Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-15
Sunday School Lesson
BY
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

sponded at once to His word, they
marVeled at His character and person.
atty.
Following a day of miracles in Ca
pernaum, the home of Peter was sur
rounded by multitudes seeking to be
nealed. Jesus healed them and among
the number were some with mental
diseases. When He reached the other
Sloe OF the lake, He was moved with
compassion at the evidence of faith in
HIS power, that was expressed, so He
cured the demonized man. The keepers
OF the swine reported the loss of the
nero that ran down the hill into the
sea ana Jesus was asked to leave They
valued the swine more than they did
me restoration of their fellow citizen.
When Jesus left, he longed to go along,
but the Master left him there to act
as missionary among his own people.
he dld 1t so well that when Christ re-
turned again, He was welcomed.
The Sinners Friend.
When Jesus had returned and was
preaching in Peters home, four men
arrived carrying a friend, who was a
paralytic, like the servant of the CEN
turion. His rug had served as a cot
and made it easy for them to climb
up TO the roof and remove the ceiling
OF straw and mud until they could let
their sick friend down through the
opening. Their efforts demonstrated
their faith and Jesus rewarded their
cooperation by saying to the sick man.
son, be OF good cheer; thy sins are
forgiven; Evidently, the mans sin was
responsible for his condition. Jesus
detected the unexpresSed penitence of
the SICK man, whose appealing look re-
vealed to the Lord the mans regret
Tor his iniquity and desire to be healed.
For the FIRST time in the Gospel, We
nave one seeking healing who was con-
Sclous OF ms sin. The Lord removed
the cause before He took up the effect
HIS mercy surpassed the expectation of
the mans friends and Jesus demon
Strated by His words that His first i'll
tereSt was the salvation of men.
Chrlst's words were a challenge to
His cynical critics, who were present
hoping to ensnare Him. The Pharisees
saw In His declaration to the man a
claim OF power and authority to forgive
sins. They raised the question that
none but God had that authority. Jesus
demonstrated that He possessed the
physical proof that established con-
cIuslvely His power and authority to
forgive sins. The sick man knew in
his heart that his sins had been for
given and Immediately showed his faith
oy obey1ng ChriStS command, Arise,
take up thy bed and go to thy house. .
His obedience proves to us that Jesus
possessed the power to forgive sins, as
well as heal the SICK. He showed His
friendship with sinners by calling Mat
thew, publican, who was recognized
by the public as traitor to his nation.
TO become one of His apostolic band.
He accepted Matthew's invitation to
dine with publicans and explain to
them the Gospel of salvation. This
aroused His enemies and it ought to
encourage all sinners to put their faith
in Him
In response TO the request of Jairus.
He restored to her broken hearted par
ents their young and beautiful daugh-
ter, whom they mourned as being dead.
He gave sight to a blind man and power
OF speech to one that was dumb. His
great heart is still DESTROYS OF helping
and healing men. He commissioned His
followers to carry the Gospel to every
creature. His sympathy for the suffer-
ing men and women, boys and girls,
had taught new sympathy for others.
The f1rst institution to arise as a result
OF Christianity was hospital, that has
carried the spirit of helpfulness revealed
by Jesus to all men throughout the world
The point of the surgeons lancet has
helped to open the doors for the procla-
nation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
In China and other lands, where the
missionaries of the cross have told how
He Himself took our infirmities. and
bare our diseases"