the desire of ages-第44章

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were　more　guilty　than　the　sufferers　they　condemned。

The　palsied　man　was　entirely　helpless；　and；　seeing　no　prospect　of　aid　from　any　quarter；　he　had　sunk　into　despair。　Then　he　heard　of　the　wonderful　works　of　Jesus。　He　was　told　that　others　as　sinful　and　helpless　as　he　had　been　healed；　even　lepers　had　been　cleansed。　And　the　friends　who　reported　these　things　encouraged　him　to　believe　that　he　too　might　be　cured　if　he　could　be　carried　to　Jesus。　But　his　hope　fell　when　he　remembered　how　the　disease　had　been　brought　upon　him。　He　feared　that　the　pure　Physician　would　not　tolerate　him　in　His　presence。

Yet　it　was　not　physical　restoration　he　desired　so　much　as　relief　from　the　burden　of　sin。　If　he　could　see　Jesus；　and　receive　the　assurance　of　forgiveness　and　peace　with　Heaven；　he　would　be　content　to　live　or　die；　according　to　God's　will。　The　cry　of　the　dying　man　was；　Oh　that　I　might　come　into　His　presence！　There　was　no　time　to　lose；　already　his　wasted　flesh　was　showing　signs　of　decay。　He　besought　his　friends　to　carry　him　on　his　bed　to　Jesus；　and　this　they　gladly　undertook　to　do。　But　so　dense　was　the　crowd　that　had　assembled　in　and　about　the　house　where　the　Saviour　was；　that　it　was　impossible　for　the　sick　man　and　his　friends　to　reach　Him；　or　even　to　come　within　hearing　of　His　voice。

Jesus　was　teaching　in　the　house　of　Peter。　According　to　their　custom；　His　disciples　sat　close　about　Him；　and　〃there　were　Pharisees　and　doctors　of　the　law　sitting　by；　which　were　come　out　of　every　town　of　Galilee；　and　Judea；　and　Jerusalem。〃　These　had　come　as　spies；　seeking　an　accusation　against　Jesus。　Outside　of　these　officials　thronged　the　promiscuous　multitude；　the　eager；　the　reverent；　the　curious；　and　the　unbelieving。　Different

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nationalities　and　all　grades　of　society　were　represented。　〃And　the　power　of　the　Lord　was　present　to　heal。〃　The　Spirit　of　life　brooded　over　the　assembly；　but　Pharisees　and　doctors　did　not　discern　its　presence。　They　felt　no　sense　of　need；　and　the　healing　was　not　for　them。　〃He　hath　filled　the　hungry　with　good　things；　and　the　rich　He　hath　sent　empty　away。〃　Luke　1：53。

Again　and　again　the　bearers　of　the　paralytic　tried　to　push　their　way　through　the　crowd；　but　in　vain。　The　sick　man　looked　about　him　in　unutterable　anguish。　When　the　longed…for　help　was　so　near；　how　could　he　relinquish　hope？　At　his　suggestion　his　friends　bore　him　to　the　top　of　the　house　and；　breaking　up　the　roof；　let　him　down　at　the　feet　of　Jesus。　The　discourse　was　interrupted。　The　Saviour　looked　upon　the　mournful　countenance；　and　saw　the　pleading　eyes　fixed　upon　Him。　He　understood　the　case；　He　had　drawn　to　Himself　that　perplexed　and　doubting　spirit。　While　the　paralytic　was　yet　at　home；　the　Saviour　had　brought　conviction　to　his　conscience。　When　he　repented　of　his　sins；　and　believed　in　the　power　of　Jesus　to　make　him　whole；　the　life…giving　mercies　of　the　Saviour　had　first　blessed　his　longing　heart。　Jesus　had　watched　the　first　glimmer　of　faith　grow　into　a　belief　that　He　was　the　sinner's　only　helper；　and　had　seen　it　grow　stronger　with　every　effort　to　come　into　His　presence。

Now；　in　words　that　fell　like　music　on　the　sufferer's　ear；　the　Saviour　said；　〃Son；　be　of　good　cheer；　thy　sins　be　forgiven　thee。〃

The　burden　of　despair　rolls　from　the　sick　man's　soul；　the　peace　of　forgiveness　rests　upon　his　spirit；　and　shines　out　upon　his　countenance。　His　physical　pain　is　gone；　and　his　whole　being　is　transformed。　The　helpless　paralytic　is　healed！　the　guilty　sinner　is　pardoned！

