Page:Jesus of Nazareth the story of His life simply told (1917).djvu/194

 Pharisees came and stopped him, telling him he was breaking the Sabbath by carrying his bed.

On another Sabbath He was teaching in a full synagogue. There was a man before Him whose hand was withered. Everyone was crowding up to the top seats where the Pharisees were and to the raised desk at which Jesus sat. Of course the man would be healed, and of course the Pharisees would be scandalized and shake their heads, and the people wanted to see and enjoy it all.

And so it happened. The Scribes and Pharisees watched Him to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. And Jesus looked steadily at them, and there was no fear on His face. Then He looked at the man and said to him:

"Arise, and stand forth in the midst."

And rising, he stood forth. Then Jesus said to them:

"I ask you if it be lawful to do good on the Sabbath day?"

But they held their peace. And He said:

"What man among you whose sheep hath fallen into a pit on the Sabbath day will not take hold on it and lift it up? How much better is a man than a sheep. Therefore it is lawful to do a good deed on the Sabbath." And He looked round about on them with anger, and His countenance was terrible to see. And He said to the man:

"Stretch forth thy hand."

And he stretched it forth sound and strong like the other.

It was always the same thing, said the crowd. If the Pharisees would not believe in Him, they might at