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