1 "And He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into His own city. And behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven. And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (then saith He to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men."
9 "And as Jesus passed by from thence, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll; and He saith unto him, Follow Me. And he arose, and followed Him."
1 "And when He entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that He was in the house. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, no, not even about the door; and He spake the Word unto them. And they come, bringing unto Him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the crowd they uncovered the roof where He was; and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this Man thus speak? He blasphemeth; who can forgive sins but one, even God? And straightway Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (He saith to the sick of the palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."
13 "And He went forth again by the seaside; and all the multitude resorted unto Him, and He taught them. And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the place of toll, and He saith unto him, Follow Me. And he arose and followed Him."
17 "And it came to pass on one of those days, that He was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with Him to heal. And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied; and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before Him. And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And seeing their faith, He said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered and said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins (He said unto him that was palsied), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his house, glorifying God. And amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day."
27 "And after these things He went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow Me. And he forsook all, and rose up and followed Him."
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. In consequence of the leper's public testimony, what did Jesus do? Mark 1:45. (Ps. 105:1-3.)
2. Did the people lose sight of Him in His retirement?
3. In due time, where did Christ again appear? Mark 2:1. (Matt. 9:1.)
4. When this was noised abroad, what demonstration was made? Verse 2.
5. Who were especially mentioned as being present on the occasion? Luke 5:17. Note . (Luke 6:7; 20:20.)
6. While Jesus was speaking, who was brought forward? In what manner? Matt. 9:2. (Mark 2:3.)
7. When the bearers of the palsied man could not press through the multitude, what did they do? Mark 2:4. Note . (Luke 5:19; Matt. 11:12.)
8. Beholding such zealous faith, what did the Lord say to the young man? Matt. 9:2.
15 "If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments. And I
16 will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
17 that He may be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world can not receive; for it beholdeth Him not,
neither knoweth Him; ye know Him; for He abideth with you,
18 and shall be in you. I will not leave you desolate: I come
19 unto you. Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth Me no
20 more; but ye behold Me; because I live, ye shall live also. In
that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me,
21 and I in you. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth
them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be
loved of My Father, and I will love Him, and will manifest
22 Myself unto him. Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto Him, Lord,
what is come to pass that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us,
23 and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will
love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode
24 with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My Words; and
the Word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's who
sent Me.
25 "These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding
26 with you. But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and
27 bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. Peace I
leave with you; My peace I give unto you; not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be fearful."
Golden Text: "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter." Verse 16.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What is the test of love to Christ set forth in this lesson? V. 15. Note 1. (2) What is promised to those who manifest such love? V. 16. Note 2. (3) What is this Comforter? Why cannot the world know Him? How does the disciple know Him? V. 17. Note 3. (4) What further gracious promise is given? V. 18. (5) What was to come to pass in a little while? But how could the disciples behold Him? V. 19. (6) In that day (or time) what would the disciples know? V. 20. Note 4. (7) In what language is the test of love repeated? V. 21. (8) What question was asked by Judas, or Jude? V. 22. Note 5. (9) How is the evidence of true love again expressed? And what promise is added? V. 23. (10) What is said of them who do not love Christ? Whose Word do the disciples hear? V. 24. (11) What is the Comforter said to be? Who sends it? What is its office? Vs. 25, 26. (12) What does Christ leave with His disciples? V. 27. Note 6.
NOTES.
1. The test of love.—This test is made prominent in other scriptures. It is repeated in verses 21 and 23; also in chap. 15:14 we read, "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." Again, in 1 John 5:3, we have the statement that "this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments." Paul's definition of love is in exact harmony with that already quoted, namely, "Love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. 13:10.
2. "Another Comforter."—"The operation of the Spirit is wholly in the line of Christ's work on earth; it belongs to the same sphere, and contemplates the same ends. It represents a stage of the redemptive process which lies beyond the historic work of Christ; it is the continued operation of God's saving, redeeming love, interpreting, applying, and perfecting the work of the Saviour."—Professor Stevens.
