Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-02-12

ture. and the needs of his body are
so much before him. he is prone
to forget that there is within, spir-
itual nature which is his real self.
God is interested in both the
physical and the spiritual side of
man. He provides all that we need
for our bodies. and above all, He
meets the all-important spiritual
hunger of mans inner being. We
find the Lord Jesus in our lesson
graciously touching both spirit and
body Of the palsied man in response
to the faith Of his friends.
I. Faith Brings a Double Need to
Christ wv. la.
This faith-stimulating story faces
us first with
l. An Impossible Situation. In
curably afflicted and helpless phys
ically and far more deeply aff1ict-
ed spiritually. this man had no one
who could heal his body and restore
his soul. Apart from the power Of
God in Jesus Christ his situation
was hopeless, and thus he may well
typify every one of us except for
the grace of Christ.
Furthermore, his circumstances
were such as to make it impossible
for him to get to Jesus, who was
there in his city. Even when his
four friends came to his help and
bore him to the house where Jesus
was, they could not enter because of
the crowds. So journey begun in
hope was evidently to close in de-
spair. But wait, these men had
2. An Undeniable Faith. Where
there's will there's a way" Where
there is faith the obstacles may be
surmounted. Having begun good
work they persevered in it.
Had these men been bound by
convention or custom they would
never have put their friend at Jesus
feet. They did try to make a proper
entry through the door. but it was
blocked. The way to Jesus is often
closed, by some custom. vain
philosophy, or religious ceremony.
Let US, like these believing men,
open the roof if necessary to bring
our needs and our needy friends to
Him.
Although mention is made only Of
the palsy of this man. it is probable
that both he and they knew that his
need was for a double cure, for he
was yet in his sins.
They brought him to Jesus, where
their
ii. Faith Receives a Double Re
ward From Christ wv. SID.
Immediately Jesus saw their
faith" ". 50. just as He always
does. God is on the lookout for faith
and is quick to reward it. The two
fold need here brought a double
blessing.
5 /. Spiritual Cleansing. The mans
physical aff1iction thus proved to be
his greatest blessing, for it brought
him to Jesus, who cleansed him Of
all unrighteousness. If he had not
been palsied he might never have
met the Lord. Suffering. then, may
be means of grace. That is more
than a pious platitude. for it has
been proved repeatedly in the expe-
rience of men and women.
Certain scribes sitting there"
tthey were not doing thing to
help) began to reason in their hearts
that Jesus was disappearing be-
cause only God can forgive sin.
Their theology was faultless and
their reasoning was logical. but the
premise of their argumentw was wrong.
Only God can forgive sin, but Jesus
is God, something which they In
their wisdom did not realize or &C.
cept.
We Especially young people in
SCHOOL, should be careful that the
fluent smoothness of some unbeliev-
ing philosophers logic does not lead
US astray, and away from Gods
truth.
Note also the solemnizing thought
that Jesus knew what they were
thinking in their hearts. Let US re-
member that "all things are naked
and opened unto the eyes Of him
with whom we have to do" Meb.
Alb. What does He see when He
looks into our hearts?
The challenge of these questioning
scribes is met by
2. Physical Healing. Forgiving
sins was harder than healing the
body. but these anemies Of Jesus
lived so much in the realm of the
physical that He had to give them
a demonstration of His almighty
power which they could see. It was
a gracious thing for Him to do, and
perhaps necessary in those early
days of His life and ministry.
Today, with all the light OF his
tory upon the work of God, we need
to beware that we do not sit In
the seat of the scornful and demand
a physical sign before we will be.
lieve God is doing great things in
the spiritual realm even in our day.
In which Christian men and women
may share by faith.