Passaic City record., 1891-09-12
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER 13.
Lesson Text: "Christ and the Blind
Man." John tx, LII, 1885,
Golden Text, John tx, 20
Commentary.

Iull Oh compassion his neaft Went OUT CC tnlS
poor man, who had now spent over score
Of years in darkness, both physical and spirit
ual Verse EI.
2. '.And His disciples asked Him, saving,
Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents,
that he was born blind" That all suffering
is the direct result of some sin on the part Of
the sufferer or his ancestors is not only a
very old but very common belief. That it
is sometimes the case is evident from the
words of Jesus Himself, "Behold, thou art
made whole; sin no more, lest worse thing
come unto thee" John ", ~. But to con-
clude that it is always SO would be directly
contrary to the teachings of Scripture, for
Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.'
HE whom Thou lowest is sick" ''As many
as love l rebuke and chasten" (Heb. xiii, 9;
John XII. 8; Rev. Ill, 19,. And in the case
of Lazarus the sickness resulted in death,
which brought heartbreaking sorrow to Mar
tina and Mary, each of whom Jesus loved
John xi. 81.
8. "Jesus answered, Neither has this man
sinned, nor his parents, but that the works
of God should be made manifest in him." In
the light of the testimony of all Scriptures
the only way to understand any Scripture.
From this saying of Christ some might
blindiy conclude that we have here sinless
man with sinless parents; but what saith the
Scriptures? "All have sinned and come
short of the glory of God" ''There is none
righteous, no, not one." from. ill.,. 10. 23).
The words of Christ are concerning the
mans blindness and the reason of it, and He
simply says that there was no special sin on
the part OF the parents by reason of which
they were given blind son. but. on the con-
trary, this blind man was going to furnish
special opportunity for the manifestation OF
the power of God.
4. 81 must work the works of Him that
sent Ne, while it is day; the night coneth,
when no man can work." Over thirty times
in this gospel Jesus says that the Father sent
Him, aud He constantly appeals to the works
as evidence that He was sent by God (chap-
tiers ", 80; X, 25; xiv, 10; XIV, 24).
5. "As long as am in the world, am the
light of the world" This also He often re-
peats, as in chapters viii, II; xii, 35. As.
He is both Life and Light, and neither death
nor darkness can abide in His presence.
6. .sWhen He had thus spoken He spat on
the ground and made clay Of the spittle, and
He annointed the eyes of the blind man with
the clay" Sometimes he made the blind TO
see with word. and Immediately MARK K,
52); sometimes by the use of medium, as in
the clay and spittle and waters OF Sloan, as
in this case, and sometimes gradually, as in
the case of the man who first saw men as
trees walking, and then when Jesns put His
hands on him second time ne saw clearly
MARK viii. 1920. He must have had the
best of reasons for doing everything just as
He did, and we do well to ponder deeply and
prayeriully all His methods as well as His
words.
Z. ssAnd said unto him, Go, wash in the
pool of Sloan (which isby Interpretation,
Sent). He went his way therefore, and
washed, and came seeing" Jesus was just
as able to open his eyes with word, and on
the spot, las in the case of the blind men at
Jericho, but He saw fit to do as He did for
some wise purpose.
s. .sThe neighbors, therefore, and they
which before had seen him that he was
blind, said, Is not this he who sat and
begged?' The miracle being wrought and
the power of God being made manifest. the
results are now to be witnessed. Yesterday
this man was one of the many blind beggars
in Israel; the neignbors and the passers by
all knew him and some of them had probably
often given him aims. To-day he is blind
begger no longer but with eyes opened he Is
in a condition to earn his living. And now
it is the talk of the section of the city where
he was known, and the people are filled with
wonder, but as yet they know not him whose
name is Wonderful lisa. TX, 6).
9. sSome said, This is he; others said, He
is like him; but he said, am be-" Notice
in the mans testimony his humility and
right spirit; he does not deny that once, and
but yesterday, he was only poor blind Deg
gar. He acknowledges his former low con-
dition. 1t is good to remember what we
were ere Jesus found us. Humility becometh
us well. but pride never. God resisteth the
proud but giveth grace to the humble Il Per.
10. Therefore said they unto him, How
were thine eyes opened" The change was
SO great and so clearly manifest that the
people could not help inquiring how 1t came
about.
II. He answered and said, A man that
is called Jesus made clay, and annointed
mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool
of Sloan and wash, and vents nd washed,
and received sight" This is his testimony,
simple, full, straightfor ward. The man
called Jesus did it all, and ne. tue Dino man,
simply obeyed.
IS, .Jesus heard that they had cast him
our. and when He had found him He said
unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son OF
Godr' The intervening verses tell now tns
people brought him to the PhariseeS ana
how he testified before chem concerning tne
miracle wrought upon him. The Pnarisees
would not believe he had ever been blind
until mis- parents testified. Then they refused
to ac Snowledge Jesus as good man. and
when he who had been blind insisted that
Jesus must be of God because He had wrougnt
an unheard of work, the Pharisee5 cast MIN
out.
Lord, that might believe on Hlmw Inc
greatest question that can be asked OF any
mortal is that which Jesus asked this man IN
tine last verse. or Pilates question, wv nat
saall do with Jesusg' If all were as ready
as this man how blessed it would bel Ihe
vast multitude in Christendom know OF HIM.
but will not accept Him, while among the
hundreds of millions of heathendom who
never heard of Him there are many who
would accent Him if they knew of Him, who
are accepting Him when they do hear he arn3r 3s
Him, and sorrow because Iheir parents
never heard of Him, that they, too, mignb
believe.
81. sand Jesus said unto him. Thou hast
both seen him, and it is he that talketh WITH
thee" The woman of Samaria said,
xnow that Messiah cometh, who IS called
Christ e Jesus saith unto her. l tnaG
speak unto thee am He' dv., %. 26l. Ana
Immediately she went off to the city with t1e ne
This man as the need of his unsatisfed soul;
even as after the resurrection He revealed
Himself to weeping Mary, the sorrowfui TWO
the perplexed women, the fearful disciples,
doubling Thomas, the hungry and disap-
pointed fishermen. and in every case tears
doubts, fears and perplexities all vanished
and there was joy and peace and plenty.
3s. .And he said, Lord, l believe: Ana
ar q