people suffering with the palsy, with
cred hand, fevers. demoniacal posses
sions, various plaques. like the woman
who showed her faith by touching the
hem OF His garment. He was the mas
ter OF disease and death.
Back of all the marvellous cures be-
ing made today by our leading physi-
clans, surgeons and nurses. let us not
forget that the successful issue OF their
treatment is due to something more
than science. The efforts OF serious
students In the laboratory and hospital
have advanced the knowledge OF the
mysteries OF diseases and found cures
for many. but the Great Physician alone
gives life and healing 70 men. The
growing fame and increasing influence
af ha
some OF the Lords enemies charging
Him with healing men by the power OF
Satan, who Jesus pointed out TO be the
source OF disease. refuting their charge
by His question, How can Satan cast
out Satan?"
The Master Teacher.
In His healing of the man with
palsy Jesus showed the close connection
between sin and sickness. He forgave
the man his sins and when He was
charged with usurping the authority OF
God by telling the man that his sins
were forgiven the Master demonstrated
His power 10 forgive sins by ordering
the man To rise up. take up his sleeping
rug and walk, He showed Ills mercy
In His attitude toward all sinners. but
by eating with men who were social
and political outcasta He demonstrated
His love for the souls who were lost. He
won men by His sympathy and love
for the ones who had failed. The glory
OF the gospel is that God can, desires
and does use those who have failed,
When the critics sought to condemn
Him by citing how His disciples were
breaking the Sabbath Jesus Insisted that
the day OF rest was created for men,
not man for the Sabbath. He placed
the value Of the soul above the ritual
istic demands of men. The Lord had
10 pay the price that every man pays
who attains eminenee In the world. His
own family misunderstood Him and
sought 10 explain Ills efforts IN an af-
fectionate manner. which He repudiated
by pointing out the spiritual relation
ship that exists between those who do
the viii and work Of the Father. Ale
though Nazareth rejected Him, He was
not 0yerWhelmed with sorrow. for lie
kept ON reaching out into other towns
and communities throughout 0aiiiee,
II was quite evident that Jesus saw
that His first task was TO train the ia
whom He called after spending night
In prayer 10 be His apostles, so that
they might be with Him ADD be sent
forth as Ills Representatives, II was
due to their need OF rest that lie took
them to quiet place on the Lake Of
Galilee, beyond the entrance nf the