3. The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of truth," whose office is to "guide you into all truth." Chap. 16:13. Therefore it is to guide to a reception and an understanding of the Word, through which we must be sanctified. Chap. 17:17. David says, "Thy Word is true from the beginning" (Ps. 119:160); "O Lord, give me understanding according to Thy Word!" (verse 169). The commandments of God are the way of truth, for David says again, "Thou art near, O Lord; and all Thy commandments are truth" (verse 151); and, "A good understanding have all they that do His commandments" (Ps. 111:10). So the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, is the Spirit of God and of Christ (John 16:13-15), leading us to peace with God through Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life." Himself having kept all the commandments of God, which are the truth, as above noted. "Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in." Isa. 26:2.
4. A complete union.—Verse 20 shows that the Comforter, or the Spirit of truth, or the Holy Spirit (which are one and the same Spirit), forms not only the union of the Father and the Son, but embraces also those who will receive the Spirit and be guided by it into all truth, even as Christ was filled with and led by the Spirit unto perfect obedience. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous." Rom. 5:19. These are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:2.
5. "How is it?"—Judas (Jude, or Lebbaeus of Matt. 10:3) asks a question concerning that which is a mystery to many in this day, namely, How is it that Christ can manifest Himself to some and not to others? The answer is, that the manifestation is a spiritual one. Since His ascension, He visits His servants by His Holy Spirit, which is ministered to them by the angels. The Spirit is poured out upon all flesh (Joel 2:28), but only those who desire it, those who seek it earnestly, will receive it in a way to experience the presence of Christ, and become His temple, or dwelling-place. The Spirit of Christ is His representative in the earth. Remember, however, that it is "he that hath My commandments, and keepeth them" (John 14:21) that is thus assured of an abiding Saviour.
6. Peace.—It is peace with God that is thus assured, not with the world; for "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Yet those who have the Spirit of Christ will be at peace among themselves. 1 Thess. 5:13. "God hath called us to peace" (1 Cor. 7:15); therefore "let the peace of God rule in your hearts" (Col. 3:15). This is the purpose for which Christ left His peace with His disciples; that they should be examples of peace, that they should love one another, and thereby the world know that the Father had sent Him. John 17:23. The kingdom of God is peace (Rom. 14:17), and only by following peace toward all men (Heb. 12:14), whether they will reciprocate or not, can we rightly represent the kingdom, and "be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless," at His coming (2 Peter 3:14). "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.
GRAN'S THIEF.
By E. W. O'Donny
(Concluded.)
"HEAR the child!" exclaimed Gran, catching him to her breast. "Any one would almost think he was coming."
"Well, ain't he? Won't Jesus bring him when we ask Him? I thought He would. I won't pray to Him if He won't do as He says." And he stood looking earnestly into Gran's eyes. She returned his look, but said nothing.
"Gran, say, won't Jesus do it? 'Cause I want to know what to 'spect."
Just a minute Gran waited, and then reached for her Bible—the new one that had replaced the stolen one—and said:—
"We will see just what Jesus Himself says about it." The child came close, and, leaning against her, patted every leaf down as she turned it, until she came to the place.
"This is what Jesus says," and she read John 14:14, "If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it." Yes, He—will—do—it, for it is all in His name. He will do it."
"O, I'm so glad!" cried the child, as he ran and leaped into the middle of his little bed. "And I'll watch for him, and we'll be so glad to see him, won't we, Gran?"
"Yes, you precious!" sobbed Gran, as she bent over the little face and kissed it again and again, dropping fast-falling tears upon it all the time.
"You cryin'? Is you sorry, Gran?"
"No, but so glad. Sometimes we old folks cry when little folks would jump and laugh."
The next morning, bright and early, Ned found his little son sitting on the gate-post looking off down the long avenue.
"You're out early, seems to me," he said, "and up rather high."
"Yes, I have to be; I'm watchin'."
"Watching?"
"Yes; for Jesus' and Gran's thief; and he's my thief too!"
Ned opened his lips, then closed them. He could not say just what he had on the end of his tongue, but after a moment he did say:—
"How are you going to know him if he comes? There are lots of thieves."
"O, Jesus will know him, and of course He'll tell me; and Gran will know him too!"
Ned walked quickly away, calling back in a husky voice:—
"See that you don't fall, young man."
