Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-15
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

Of authority. He reasoned that II naen
under him obeyed his command. then
disease and the nervous disorder Of his
servant would disappear II Jesus issued
the command. He reasoned from the
analogy Of visible things to invisible.
student of metaphysics. ito perceive the
truth that in the spirit realm time and
space do not count" Although he was
foreigner, the centurion had evidently
recognized that Jesus possessed divine
power and divine authority. He be-
lieved that Christ's work was suficient,
and so It proved to be.
The centurion's faith Allied the Master
with wonder. Such Q faith has o his
torical development. We naturally would
like TO trace its growth, but the Scrip
lures do not give Us any information
upon II, We do know that he mad
studied the Old Testament. Evidently
from his studies ne had view of the
character Of the Messiah and had come
to see in the Lords messages and mira
cles the evidence that Jesus was the
Messiah. He believed that He was not
only the Son Of Man, but the Son OF
God. The Masters tribute to the CEN
turion's faith Is an unusual one: II
have not found so great faith, no. not
in Israel" Christ's testimony declares
that in his heart the Roman SOL
dier had surpassed the men who had
taught him their faith. 1.-THE accidents
Of nationality and outward afiilations
could not prevent such q man from
sharing the privileges OF the kingdom
of God, which Jesus had come TO rro-
claim and establish" He IN q repre-
sentative of the men and women of
every nation who will be found among
the number recognizing the Lord Jesus
as the Lord Of Lords and the King Of
Kings.
A Rewarded Faith.
Jesus commended the centurion's
faith. The Roman soldier had demon
strated his faith by seeking Christ's
ministry on behalf Of q slave that he
loved. This great sympathetic soul ap-
pealed strongly to Christ by his attitude
toward his servant and his generous
gifts to the Jewish people. He proved
his faith by his deeds. The Master
recognized that family ties, parental
pedigrees and privileged positions win
not admit persons into the Kingdom Of
God. They had their value, but did
not merit the Lords commentator as
way to enter the kingdom. The
centurion's faith was rewarded not only
in the praise Of the Great Physician,
but also In His cure Of the suffering
slave of his nervous disorder. Jesus
told him to go his way in peace, asstIr-
ing the centurion that his faith had
won victory. "As thou hast believed,
so be 1t done unto thee" The dread
disease disappeared. The slaves re-
covery was complete for "the servant
was healed in that hour"
Jesus came seeking faith In his own
nation. When he comes again win He
find faith. on the earth2 Many of US
that ought to possess power through
our faith are in danger Of losing the
blessings of true faith because we have
not exercised the privileges God has
given US. Let US ever remember that
they shall come from the East and
from the West. and from the North and
from the South. and shall sit down In
the kingdom Of God" to rule with our
Lord. They shall sit down with AbFa-
ham, and Isaac. and Jacob In the King
dom Of Heaven, but the sons Of the
kingdom shall be cast forth into the
outer darkness and there shall he weep
ing and the crashing Of teeth" Let
us exercise our faith Ike the centurion
to be worthy of the Lords recognition
and commendation.