The Story of Jesus The Christ - Helen Braun Hojt

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for such

      things as this, just as we go to some doctor.

      Jesus told this man to obey the law by showing himself to the

      priest, and being cleansed, but not to say anything about how he

      was cured. But the man was so happy and grateful that he

      could not keep still; he went out and told every one he met that

      the Lord Jesus had cured him, and he was well.

      The news spread fast. People from far and near came to see

      the preacher who made more wonderful cures than any doctor

      they had ever known. Jesus needed rest, and for a few days he

      kept away from the crowded cities and spent the time in the

      wilderness.

      But in a very few days he was ready for work again, and went

      to his friends in Capernaum. It did not take long for people to

      find out that he was there again, and crowds came to hear him

      from that city, and from all the towns in Galilee and Judea.

      Scribes and Pharisees were often among his hearers. The

      scribes were lawyers; they spent much time in studying the Jew¬

      ish law, and taught the people what they must do to obey it.

      They were the men who made the copies of the Scriptures. You

      THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

      49

      know they did not know then how to print with machines as we

      do now. Every book had to be written by hand with a pen,

      and it took a long time. The books did not look like ours, but

      were on long rolls of paper, with a stick fastened to each end, so

      they could be rolled up smoothly. When any One wanted to read

      from a book he must unwind the roll until he came to the place

      he wanted.

      The Pharisees were another very important class among the

      Jews. Jesus called them hypocrites, for they pretended to be one

      thing when they were something else. They made long prayers

      at the corners of the streets where people could hear them; and

      gave money and food to the poor when they would be seen doing

      it. They were very strict about some things, but their hearts

      were bad, and when no one was watching them they could not be

      trusted. They were dishonest and sly and very unloving. These

      Pharisees did not like Jesus because he had told them they were

      not honest men. They wanted to find something to say against

      him.

      One day in Capernaum a number of these people had come to

      the house where Jesus was preaching. The houses of Palestine

      are not like ours. Many of them are only one story high, and

      are covered with a flat roof that can be reached from the outside

      by stairs. This roof is quite useful; for after the sun goes down

      in the hot summer days families sit on the roof, and even sleep

      there. A railing around the edge makes it safe. It is very easy

      to carry the beds up there, for the bed of that country is only a

      thin mattress or heavy mat which is spread on the floor when

      needed, but rolled up and put one side when not in use. In the

      centre of the house there is often a large room called the court,

      and the part of the roof over this court is made in such a way

      that it can easily be taken off. It was in the court of such a

      house that Jesus was preaching.

      50

      A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

      The crowd had filled the house, and the doorway was blocked

      with those who could get no farther. Four men came bringing

      with them a man who

      was sick with the palsy.

      Palsy, or paralysis, is

      a disease which takes

      the life from some part

      of the body. If one

      has palsy in his arm, he

      cannot use that arm to

      help himself; if it is in

      his throat, he cannot

      swallow; if it is in the

      leg, he cannot walk, or

      even move the leg.

      This man had the palsy,

      and because he could

      not walk his friends

      were bringing him on a

      bed to see the Saviour.

      They tried to get in

      The Man Sick with the Palsy through the door, but

      the crowd would not

      make way. What should they do? They must see Jesus!

      Their friend must be healed. There was another way to get to

      him besides going through the door, and that they now tried.

      The stairs which led to the roof were usually on the outside of

      the houses in that country. They would have no trouble in go¬

      ing there, for all the people were crowding the door. So they

      took the sick man up to the housetop, and, uncovering the roof,,

      they let him down, still lying on his bed, to the court at Jesus»

      feet.

      THE MINISTRY OF THE CHRIST

      51

      The Saviour knew what trouble they had taken to come to

      him, and it pleased him to have them show such trust that they

      were willing to do so much hard work. He stopped his lesson and

      said to the man who was sick with the palsy, “ Son, be of good

      cheer, your sins are forgiven.»

      You remember there were many scribes and Pharisees there

      who were trying to find something to say against Jesus, so that

      they could prove that he was a bad man, who was making the

      people believe what was wrong. Now they thought they had

      found something. They said to one another, “ This man pretends

      to be God; for no one can forgive sins but God.» They accused

      him of one of the very greatest sins that any man could commit.

      Pretending to be God, or to have the power that belongs only to

      God, or trying to make people think that God is not so great and

      good

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