That evening Ned told Gran and Emily about it, and Gran said:—
"Dear little watchman!" then, as if by a sudden impulse, she continued: "Don't hinder him, Ned; don't cloud his faith. When I fail, you'll stand by, won't you, and be good to that poor soul when he comes? You will, won't you, Ned?"
"Never you worry, Gran. You know that anything you set your heart on is sacred to me, don't you? I'll stand by."
How it all came back to him the next morning. The child came down alone, and in his nightdress. He always went to Gran's room to be dressed, after which they came down together hand in hand, he leaping around her, tugging at her, and sometimes almost making her sway on her poor old legs; for she was not so strong as she used to be.
"Well, well," said mama, "how does this happen? Where is Gran?"
"O, she's prayin' yet! I said all o' mine, and then I waited; and I didn't like to say, 'Please, Gran, dress me,' when she was prayin' for her thief yet. Would you? So I just kissed her soft—and her cheek is awful cold—then I came down by my own self. You comin' up to dress me now, mama?"
But mama was upstairs already. The child followed, and saw mama standing with her hands clasped, beside the kneeling form that with upturned face and closed eyes was bathed with the light of the morning sun, as it streamed in and filled the room.
That evening as it came to the hour when the child and Gran had always gone to his little room together to pray before he was put to bed, he seemed like a bird that had lost his mate, and, creeping up to his father, he took his hand and said:—
"I want Gran."
"So do I, child," said Ned.
"And what is we goin' to do 'bout prayin' for you and mama and me, and Gran's thief?" No answer.
"Say, papa," and the child climbed up onto his father's knees, put his little hands on either side of his face, and held it straight before him. "Answer me, papa; for I's awfully 'fraid I can't pray it all alone; I ain't big nough." Then, as with a sudden inspiration, he cried: "O papa, you never prayed with me, not even once; won't you come now? And I's sleepy too."
Ned waited only a minute. He had resisted the gentle appeals from the tender heart that was cold and still in that upper room, but now, almost without realizing what he was doing, he arose and followed the little feet that led the way to the place of prayer.
As he was ascending the stairway, suddenly for the first time he remembered Gran's request on the night before, and his hearty promise; and, drawing himself up with a vigorous movement, he solemnly, conscientiously, shouldered the responsibility which was entailed.
"I didn't know what I was saying when I said what I did," he thought, "but I'll stand by. I'll keep it letter and spirit, so help me God."
Emily had overheard, and, softly following, she came to the little room just as Ned and the child had kneeled together. She dropped down beside them, and Gran's thief was prayed for in the midst of such personal revelations from the Holy Spirit as made these two very respectable people think of him as only a brother sinner.
After the child was in bed Ned and Emily slipped into the silent room where the dead form was sleeping, and as by one impulse bowed in humble self-surrender to the Father and Saviour, to whose faithfulness her life had been a testimony.
"Emily," said Ned as they arose, "of course that special tramp will never turn up, but what do you say?—let's make this room a sort of a tramp's refuge. We can pick our tramps, of course, and be careful; but somehow I feel like doing it. That bath-room can be given up to them, and—well, when it's necessary we can get the folks from the mission—dear old Gran's brothers and sisters; how she loved them!—they will be glad to come up and help us. Maybe I can do it all myself."
"I should be glad," said Emily. "I always wanted to be good like Gran, and to do things for folks." And, throwing her arms about him, "O, I shall be so glad if we can together let all that dear saint's prayers be answered, and our babe's too! I have stood outside the door and heard them pray for us until it has almost killed me sometimes."
"Well, dear, we will do it. God helping me, I'll do my share. We must tell babe all about it. He has a right to know," said Ned huskily.
The night after Gran was laid away Ned took the child on his knees and comforted him by telling him all that he and mama had promised to do. "And I have made up my mind to go to the mission," he said, "and bring home the13fellow that needs us the most, if I can find him."
"But Gran's thief, papa, where'll you put him? My bed aint big 'nough."
"When I find him"—
"But you don't have to find him," interrupted the child. "He's comin' his own self."