In　simple　faith　he　accepted　the　words　of　Jesus　as　the　boon　of　new　life。　He　urged　no　further　request；　but　lay　in　blissful　silence；　too　happy　for　words。　The　light　of　heaven　irradiated　his　countenance；　and　the　people　looked　with　awe　upon　the　scene。

The　rabbis　had　waited　anxiously　to　see　what　disposition　Christ　would　make　of　this　case。　They　recollected　how　the　man　had　appealed　to　them　for　help；　and　they　had　refused　him　hope　or　sympathy。　Not　satisfied　with　this；　they　had　declared　that　he　was　suffering　the　curse　of　God　for　his　sins。　These　things　came　fresh　to　their　minds　when　they　saw　the　sick　man　before　them。　They　marked　the　interest　with　which　all　were　watching　the　scene；　and　they　felt　a　terrible　fear　of　losing　their　own　influence　over　the　people。

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These　dignitaries　did　not　exchange　words　together；　but　looking　into　one　another's　faces　they　read　the　same　thought　in　each；　that　something　must　be　done　to　arrest　the　tide　of　feeling。　Jesus　had　declared　that　the　sins　of　the　paralytic　were　forgiven。　The　Pharisees　caught　at　these　words　as　blasphemy；　and　conceived　that　they　could　present　this　as　a　sin　worthy　of　death。　They　said　in　their　hearts；　〃He　blasphemeth：　who　can　forgive　sins　but　One；　even　God？〃　Mark　2：7；　R。　V。

Fixing　His　glance　upon　them；　beneath　which　they　cowered；　and　drew　back；　Jesus　said；　〃Wherefore　think　ye　evil　in　your　hearts？　For　whether　is　easier；　to　say；　Thy　sins　be　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；　turning　to　the　paralytic；　〃Arise；　take　up　thy　bed；　and　go　unto　thine　house。〃

Then　he　who　had　been　borne　on　a　litter　to　Jesus　rises　to　his　feet　with　the　elasticity　and　strength　of　youth。　The　life…giving　blood　bounds　through　his　veins。　Every　organ　of　his　body　springs　into　sudden　activity。　The　glow　of　health　succeeds　the　pallor　of　approaching　death。　〃And　immediately　he　arose；　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。〃

Oh；　wondrous　love　of　Christ；　stooping　to　heal　the　guilty　and　the　afflicted！　Divinity　sorrowing　over　and　soothing　the　ills　of　suffering　humanity！　Oh；　marvelous　power　thus　displayed　to　the　children　of　men！　Who　can　doubt　the　message　of　salvation？　Who　can　slight　the　mercies　of　a　compassionate　Redeemer？

It　required　nothing　less　than　creative　power　to　restore　health　to　that　decaying　body。　The　same　voice　that　spoke　life　to　man　created　from

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the　dust　of　the　earth　had　spoken　life　to　the　dying　paralytic。　And　the　same　power　that　gave　life　to　the　body　had　renewed　the　heart。　He　who　at　the　creation　〃spake；　and　it　was；〃　who　〃commanded；　and　it　stood　fast；〃　（Ps。　33：9）；　had　spoken　life　to　the　soul　dead　in　trespasses　and　sins。　The　healing　of　the　body　was　an　evidence　of　the　power　that　had　renewed　the　heart。　Christ　bade　the　paralytic　arise　and　walk；　〃that　ye　may　know；〃　He　said；　〃that　the　Son　of　man　hath　power　on　earth　to　forgive　sins。〃

The　paralytic　found　in　Christ　healing　for　both　the　soul　and　the　body。　The　spiritual　healing　was　followed　by　physical　restoration。　This　lesson　should　not　be　overlooked。　There　are　today　thousands　suffering　from　physical　disease；　who；　like　the　paralytic；　are　longing　for　the　message；　〃Thy　sins　are　forgiven。〃　The　burden　of　sin；　with　its　unrest　and　unsatisfied　desires；　is　the　foundation　of　their　maladies。　They　can　find　no　relief　until　they　come　to　the　Healer　of　the　soul。　The　peace　which　He　alone　can　give；　would　impart　vigor　to　the　mind；　and　health　to　the　body。

Jesus　came　to　〃destroy　the　works　of　the　devil。〃　〃In　Him　was　life；〃　and　He　says；　〃I　am　come　that　they　might　have　life；　and　that　they　might　have　it　more　abundantly。〃　He　is　〃a　quickening　spirit。〃　1　John　3：8；　John　1：4；　10：10；　1　Cor。　15：45。　And　He　still　has　the　same　life…giving　power　as　when　on　earth　He　healed　the　sick；　and　spoke　forgiveness　to　the　sinner。　He　〃forgiveth　all　thine　iniquities；〃　He　〃healeth　all　thy　diseases。〃　Ps。　103：3。

