按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nd continual disappointment； were fast wearing away the remnant of his strength。
The sick man was lying on his mat； and occasionally lifting his head to gaze at the pool； when a tender； compassionate face bent over him； and the words； 〃Wilt thou be made whole？〃 arrested his attention。 Hope came to his heart。 He felt that in some way he was to have help。 But the glow of encouragement soon faded。 He remembered how often he had tried to reach the pool； and now he had little prospect of living till it should again be troubled。 He turned away wearily； saying； 〃Sir； I have no man； when the water is troubled； to put me into the pool： but while I am coming； another steppeth down before me。〃
Jesus does not ask this sufferer to exercise faith in Him。 He simply says； 〃Rise； take up thy bed； and walk。〃 But the man's faith takes hold
203
upon that word。 Every nerve and muscle thrills with new life； and healthful action comes to his crippled limbs。 Without question he sets his will to obey the command of Christ； and all his muscles respond to his will。 Springing to his feet； he finds himself an active man。
Jesus had given him no assurance of divine help。 The man might have stopped to doubt； and lost his one chance of healing。 But he believed Christ's word； and in acting upon it he received strength。
Through the same faith we may receive spiritual healing。 By sin we have been severed from the life of God。 Our souls are palsied。 Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than was the impotent man capable of walking。 There are many who realize their helplessness； and who long for that spiritual life which will bring them into harmony with God； they are vainly striving to obtain it。 In despair they cry； 〃O wretched man that I am！ who shall deliver me from this body of death？〃 Rom。 7：24； margin。 Let these desponding； struggling ones look up。 The Saviour is bending over the purchase of His blood； saying with inexpressible tenderness and pity； 〃Wilt thou be made whole？〃 He bids you arise in health and peace。 Do not wait to feel that you are made whole。 Believe His word； and it will be fulfilled。 Put your will on the side of Christ。 Will to serve Him； and in acting upon His word you will receive strength。 Whatever may be the evil practice； the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and body； Christ is able and longs to deliver。 He will impart life to the soul that is 〃dead in trespasses。〃 Eph。 2：1。 He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin。
The restored paralytic stooped to take up his bed； which was only a rug and a blanket； and as he straightened himself again with a sense of delight； he looked around for his Deliverer； but Jesus was lost in the crowd。 The man feared that he would not know Him if he should see Him again。 As he hurried on his way with firm； free step； praising God and rejoicing in his new…found strength； he met several of the Pharisees； and immediately told them of his cure。 He was surprised at the coldness with which they listened to his story。
With lowering brows they interrupted him； asking why he was carrying his bed on the Sabbath day。 They sternly reminded him that it was not lawful to bear burdens on the Lord's day。 In his joy the man had forgotten that it was the Sabbath； yet he felt no condemnation for obeying the command of One who had such power from God。 He
204
answered boldly； 〃He that made me whole； the same said unto me； Take up thy bed； and walk。〃 They asked who it was that had done this； but he could not tell。 These rulers knew well that only One had shown Himself able to perform this miracle； but they wished for direct proof that it was Jesus； that they might condemn Him as a Sabbath…breaker。 In their judgment He had not only broken the law in healing the sick man on the Sabbath； but had committed sacrilege in bidding him bear away his bed。
The Jews had so perverted the law that they made it a yoke of bondage。 Their meaningless requirements had become a byword among other nations。 Especially was the Sabbath hedged in by all manner of senseless restrictions。 It was not to them a delight； the holy of the Lord； and honorable。 The scribes and Pharisees had made its observance an intolerable burden。 A Jew was not allowed to kindle a fire nor even to light a candle on the Sabbath。 As a consequence the people were dependent upon the Gentiles for many services which their rules forbade them to do for themselves。 They did not reflect that if these acts were sinful； those who employed others to perform them were as guilty as if they had done the work themselves。 They thought that salvation was restricted to the Jews； and that the condition of all others； being already hopeless； could be made no worse。 But God has given no commandments which cannot be obeyed by all。 His laws sanction no unreasonable or selfish restrictions。
In the temple Jesus met the man who had been healed。 He had come to bring a sin offering and also a thank offering for the great mercy he had received。 Finding him among the worshipers； Jesus made Himself known； with the warning words； 〃Behold； thou art made whole： sin no more； lest a worse thing come unto thee。〃
The healed man was overjoyed at meeting his Deliverer。 Ignorant of the enmity toward Jesus； he told the Pharisees who had questioned him； that this was He who had performed the cure。 〃Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus； and sought to slay Him； because He had done these things on the Sabbath day。〃
Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin to answer the charge of Sabbathbreaking。 Had the Jews at this time been an independent nation； such a charge would have served their purpose for putting Him to death。 This their subjection to the Romans prevented。 The Jews had not the power to inflict capital punishment； and the accusations brought against
205
Christ would have no weight in a Roman court。 There were other objects； however； which they hoped to secure。 Notwithstanding their efforts to counteract His work； Christ was gaining； even in Jerusalem； an influence over the people greater than their own。 Multitudes who were not interested in the harangues of the rabbis were attracted by His teaching。 They could understand His words； and their hearts were warmed and comforted。 He spoke of God； not as an avenging judge； but as a tender father； and He revealed the image of God as mirrored in Himself。 His words were like balm to the wounded spirit。 Both by His words and by His works of mercy He was breaking the oppressive power of the old traditions and man…made commandments； and presenting the love of God in its exhaustless fullness。
In one of the earliest prophecies of Christ it is written； 〃The scepter shall not depart from Judah； nor a lawgiver from between his feet； until Shiloh come； and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be。〃 Gen。 49：10。 The people were gathering to Christ。 The sympathetic hearts of the multitude accepted lessons of love and benevolence in preference to the rigid ceremonies required by the priests。 If the prie