It was late when Emily heard steps on the front porch that night. She hastened to open the door, for, while Ned was not alone, he had evidently failed to find his tramp.
"This is my wife," he said to the man who was with him, "and—I had a good mind to tell you that she would be expecting a tramp, and be disappointed. But the tramp will keep, dear; there are plenty of them. The mission folks could care for all they had to-night. This brother has come to do a work for homeless men. He addressed the meeting. I was so interested I wanted to talk with him about his plans, so I invited him to stay with us while he is in the city."
Emily gave the stranger her hand, and with a look of great peace on her face said:—
"Well, I got the room ready for a tramp—Gran's thief, in fact, Ned. Of course we didn't expect him, but I couldn't help doing it all with him in mind; and I'm glad now I made it just as nice and comfortable as I could; but it is very late, dear; I suppose our guest is tired."
"Yes, I will show him right up."
"I am tired; it is late," said the stranger; "but I am deeply touched by what you have said. I feel that I must be going into a very holy place."
"You are," said Emily. "It was Gran's room, and she was a saint. She's just been taken out of it, and"—
"And," said Ned, "we had given it to the Lord's homeless men. That is why I wanted to talk with you; but we will let you rest until to-morrow, then will get acquainted all around."
The child awakened at the usual hour, having utterly forgotten overnight that anything had happened, and, springing from his little bed, tapped, as had been his wont, on the door across the hall.
"Come in."
But the voice was strange. Then he remembered—his heart swelled, his lip quivered, and a sob swept up from his breast. But he was too much interested in the occupant of the room to pause, even if the hand of the stranger had not swung the door open to him.
The stranger's face was very pale, and marked with tears, and he held two Bibles, one on top of the other, in his hand.
"Well, good-morning, my little man," he said huskily.
"Are you a tramp, and have you been cryin' too?" asked the child.
"Yes, I have been crying, and I am a tramp—redeemed."
"What is redeemed?"
"Saved and bought by the dear Lord Jesus."
"O, yes, that is what Gran and I always prayed 'bout—her thief, you know; and I thought maybe he'd come, 'cause we's been 'spectin' him a long time; and she's gone and dead, but papa, and mama, and I's waitin' for him just the same!"
The man stood an instant struggling with a flood of tears that choked his speech, then, lifting the child in his arms, with the two books in his hand, he went down to the room from which came sounds of life. He found Ned and Emily together, and without even the ordinary morning greeting, he said:—
"I am he; I have met the angel in the way many times in my life, but now I feel that I have almost come face to face with my God.
When I arose this morning, and saw this Bible on my table, I opened it, and—see—it's the same name. This old one was in the valise that I stole. Then this little hand tapped on the door; I opened it, and the child told me the rest. O, the amazing mercy of God! But how I wish I could have come a few days sooner! O, if I could have seen her, and asked her to forgive me!"
"But," said Ned, "a few days sooner would have been too soon. You're just in time."
"Course you is just in time," said the child. "And me and Gran knew you would be—only she said you looked rough and stubby, like mama's gloves. But, O, I's awful glad you're come, if you is lots whiter'n we 'spected'!"
THE INTERVIEW.
By Sarah Livezey
[The idea in the author's mind is that a man of God who lived in former, better generations of Christianity was brought back to life to observe the customs among "Christians" and compare their lives with those who lived in his day. He expresses his feelings in the following verses.]
"CHRISTIANS?"—"Yes, they're Christians
Of the nineteenth century,
Filled with lofty, large ideals
Of a Christian's dignity.
They are full to overflowing
With the love that makes a show,
That we often find in churches
Out on dress-parade, you know."
"Christians?"—"Yes, they're Christians;
And their hearts are all on fire
With the zeal the world admires
In the race to mount still higher
In the walks of wealth and fashion,
'Mid the gaudy charms of earth,
Where the world will glorify them
And applaud their seeming worth."
"Christians?"—"Yes, they're Christians
From a scientific view;
They can furnish learned essays
Proving what they hold is true.
They have gleaned their world-wide knowledge
From the manuscripts of old,
From the sages in the Orient,
And ancient books untold."