The　effect　produced　upon　the　people　by　the　healing　of　the　paralytic　was　as　if　heaven　had　opened；　and　revealed　the　glories　of　the　better　world。　As　the　man　who　had　been　cured　passed　through　the　multitude；　blessing　God　at　every　step；　and　bearing　his　burden　as　if　it　were　a　feather's　weight；　the　people　fell　back　to　give　him　room；　and　with　awe…stricken　faces　gazed　upon　him；　whispering　softly　among　themselves；　〃We　have　seen　strange　things　today。〃

The　Pharisees　were　dumb　with　amazement　and　overwhelmed　with　defeat。　They　saw　that　here　was　no　opportunity　for　their　jealousy　to　inflame　the　multitude。　The　wonderful　work　wrought　upon　the　man　whom　they　had　given　over　to　the　wrath　of　God　had　so　impressed　the　people　that　the　rabbis　were　for　the　time　forgotten。　They　saw　that　Christ　possessed　a　power　which　they　had　ascribed　to　God　alone；　yet　the　gentle　dignity　of　His　manner　was　in　marked　contrast　to　their　own　haughty　bearing。　They　were　disconcerted　and　abashed；　recognizing；　but　not　confessing；　the　presence　of　a　superior　being。　The　stronger　the　evidence　that　Jesus　had　power　on　earth　to　forgive　sins；　the　more　firmly

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they　entrenched　themselves　in　unbelief。　From　the　home　of　Peter；　where　they　had　seen　the　paralytic　restored　by　His　word；　they　went　away　to　invent　new　schemes　for　silencing　the　Son　of　God。

Physical　disease；　however　malignant　and　deep…seated；　was　healed　by　the　power　of　Christ；　but　the　disease　of　the　soul　took　a　firmer　hold　upon　those　who　closed　their　eyes　against　the　light。　Leprosy　and　palsy　were　not　so　terrible　as　bigotry　and　unbelief。

In　the　home　of　the　healed　paralytic　there　was　great　rejoicing　when　he　returned　to　his　family；　carrying　with　ease　the　couch　upon　which　he　had　been　slowly　borne　from　their　presence　but　a　short　time　before。　They　gathered　round　with　tears　of　joy；　scarcely　daring　to　believe　their　eyes。　He　stood　before　them　in　the　full　vigor　of　manhood。　Those　arms　that　they　had　seen　lifeless　were　quick　to　obey　his　will。　The　flesh　that　had　been　shrunken　and　leaden…hued　was　now　fresh　and　ruddy。　He　walked　with　a　firm；　free　step。　Joy　and　hope　were　written　in　every　lineament　of　his　countenance；　and　an　expression　of　purity　and　peace　had　taken　the　place　of　the　marks　of　sin　and　suffering。　Glad　thanksgiving　went　up　from　that　home；　and　God　was　glorified　through　His　Son；　who　had　restored　hope　to　the　hopeless；　and　strength　to　the　stricken　one。　This　man　and　his　family　were　ready　to　lay　down　their　lives　for　Jesus。　No　doubt　dimmed　their　faith；　no　unbelief　marred　their　fealty　to　Him　who　had　brought　light　into　their　darkened　home。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　28

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Levi…Matthew


Of　the　Roman　officials　in　Palestine；　none　were　more　hated　than　the　publicans。　The　fact　that　the　taxes　were　imposed　by　a　foreign　power　was　a　continual　irritation　to　the　Jews；　being　a　reminder　that　their　independence　had　departed。　And　the　taxgatherers　were　not　merely　the　instruments　of　Roman　oppression；　they　were　extortioners　on　their　own　account；　enriching　themselves　at　the　expense　of　the　people。　A　Jew　who　accepted　this　office　at　the　hands　of　the　Romans　was　looked　upon　as　betraying　the　honor　of　his　nation。　He　was　despised　as　an　apostate；　and　was　classed　with　the　vilest　of　society。

To　this　class　belonged　Levi…Matthew；　who；　after　the　four　disciples　at　Gennesaret；　was　the　next　to　be　called　to　Christ's　service。　The　Pharisees　had　judged　Matthew　according　to　his　employment；　but　Jesus　saw　in　this　man　a　heart　open　for　the　reception　of　truth。　Matthew　had　listened　to　the　Saviour's　teaching。　As　the　convicting　Spirit　of　God　revealed　his　sinfulness；　he　longed　to　seek　help　from　Christ；　but　he　was　accustomed　to　the　exclusiveness　of