The National tribune., 1886-05-06
SUNDAY MEbITATION.
Practical Duties Tansht by 4 stsdy of tie Inter.
national Sunday School lesson Appointed for
Nav i6. ST. JoY,n. iS-5f.

May l6. st. John. 3-5f.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aboye.l
Our study is the account of the restoration to
health of the son of the ,nobleman of Cana in
Galilee. 1t was n case fatal fever. 1t showed
the need and value OF signs aud wonders to in
duce belief. ". 4S) So FAR Us we know, this
is the first instance of our Savior curing per-
son Of disease. 1t is Christ's second miracle
The first was the changing of water into wine
About nine months intervened between the
two miracles
The only report we have of the miracle is
that by st. John. He wrote at Ephesus, about
A. d. %. So the account was written 80 years
after the miracle was performed the date of the
miracle being A. d. q, in the month of Janu
ary-1, ,S59 years ago Our Savior was then in
his 31st year of life and in the first of his min
iStry.
There might be some question as to the loca-
tion Of this miracle. Was it performed at Cana,
or at Capcrnaum? Christ was at Cana, but the
patient was at Capernaum. We place it at
Cana though we do so arbitrarily. Another
might prefer Capernaum Who can tell the
subtle, invisible power, reaching over IL miles,
curing one nigh to death, and doing so in
stantly2 We can send thoughts but not cures
by telegraph We can telephone news, but not
medicine. God has a quicker, less cumbrous
macy.
The miracle was effected at the seventh hour
of the daytime, viz, at l o'clock p. m. The
Jews began their days at o'clock of the even
ing. The hours of the night were 12 and of the
day IL. Now we understand the meaning of
yesterday" V. 52.) The father, returning,
reached home between 6 and Z p. IN. By our
reckoning this would be on the same day as the
cure, but by the Jewish it would be the next
ha Wo har 61y "a
father would allow night to intervene before
he saw his boy. He had left him sick unto
death, and felt unspeakable anxiety for his cure.
Now he is well, the father would naturally has
ten home to see his son again in health. True,
some hold he staid over till next day, having
such faith as not to suffer any concern. He
really believed his child was perfectly restored
and so took his leisure about reaching home.
lisa, %: :16) He did not precipitate his steps
so as to find out whether not Christs state
ment were true. The theory that the father
remained away over night is devised as a COM
pliment to the mans faith, but it is a poor
compliment to his affection. Any parent would
hasten to see a son who had been near DEATH
and who, as he heard, had recovered.
The sufferer was little boy, a child. ". 49,
The form of the original (the Creek seems to
imply the patient was an only child, or more
certainly an only son.
The father was nobleman, courtier royal
attendant. Herod Antipas was then ruling
and the father was perhaps member of his
court. 1t is quite likely he was Jew. Some
have ventured to name him. Jerome calls him
Palatinus. Others have supposed him Chuza
uu., S:3) Others suspect he was Manaen.
(Acts, 13: ~
The disorder affecting the child was a fever.
The physician was Christ. The prescription
was omnipotence No remedies were used.
Doctor and patient were a dozen miles from
each other. Here could ';be no deception, no
legerdemain, no quackery.. The cule was in
stant perfect, permanent, public. The father
found on returning home that his boy was cured
at the exact moment When Christ declared him
restored. The recovery was as complete as that
of any sick person who has regained wonted
health. 1t continued as long as one cured
generally remains in health thereafter. There
was nothing private about the matter Christ
ventured openly before number of persons to
affirm that the boy left SICK was then perfectly
cured. The family Of the nobleman and his
servants, though not knowing of Christ's decla-
ration as to the cure meet 1.-THE returning father,
telling him his son is recovered. The condi-
tion of the cure was the petition of the father.
The miracle had effective results on the son,
the father, the family, and should have on the
church of all ages. The son was recovered from
an otherwise fatal disease. Ifsutficiently old to
comprehend the worth ofour Savior, he probably
allied himself to Christ and became one of his
followers. OF this, however, we know not, since
all the information afforded with postiveness
to the patient is the account which is our
lesson. The record states plainly that the
miracle induced the nobeman his family and
his servants to believe in Christ and probably
to become his adherents. Though the father
had faith before the emiracle-enough faith to go
to Christ, yet it was greatly strengthened by
the wonderful deed. Reading the report the
Of Ill i
Verse SO says the nobleman and his whole
household believed. Believed what? Not that
the boy was cured. That was matter of fact, and
could not but be believed Believed what Not
that Christ did the deed. That was not mat
ter of faith, but of fact Believed what? Christs
divinity and Messiahship. Would this be saving
faith? Perhaps everything would follow such
admission.
One cannot study the lesson without gaining
many useful hint.
1. Be courteous, reverential. Speak to men
in digniied, proper way. Addressing Christ,
the nobleman says Sir" (V. 49, A secret of
success is attention to all the polite usages of
society. Never grow so familiar in manner as
to disgust
2. Pray for sick child Medicine and prayer
should 60, together. The issues of life and
death are with God.
3. BE importunate in prayer. Beseech. (V.
Al Earnestly request. (V. 49, Argue at the
mercy seat.
A. Give attention to household piety. CV. 3d.
1t is beautiful to see whole family following
Christ. 1t gives unity, love and sympathy. 1t
is well if all be of the same religious body,
since differences often lead to unpleasant dis
putatiOns. The nobleman's "whole house" in
cluded servants. 1t is proper to seek the religi-
Gus welfare of all in your employ.
8. If parent, reflect how much depends on
your taking right course. There is power i'll
influence The nobleman's confidence in Christ
resulted in leading all his household to become
adhcrents of Jesus. Much hangs on the father.
The members of the family look up to him.
No father can be good without its benefting
his son. No employer can be devout without
proiting employees.
g. If sick, go to Christ. (St. James, 5: Ii, 15.)
Distance makes no difference to him. Do not
say, Because Christ is not here, hence l can
derive no good" Jesus is everywhere. Right
eous prayers do avail. God can and in many
cases does heal diseases by blessing human means.
large part of our Savior's work was to cure.
The Cloths looked for an Odn "a god who
would go from city to city and heal all manner
of illness. That expectation was fully realized
in Christ. 1t would be folly to pray for the
sick if useless. Prayers for the sick in EpiscO-
pal and other books of devotion may as well be
torn out, if prayer for the III be not warranted
in Gods word. ',.,. 10.
Z. Believe. ". So Let faith increase. The pur-
pose OF Christ in the miracles and in the reports
of them is to bestir us to greater assurance in
the claims and promises of Christianity.
8. Children should remember they may die.
The little son of the nobieman would have
passed from life had hot Christ rescued him.