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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity1006
Another case which attracted much attention was that which occurred in
Galilee when He was preaching in a house. In the midst of His discourse both
He and His audience were startled by the sight of a figure on a bed being
lowered down among the crowd of listeners from the roof surrounding the
open court in the center of the house. It was a poor paralyzed man whom
friends had contrived to hoist up and then lower down before Jesus in such
a manner as could not escape the attention of the Master. It is related that
the piteous appeal of the sufferer, and the faith which had inspired such
great energy on the part of his friends, attracted the interest and sympathy
of Jesus, and He paused in His discourse and made another of those
instantaneous cures which are possible only to the most advanced adepts
in the science of spiritual healing.
Then came the scene of the Wells of Bethesda—a region abounding in
“healing waters” to which the sick and afflicted came to regain their health.
The crowds of sick were being carried to the springs by friends or paid
attendants, who pushed aside the weaker ones and fought their way to the
wells. Jesus walked among the crowds, and at last His attention was attracted
toward a poor fellow who lay upon his cot away off from the waters. He had
no friends to carry him nearer, nor money for paid attendants. And he had
not strength enough to crawl there himself. He filled the air with his moans
and cries and bewailings of his unfortunate lot. Jesus walked up to him, and
holding his attention by a firm look of authority and power, cried to him
suddenly in a voice that demanded obedience, “Take up thy bed and walk!”
The man, startled into obedience, did as directed, and much to his surprise,
and that of the crowd gathered around, found that he was able to move
about freely—a well man.
This cure also aroused not only the greatest interest but also the antagonism
of the ecclesiastical authorities. It appears that the cure had been made on
the Sabbath day, and that it was against the ecclesiastical law to heal the sick
in any way upon that day; and also that the patient had performed manual
work on the Sabbath in carrying his bed upon the orders of the Healer. And