The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-03-22
F SPARKS FROM AN =
: OAKLAND PULPIT =
THE GOOD PHYSICIAN.
y * y * 4 +

Matthew 11:5-The blind receive their
sight, the lame walk, the lepers
are cleansed, the deaf hear, the
dead are raised up, and the poor
have good tidings preached to them
Almost all the so-called miracles re-
corded in the Gospels are cases of
healing. The presence of these mi
raculous stories has proved to be a
stumbling block to the faith of some
people. A miracle, they say, is an
event contrary to the laws of nature,
but science teaches US that all things
happen in obedience to law. There
fore, either science is wrong or the
Gospel is wrong.
Now, little further reflection will
show that this is obviously fictitious
dilemma, resting upon a misunder-
standing. We forget that the def
milton of miracle as a superhuman
event contrary to natural law is a
purely modern idea. Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John, when they wrote the
Gospel records, many centuries be-
fore the birth of modern science, did
not even know that there was such
thing as law of nature. To them
a miracle was simply what the word
'miracle''really means-something to
wonder at, something wonderful
l fail to see why any reasonable
person should be troubled by the Bib
lical statements that Jesus did many
wonderful things. We all admit that
He was wonderful man; why should
not His works also be wonderful?
When we study the Man of Naza-
reth, we find Him to be, contrary to
the ibels that have been so frequent
ly circulated in Sunday school, not an
effeminate weakling, "meek and mild"
but man of towering strength and
sublime courage, before the scorching
flame of whose eyes the bravado of
angry mobs wilted away, before the
subtle logic of whose mind the keen
est wits of the nation were routed in
confusion. This man, the touch of
whose hand was so electric that men
said that power came from Him."
this dynamic personality who has
stirred the worlds heart to it's depths
and inspired fallen women and broken
men with unconquerable ambitions
why should it be hard to believe that
so wonderful person should have
performed wonderful deeds?
We who live in an age of mira
Giles, when the human voice, without
wires or visible means of communica-
ton, can be heard to the four corners
of the earth-why should it seem i'm
possible to us that the voice of Jesus
made the lame to walk and the blind
to see?
The modern medical profession
frankly recognizes that faith is a vital
factor in the treatment of every dis
ease. If the patient has confidence in
his physician and in himself, and be-
lieves that he will pull through"
his chances of recovery are vastly i'm
proved.
Likewise the healing ministry of the
Good Shepherd was conditioned by the
faith of His patients. Again and
again He said, as He did to the wom-
an who touched the hem of His gar
ment, "Thy faith hath made thee
whole"
When people refused to believe in
Him, He was powerless to help them.
When He returned to Nazareth, "He
could there do no mighty work * * x
because Of their unbelief."
If we have faith in Him, and in
prayer touch but the hem of His gar
ment, we shall receive health and
strength and buoyancy both TO rbody
and for soul.