The Key West citizen., 1952-11-08
The Compassion Of Jesus
Matthew 2
BY RALPH ROGERS


Against our hoasted 'enlighten.
ed civilization there stands out the
most barbarous savagery and mer.
ciless cruelty of any age. Our
blood runs cold with the descrip-
tion of the torturous means used
to wiring false confessions from
innocent victims, and when we see
families divided and liquidated or
sent to slave labor camps as poll
teal enemies. II is still amazing
that injustice and cruelty triumphs
in too many places throughout the
world. With Nathaniel Jones we
are inclined to say, 'There is no
other animal that can become as
nurderous as Gods image-Man!"
In the heart of Atlanta's Grant
Park stands the famed 'cyelorama'
which depicts the Battle of Atlanta.
Following the lecturer around the
circle one is shocked by one grue,
some scene after another until the
lighted arrow finally falls upon two
figures In a group and is hushed
silence one hears the lecturer say,
"A soldier in blue is bent over a
soldier in gray. In the midst of
the battle the Union soldiers stops
to swing his canteen to the lips
Of the dying Southern boy who Is
pleading for water. AS the one puts
his arm under the other to lift
his head, he discovers that the
dying youth is--his brother" The
compassion Of Jesus is like that.
II is giving cup OF water to a
brother.
The lesson today outlines in
deeds of kindness and mercy the
compassion of Jesus. The friends
of a paralytic had that vicarious
faith, which moved them to bring
the sinful stricken man to one
they believed could help. It was
the same vicariouS faith which the
Centurion showed when he asked
that his beloved servant be cured.
(Mat. S:5-iS) II was also true Of
the ruler who came TO Jesus in
behalf of his daughter. (Mat. 9:1S)
Jesus understood the secret OF
healing when he said to the para
lytic, Take heart. my son, your
sins are forgiven. The pSycholo-
glst would say this Is mental heal
ing and our doctors are aware to-
day of the importance Of a whole
some mental attitude in recovery
from any illness. The lad in the
incident no doubt felt that his
paralysis was contracted by indul-
gence Of some sort, and so was
due to sin. II must have been q
mental relief to know that his sins
were forgiven because the Scrihes
believed that no one but God could
forgive sins and that no man could
be sure that they were forgiven.
While Jesus could not convince his
followers that he could forgive sins,
he might do so through a clear
demonstration Of his power
He then said TO the boy. Rise up,
take up your bed and so home" /"
Matthew says, when the crowds
saw II, they were afraid (oyercome
with awel and they glorified God" /"
Mark and Luke give a more de-
tailed account Of this miracle show.
ing the compassion Of Jesus. Mat
thew was . tax collector which
was . symbol of the hated Ro-
man power. Too often extnrtion
ard graft was practiced by the
tax collectors and so respectable
homes were denied them. they
were summed and cStraeixed by all.
Matthew became interested when
Jesus came along and asked that
be follow him, So gratefal was
Matthew that be gave q dinner
and Invited his many friends, some
guilty Of moral offenses, non.
church. goeFs. and those Indifferent
to their religious obligations. an
considered sinners oy the Jews.
While the Jews did welcome the
repenlsnt sinner. Jesus was TIE
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