THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S
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lowed by a miracle. They were more enraged against Him than ever and communed one w ith ano ther what they m ight do to Him. The mystery of suffering can never be fully explained in th is world, bu t we cannot view it arig h t unless we see it in some connection w ith “ th a t old ser pent which is the Devil and S atan.” As seen in the opening chapters of Genesis His hatefu l presence has been mani fested on earth in ceaseless efforts to destroy the souls and bodies of men. If he is not perm itted to destroy them then he seeks to disturb th e ir peace of m ind and body. He was responsible for bringing the sore trials upon the p atriarch Job, though he was not per m itted to tak e his life. When the Saviour healed the woman in the syna gogue from an infirm ity of eighteen years’ standing, He declared th a t it was Satanic bondage. Since Jesus was man ifested th a t He m ight destroy the works of the devil, it is no wonder th a t He healed the sick who came to Him and sent them on th eir way re joicing. There are diseases worse th an phys ical maladies, such as stings of con science, deadness of h ea rt and erro rs .of life. There is a blindness th a t cannot see th e face of God, there is a deafness th a t cannot hear the voice of God, th ere is a paralysis th a t effectually stops all service in His cause. There is th e Are of passion which consumes the soul like a fever. Jesus is the g reat Physi cian today and foreivermore. The world is a pest house and the church offers a clinic where those who are stricken with these fatal diseases may find cure and convalescence. It is a g reat and gracious privilege to be the M aster’s helper in th e cure of souls.
QUESTIONS. (1) W hat sp irit possesses men? Whose power is manifested in both body and soul? (Matt. 9:32, 33) (2) To whom should the helpless tu rn and what should be th e ir prayer? (Psa. 42:5; 145:14) (3) How do we know th a t our Lord has His eye upon us? (Psa. 34:15) (4) W hat assurance have we th a t Jesus is interested in the needy, and is able to help? (Heb. 4:14-16) (5) W hat two things happened to Saul when hands were laid upon him? (Acts 9:17 ) (6) W hat is calculated to make hypocrites? (Luke 12:1) W hat is the cure? (Luke 6:42) (7) Need w a have any anxiety con cerning the adversaries? (1 Pet. 3 :1 6 ). (8) Is there joy for the. people in the conversion of sinners? (Acts 9:11) The Pharisees accused the Saviour of breaking the laws of Moses in th e viola tion of the Sabbath. The day had be come a fetich fenced around by mani fold and ludicrous pre- DEVOTIONAL scriptions and prohibi- COM1MENT tions. Jesus repeat- F . W. F a r r edly seemed to set agideits trad itional sanctity. He challenged th e Pharisees in the synagogue before healing the man w ith th e w ithered hand, but they gave H im no answer. “ Is it law ful,” said He, “ on the Sabbath day to do good or to do evil? To save life (as I am doing) or to kill (as you are desiring in your h earts) ?” The argum ent was unan swerable. In healing the sick man Jesus did nothing which they could construe into a breaking of the law. He did not touch the man, nor question him, nor bid him exercise his newly recovered power. He simply spoke to him a word and not even a Pharisee could say th a t to speak a word was a violation of the Sabbath, even if th a t word were fol
v. 11. Behold, th ere was a woman. Even bodily infirm ities, unless they be very grievous indeed, should not keep
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