The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-10-12

in man.-John FPS
What is man worth? That de-
ponds on your point of view. In
museum stands collection of small
jars containing minerals, water,
etc, which make up the body of a
man, and which are valued at less
than a dollar. But there is more to
man than his body.
And that more intellectual and
spiritual-is what determines his
real value. Jesus understood Eyes,
and now He understands man, and
places high valuation on him. That
is worth knowing in a world where
the price of humanity is often figured
on the basis of his usefulness in war
fare or the factory.
Jesus really understands man. He
knows his
|. Need ". 81.
The first thing Jesus saw in the
synagogue was not the leaders, or
the beautifully appareled rich, or the
, learned scribes. He saw man with
withered hand, one who needed
His help. The enemies of Christ
complimented Him by expecting
Him to see the crippled one-and
they watched him" (Mark 3:2), for
it was the Sabbath.
Do we see the real need of human
ity? Does it speak to US and prompt
US to helpful action? If not, are we
like our Lord and Master?
III. Value wv. 1O-I2).
They who would not hesitate to
save a sheep in distress on the Sab
bath did not want the man to re-
ceive help, Thus they put property
above the person of man, and
showed their low valuation of man.
The dignity of mans personality,
the fact that he is made in the like
ness and image of God, the great
potentialities which exist in every
man-all these should urge upon the
Christian church the need of new
and higher estimate of the worth of
a manor a boy or girl Let us
look at them with Gods eyes, and
seek to win them for Him.
Ill. Faith ". 13).
No doubt this man had tried count
less times to straighten out that
Withered arm. 1t was the very thing
he most wanted to do, but it was
quite impossible. Is Jesus then
charging him with the impossible,
asking him to do what cannot be
done?
No, for He saw in this man the
desire to be whole and faith in
Gods ability to make him whole.
DR.. G. Campbell Morgan puts it
well: eve turn from Contempla-
ton of a Withered hand and look at
the face of Jesus. The moment we
do this, we know that the command
is possible because He commands
it, however impossible it may ap-
pear. To look into that face must
inevitably have meant to be certain
that He was not there to reveal dis
ability, save as He was also there to
put an end to it,
~. Enmity wv. II, 15a).
Jesus saw the good in man. He
also saw the evil. He was not un-
aware of the hatred and the dark
devices of His enemies. Until the
day when He was to permit them
to take Him captive in the garden,
He withdrew from them, leaving
them to their evil designs and their
wicked unbelief.
Sometimes when we see how the
wicked seem to flourish in our day,
how they appear to 60 on without
let or hindrance, we are prone to
forget that there is One who "sits
in the shadows" and who knows and
notes not only their ungodly deeds,
but also their sinful thoughts.
He knows, and that is enough for
us. Let us not be seeking vengeance,
nor fretting ourselves because of
evil doors. God knows, and He will
care for it all.
V. Weakness wv. l5b-2D.
Men hesitate to admit their weak
ness to one another, always trying to
keep up the appearance of strength
and success Well, there is no need
of that kind of subterfuge with God.
He knoweth our frame; he remem-
bereth that we are dust" Cps. 1O3
14.
Jesus sympathized with those who
were physically i'll and He healed
them ". l5). What comfort there is
in knowing that He is present at the
sick bed of every believer, and that
He is able to heal as it may be
His will and purpose. Only He can
do it.
But there is something even n ore
precious here. Man is weak not
only physically but spiritually. His
spiritual light may at times be near
ly out, just smoldering wick in
stead of brightly shining lamp. We
might be tempted to say that it is
so weak, so disagreeable, so smoky
let's put it entirely out. But not
Jesus. He will. if permitted, fan it
into flame again.
Then, too, man is like broken
reed. The picture is that of stick
cut to use for support as one walks.
And then it breaks-What shall we
do? Break it into smaller pieces
and throw it away? Yes, that is what
we will do if we have not the spirit of
Tect,c