The National tribune., 1886-06-24
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by Study OF the Inter.
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
JHly s. NJ. John. 9:l-I7.

Indicated aboye.l
The subject for the day is the Doth miracle
performed by our Savior. 1t was effected on
the 9th of November, A. ID. 2S, or lo5S years
ago. The day Of the week was Saturday, which
was the Jews Sabbath. Ii took place IN Jeru-
salem, where it is probable that Christ and the
blind man somewhere met. At the moment
however, of restoration TO sight the man was at
the pool of Sloan. The word Sloan is from
Hebrew verb, which means 10 send. IL was an
aQueduct southeast of Jerusalem, near the foot
of Mt. Zion. The water is soft, sweetish, and
little saltish. At times the word is written
Shioah. 1t is still held by some that this pool
vet has ophthalmic curative effects. Many
with diseases Of the eyes go there and wash.
The word pool (N.s literally means swim
ming place. Sloan is an oblong tank, % feet
long, Is feet wide, and 10 feet deep. A part is
heWn in the solid rock-the rest is masonry.
IL is reached by staircase.
In the instance of the sacond miracle-the
cure of the nobleman's son-the patient was at
CapeTnaum while Christ, the physician, was at
Cana In the miracle we study now, the pa
tient, at the time Of cure, was at the fountain
Of Sloan, outside the walls of the city, while
the miracle worker was within the city. 1t is
not necessary for Christ to be coTpOreally pres
ent. lie is everywhere in power. And time is
no factor in his processes. We locate the mira
Gle at Sloan. Power went from Christ without
from local debris and appearance that IN mem
DRY Of this miracle a chapel was one erected
over the spot.
The subject of the miracle was a man who
had been born blind. He was poor, and OBJ
tanned livelihood by begging. ". g. The
disciples noticed our Savior was becoming IN
terested in that object of compassion. Iowli-
ness Of position, dependence, suffering, always
appealed TO Christ The disciples raise theo-
logic question. 1t is clear the man himself
was not at fault for having been born sightless.
The blame must rest with the parents, they
think. No, says Christ, you do not reach the
cause in your queries. Blindness may be the
lot Of oispring without guilt Of child or parents
IN the particular case of the man the blindness
was TO prove blessing, not only TO the sufferer,
but to society, yea, 10 all ages who receive,
read, and believe the scriptnral story. If the
man were not blind, God could not have a
chance for that great miracle. As il was Christ
could cure the man, and thus incite within him
faith, as il did. ". 49, Observers would be
forced to believe in the extraordinary character
Of our Savior. Ever since the story has been a
blessing and comfort TO our world. Specially
have the blind been cheered when reading how
tender, good and considerate Christ was TO a
poor, begging, sightless man.
The fourth verse is full of ideas, teaching a
series of beautiful thoughts: l. individuality
in work. must. 2. Deep conviction OF duty TO
work. must. 3. The obligation 10 U0rk-not
to loiter. 4. The particular work 10 be done
that which he was sent 10 do. 5. The fact
life is short, and that hence be must act on the
spot. These five grand principles should govern
US to-day. Realize individuality. Feel you
cannot but act for Christ. Work. Do the
specific work laid out for you as a part Of the
Church. Be conscious you are sent to earth for
purpose. Lose no time. Further, be lights
and shine, (V. 81 and shine as long as you are
in the world.
Jesus used clay and saliva. There was no
need Of any medicinal or curative substances.
IL is thought that saliva is often helpful in a re-
medal way. With sort of plaster over his eyes
the man, led of course by some person, went out
from the city 10 the pool of Sloan and washed
his eyes. Sight came and he returned 10 the
city. One effect Of the cure was some diff
Guilty in the Identification Of the man. The
eyes have wonderful effect on the entire face.
Having always met the man blind, they can
not, though there is a great similarity in APP
pearance, believe the person they met can be
the blind beggar.
This restoration was real miracle. 1t is said
that DIR. Cheselden, of st. Thomas Hospital,
London, was the first person who gave sight TO
a man really born blind. Since then the opera
! ton has been often performed. But in all cases
Of human surgery the patient is unable for sew
eral weeks 10 see the light and then only gradu-
ally. But the man restored by Christ was
wholly cured on the spot.
Connecting 6: 50 aud 8: and we have before
us a splendid instance Of Christ's perfect COM
p0sure, calmness, freedom from furry when
even his life was threatened. Moving on
/ with perfect control Of himself from the stones
Of his enemies, he, seeing blind man, stop:
and gives him sight.
This is the only one Of Christ's miracles
which received a judicial examination. Tn,
man was brought before the Sanhedrim and hi
case investigated. The members are divided
on the question. Some think Christ not genu
inc, from the fact he did the miracle on the
Sabbath. But, yet, how could an evil man per
form the miracler The patient believed ia,
! author Of cure was a Prophet OK an agen
commissioned from Heaven. ". III Then tn,
Sanhedrim questioned the identity Of the pa
tent lNs 1929 In V. 20 they thought h
make the man waver in his conviction by them
selves calling the author of the cure an impos
tor Then they cross-cxamine the man restored
10 sight, hoping he might contradict his forme
statements V. 81 shows they excommunicate(
him.
Is there not in V. partial unrayeling o
that yexcd question, How did sin originate
Is not sin for the glory Of Godl We woulC
never have known Gods mercy; we coulC
never have balanced his attributes Of iustic
and compassion, without the history Of sin
]
would never have loved God and Christ as WI
do and ever shall as saved sinners. A younI
person once said 10 DR.. Lyman Beecher, /" re
joice that i was lost sinner" This seemipl
strange, she added, Because Gods infinit
grace, and mercy, aud wisdom, and all his al
tributes are glorihed in me rs they never cOul,
have been had / not been q sinner, and had
moi been lost" Says Sturgeon, God is NOR
glonhed in the person OF his Son than b
would have been by an unfallen world. Their
shines out through the entire universe a dis
play OF Infinite mercy, justice, and wisdom
such as neither the majesty of nature nor III
excellence or Providence could have revealed
See the practical thoughts
]. Pity the blind. A belief that such an al
Fiction is the result Of personal sin, leads be
holders 70 callousness. Build asylums for th
blind. Make books with raised letters.
z. Work hard while the day lasts. TIL
night OF death is fast coming. Think Of Oh
condition Of the many blind in sin-the soul
with scaled eyes. Work God has missio
for every one. (Ro., 10: ii, IL; Tn, 3: Go
You cannot toll when the death night come
(Ecc., 8: TO-
3. Obey Christ DO what he saws. no matte
how unreasonable his commands NAV seen
Most unlikely means by his wisdom and powt
avail.
4. If you see any one in trouble do not as
how this came about, but try TO find out no
you can get him out Of his difficulty. 1t
better not TO worry our minds as TO the specI
latiye, but rather as to the practical.
8. do not delay good deeds till great occ,
sions. do good as you pass along, rs opport,
mites are thrown In your way. Acts, 10: 3:
Gal, @: l0.)
Al dark suiritnaIlr yo % Chr;s4 l. =. n "a,