"Christians?"—"Yes, they're Christians
Of the kind that fret and stew
When a humble Christian brother
Steps into their rented pew,
Who by his abiding presence
Would profane the hallowed frieze,
Fashioned with such skilful fingers
For a wealthy Christian's ease."
"Christians?"—"Yes, they're Christians,
With a modern suavity;
Mingling church and club and play-room
In the name "sweet charity."
But they're not the godly Christians,
With a humble, heavenly mien,
Following Him who stilled the tempest,
Christ, the martyred Nazarene."
This grieved the saintly martyr, who had
Borne the Christian's cross,
And had hoped for richer findings
Instead of worldly dross.
Hard it weighed him down with sadness;
His very soul was swayed
With deep pity for the people.
"O Father," thus he prayed,
"Give us Christians, real Christians,
In all the walks of life,
In cultured homes, the cottage,
And in the field of strife,
Where for erring souls and fearful
The evil angels search!
Give, O faithful Father, give us
True Christians in the church!"
SARAH LIVEZEY.
Chicago, Ill.
A TRAMP'S ELOQUENT LECTURE.
A TRAMP asked for a free drink in a saloon. The request was granted, and while he was in the act of drinking the proffered beverage, one of the young men present exclaimed:—
"Stop; make us a speech. It is a poor liquor that doesn't unloosen a man's tongue."
The tramp hastily swallowed the drink, and, as the rich liquor coursed through his blood, he straightened himself and stood before them with a grace and dignity that all his rags and dirt could not obscure.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I look to-night at you and myself, and it seems to me I look upon the picture of my lost manhood. This bloated face was once as young and handsome as yours. This shambling figure once walked as proudly as yours, a man in the world of men. I, too, once had a home and friends and position. I had a wife as beautiful as an artist's dream, and I dropped the priceless pearl of her honor and respect in the wine-cup, and, Cleopatra-like, saw it dissolve, and quaffed it down in the brimming draught. I had children as sweet and lovely as the flowers of spring, and saw them fade and die under the blighting curse of a drunkard father. I had a home where love lit the flame upon the altar and ministered before it, and I put out the holy fire, and darkness and desolation reigned in its stead. I had aspirations and ambitions that soared as high as the morning star, and I broke and bruised their beautiful wings, and at last strangled them that I might be tortured with their cries no more. To-day I am a husband without a wife, a father without a child, a tramp with no home to call his own, a man in whom every good impulse is dead. And all swallowed up in the maelstrom of drink."
The tramp ceased speaking. The glass fell from his nerveless fingers and shivered into a thousand fragments on the floor. The swinging doors pushed open and shut again, and when the little group about the bar looked up, the tramp was gone.—New Orleans Picayune.
Nothing Better Than the Bible
A YOUNG man who was offered a package of infidel publications replied: "If you have anything better than the Sermon on the Mount, the parables of the prodigal son and the good Samaritan, or if you have any better code of morals than the Ten Commandments, or anything more consoling and beautiful than the twenty-third psalm, or, on the whole, anything that will make this world more bright than the Bible, anything that will throw more light on the future, and reveal to me a Father more merciful and kind than the New Testament, please send it along."—Baptist Argus.
OUR LATEST PREMIUM
By Editor
Is the PARKER JOINTLESS FOUNTAIN PEN, No. 020 Sold everywhere at the regular price, $2.50. We send it by mail post-paid registered.
With a Year's Subscription to the "Signs of the Times" for only $2.50
In other words, by purchasing one of these pens you secure a copy of the paper free for one year. This is a rare opportunity to obtain with the SIGNS the latest and best Fountain Pen, one which we warrant to give perfect satisfaction. YOUR CHOICE OF EITHER A BLACK OR MOTTLED HOLDER, AND OF FINE, MEDIUM, OR COARSE POINTS.
THE SUCCESS OF THE PEN AGE.
THE JOINTLESS, LUCKY CURVE GEO. S. PARKER FOUNTAIN PEN
THE SUCCESS OF THE PEN AGE.
HAS NO SCREW TO BREAK, NO NOZZLE TO GET "STUCK," NO JOINT TO LEAK. IT IS DECLARED TO BE PERFECTION BY THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED OTHERS.
