LECTION 24 - Iesus Denounces Cruelty & heal the sick
Iesus Denounces Cruelty
1. As Iesus passed through a certain village he saw a crowd of idlers of the baser sort, and they were tormenting a cat (which they had found) and shamefully treating it. And Iesus commanded them to desist and began to reason with them, but they would have none of his words, and reviled him.
2. Then he made a whip of knotted cords and drove them away, saying,
This earth (which my Father-Mother made for joy and gladness) ye have made into the lowest hell with your deeds (of violence and cruelty);
And they fled before his face.
3. But one more vile than the rest returned and defied him. And Iesus put forth his hand, and the young man’s arm weathered, and great fear came upon all; and one said,
He is a sorcerer.
4. And the next day the mother (of the young man) came unto Iesus, praying that he would restore the withered arm. And Iesus spake unto them of the law of love and the unity of all life in the one family of God. And he also said,
As ye do in this life to your fellow creatures, so shall it be done to you in the life to come.
5. And the young man believed and confessed his sins, and Iesus stretched forth his hand, and his withered arm became whole even as the other, And the people glorified God who had given such power unto man.
He Healeth the Sick
6. AND when Iesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying and saying,
Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
And when he was come into the house the blind men came to him, and Iesus saith unto them,
Believe ye that I am able to do this?
7. They said unto him,
Yea, Lord.
Then touched he their eyes, saying,
According to your faith be it unto you.
And their eyes were opened, and Iesus straitly charged them, saying,
See that ye tell no man,
But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
8. As they went forth, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon. And when the demon was cast out the dumb spake, and the multitude marvelled, saying,
It was never so seen in Israel.
But the Pharisees said,
He casteth out demons through the prince (of the demons).
9. AND Iesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel (of the Kingdom) and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
10. But when he saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad, [as] sheep having no shepherd.
11. Then said he unto his disciples,
The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord (of the harvest) that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
12. AND his disciples brought him two small baskets with bread and fruit, and a pitcher of water. And Iesus set the bread and the fruit before them and also the water. And they did eat and drink and were filled.
13. And they marvelled, for each had enough and to spare, and there were four thousand. And they departed blessing God for what they had heard and seen.
LECTION 24. 1-5. -The cat was an ancient symbol of Deity, on account of its seeing in the dark and otter attributes. More than one instance is given of Iesus' protection of these beautiful animals which in Iudea were, as they are even now in some places, unjustly despised and regarded with disfavour. He, the Friend of all things that suffered, cast his protection round these innocent creatures, teaching men and women to do likewise, and to feel for all the weak and oppressed. This beautiful and much maligned animal was a native of Egypt. But there is no difficulty here, for Egyptian families visited Palestine, and would naturally bring their venerated animals with them, not leave them to neglect or worse, as some "Christians" who ought to know better.