Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-03-21

AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONsDERED.

Reflections OF nm Elevating Character
Wholesome Food for Thought : Study
ing the scriptural Lessons Intolligentiy
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday. March "a. may be
found In Mark X. 1852.
INTRODUCTORY.
This Is n beautiful lesson. 1t records the
last miracle OF mercy ere the wondrous
passion OF our Lord. And by reading along
with Mark the account in Luke we see how
II records also the last appeal to the people
before the sober conversations with HIS
own disciples which ushered In the cruel
fixion. For there we're two men In jericho
who seized the opportunity. and out OF the
passing OF the Master won salvation
through their faith. One was very poor
man. Bartim9us; the other very rich, Zac-
cheus. Let rich and poor together know
that when Jesus of Nazareth draws nigh 1t
is that each and all may receive blessing.
Think OF 1t, the two first converts in Jericho
were perhaps the richest man and the poor
est man fn the city. made near brethren In
Christ.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
And they came TO Jericho. There was
opportunity. And 1t is Jericho's last chance.
for Jesus has steadfastly set his face TO go
to Jerusalem. the city OF his gracious i'm
notation. There come to all communities
times OF special privilege, seasons OF divine
visitation. The Holy Spirit is moving upon
the hearts OF all and Jesus draws nigh unto
every mans door. Has it not been so with
you in church and Sunday-school OF later
Christ has como to your Jericho. Present.
ly he will be going out again. Is 1t nothing
10 your Shall the dust of his feet be tes-
mony against you? When Lyman Beecher
left East Hampton he spoke Tor his last
word: Il take you to record this day, that
i am pure from tho blood OF all men. for L
have not Stunned to declare unto you all
the counsel of God" woman afterward
said that that farewell sermon with its sug-
gestions of opportunities sighted did more
than anything else to arrest her In life OF
worldliness and vanity. by whom among
us shall 1t be said, The harvest is past, the
| summer is ended, and we are not savedY"
By the hi0hlcdy side begging. This con-
stituted the occasion. Christs presence in
Jericho made the opportunity; see mere
! the gracious incident, the providential cir
cumstance which put along with the oppor-
! tunity makes the deed possible and prac-
ticable. jesus Is going out OF the city with
/ his disciples and great multitude OF peo-
4 ple." He passes through certain suburb.
! Here at the wayside sits Bartim@us. 1t is
not chance that has brought him here, no
more than it Is chance that leads the
Savior's feet in this direction. He and
Christ are brought into special nearness
Just now, in these days OF special vista
tion, you have been led in some way into
the gospel highway. Your thought has been
caught by certain text. Your mind has
been arrested by some startling providence
perhaps you have hecn brought into some
valley OF darkness, or to hill of difficulty.
Friend. do you not recognize the gracious
providence in 1t all2 jesus OF Nazareth is
passing by.
He heard thai 10 tcds Jesus Of Nazareth
Then some one must have told him. and this
means testimony. For, you see, he had moi
power for himself to make the discovery
Some by-stander, clear-eyed witness, hal
been eyes here to the blind. Brother In
Christ. what are the eyes OF your spiritua
understanding forl Here lies tho grea
world right alongside Of the Christian high
way. But their eyes are witholden and they
see not Jesus. Their foolish minds they
fSsp sn t ef dhosS Pes VOL
speak q word to them. You are Christi
,oitness. Here is the place to make you
testimony. Some one just stopped ant
whispered In that blind mans ear: 1T l
Jesus of Nazareth" Caa you not do thi
much?
Blind Bartim@us at the gates
~ - H.. 1U~ -oEfo