Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-05-01
International Sunday School Lesson
BY REV. F. B. HAnGREAyEs.
Lesson S.
28d.

Lesson S. Nay 28d.
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
John y, 5-Is. Golden Text, John y, 9. Time,
y. ID. -, probably about the Passover though the
exuct time is not settled question. Place. Jcru-
salem, az the pool Of Betlesuu
The country was astir. It was the celebration
Of one of their feasts and the people had gathered
from far and near In the ancient city OF erusale
Jesus was there. Walking through the streets
OF the city, quietly watching the crowds and
noting the varied Incidents peculiar to such Oc-
was called Bethesda, house of mercy On its
margin, lining its steps Ia the pOrclcs Wllcl
charity had built at its side, were numbers Of peo-
pie afflicted win lHcura1le diseases mere W -s Il
legend that at certain seasons ala angel came down
and troubled the water ana y noeNeI AFsL stepped
into the pool after the lOuDtHE M+s ucAIet OF
whatever disease lac had such Legends were com
mon and were eagerly believed oy the people ana
hence the great number OF tn9st "Lom Jesus
found waiting for the moving OF the water lie
looked pIryingly upon them His heart touched
with compassion He coulq nave ueIllA tlt.Al an
with ii word. but that would have defeated the
great PURPOSES He had in view. Yet, turning 20
one poor cripple who had been diseased Tor thirty
eigbf wear and who was fricudcss and alone He
asked him, ssNVilt thou be made WlOlc:' The
man knew nothing of the cha actcr Of his ques-
rirrr and zir7r1v told of his misfortune in having
no one 10 help him into the pool and how that
others al,yry. cot there before he did. and So one
chance after another slipped from his grasp
s3ise, take up thy bed and walk said the Master,
and the poor cripple rose, SltAerel up MS sleep
day and such an event naturally drew vast crowd
together in "a few minutes ana the miraculous cure
city. Jesus had quietly passed ont amongst the
crowd and SO escaped Identification, but later in
the day He went into the Temple ana there found
the man lie had healed. '-5enolus thou art made
WHOLE He said, 'sin no more, lest a worse thing
come unto thee" The man mt once went 10 the
authorities and told them who 10 was who had
healed him on the sabbath day.
The storm of opposition which had hcen gath
ering in ecclesiastical circles for many months
now found ready expression. Here was a man
who did not work in harmony with thelna and
hence was not to be tolerated. And here was
man who healed the sick on the Sabbath day in
defiance of their law. They gathered round jesus
with their fierce deuunciations ana brought Him
before the authorities ON the charge OF sabbath
breaking. But Ills mastery defense threw them
into confusion, as he declared Himself To be
Divine, the son of God. and c0-cQual with God;
and they were Obliged to set him free.
II is Il remarkable sccue. There are the judges
and authorizes eager to convict the accused n
possible There is the man who was healed ct his
disease and then brought this storm upon Jesus.
There is the Master calm, dignihed- patient. di-
vine This WAS in a sense, the crisis of His life
D 10 this time lie had been practically unmOlcsL
ed but from heuCufOrth Ais movements We're
jeiilOusIF watched, lie was hurasseu, aIu hAs.ly
betrayed This was the beginning "a i-e Gnu
LESSON THOUGuTa.
l. The spiritual Bethesda has u cure for every
one.
=. God gives us strength to DO as He commands
Us.
D. Do not wait for emotions OF feeling mere
troubling Of the water but your eyes " Jesus
the Savior OF the world.
The Sabbath is yours. Make il holy by your
deeds and lives.