Jesus at Capernaum
121
up into a mountain for a little season of retirement, but when he saw
the people flocking to him he had not the heart to turn them away.
The feast of the Jews was near, and many had come in from the
region about Jerusalem, seeking Jesus, of whose wonderful miracles
they had heard. The sick and the afflicted were brought to him, and he
healed their maladies. As he witnessed the joy of those whom he had
relieved, his own heart of love rejoiced with those who had received
[175]
his blessing. He made many families happy by restoring their suffering
ones to health. He caused light to dawn upon households that had been
plunged into the shadows of affliction. The sorrowing were comforted,
the ignorant instructed, and hope was wakened in the hearts of the
despairing.
The people received the message that he brought them, and be-
lieved his words. None were more willing to accept the truth than the
poor and humble, who were not separated from their Saviour by vanity
and pride, the treasures of this world, or the praise of men. They found
in him a consolation for all their toil and privations. He turned none
away. He was touched with tender pity for the distress of those who
sought his aid, and they left his presence, bearing evidence in their
own persons of his healing and life-giving power. The hearts of the
people went out in reverential love for their Benefactor, and he was a
partaker of their joy. His labors while in Capernaum resulted in great
good, and many were led to believe on him. His acts of matchless
mercy won the hearts of the multitudes.
The scribes and Pharisees were confounded; their purposes in re-
gard to Jesus were defeated. They had listened to his teachings in
order to catch him in his words, and turn the minds of the people
from him to themselves. They knew that since the ministry of Jesus
had commenced, their own influence over the people had greatly de-
creased. The sympathetic hearts of the multitude accepted lessons of
love and kindly benevolence in preference to the cold forms and rigid
ceremonies exacted by the priests.
[176]
Although the Pharisees were astonished by the miracles that Jesus
wrought, they were all the more anxious to remove one, who, by his
great power, was most dangerous to their claims and pretensions.
Bodily diseases, however aggravated and apparently hopeless, were
met and baffled by his divine power; but the disease of the soul, fas-
tened in unbelief and blind prejudice, took firmer hold upon those