The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-09
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
SEPTEMBER IL.
Lesson Text: "Christ and the Blind
Man. John ix, Iii, $685.
Golden Text, John ix., %
Commentary.

full of compassion His heart went out to this
poor man, who had how spent over a score
of years in darkness, both physical and spiFit-
ual Verse ~.
@ And His disciples asked Him, saying,
Master, who did sin, this raau, 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
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 ", H.. B,It to con-
elude 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 rebuke and chasten" Heb. ui 6;
John xi., g.: Rev. ill.,, 49,. 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,. S..
g.. "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 Scripture IS
the only way to understand any Scripture
From this saying Of Christ some might
blindly conclude that we have here sinless
man with sinless parents; but what saith t4e
Scriptures? "Ail have sinned and come
short of the glory Of God" There is none
righteous, no, not one" rom. iii, 10, ,23.
The words of Christ are concerning the
mans blindness and the reason Of it, aud He
simply says that there was no special sin on
the part Of the parents by reason OF which
they were given q blind son, but on the con-
trary, this blind man was going to furnish q
special opportunity for the manifestation OF
the power of God.
81 must work the works of Him that
sent Me, while it is day; the night cometb,
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 ", Sc; z, 25; xiv, 10; XIV, "a.
5. "As long as am IN the world, am the
light of the world" This also He often re-
peats, as in chapters viii. 12; xii, 35. At.
He is both Life and Light. and neither death
nor darkness can abide in His presence.
6. when 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 claw Sometimes he made the blind 10
see with a word. and Immediately Marx x.,
52); sometimes by the uss Of medium, as IN
the clay and spittle and waters OF Siloam as
in this case, and sometimes gradually, as i'll
the case of the man who first saw men as
trees walking, and then when Jesns put His
hands on him second time he saw clearly
Mark viii, 23-25. He must have had the
best of reasons for doing everything just as
He did, and we do well to ponder deeply and
prayerIully oil His methods as we'll as His
words.
:. 'sAnd said unto him, Go, wash in, tho
pool of Sloan (which is by 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,as in the case of the blind men az
Jericho, but He saw fit to do as He did for
some wise purpose.
$. The neighbors, therefore, and they
which before had seen him that. he was
blind, said, Is not this he who sat ana
begged?" The miracle being wrought ana
the bower of God being made manifest the
results are now to be witnessed. Yesterday
this man was one of the many blind oeggars
in Israei: the neignbors and the passers by
nll knew him and some of them had probably
often given him aims. To-day he is blind
begger no longer, but vita eyes opene1 ne IS
in condition TO earn his living. And now
it is the talk of the section OF the city wnere
he was known, and the people are filled with
wonder, but as yet they know not HIM whose
name is Wonderful lisa. tx, d.,
0. "Some said, This is he; others SAN, ne
is like him; but he said, am he" Notice
right spirit; he does not deny that once, and
but Yesterday, he was only POOR blind beg
gar. He Acknowledges his forme: low con-
ditiop. It is good to remember what we
were ere Jesus found US. Humility oecometn
us well. but pride never. God reslsteth the
proud but giveth grace to the humble u fe1.
", y.
10. Therefore said they unto him, How
were thine eyes opened" The change was
orl.r fnsf
people could not help inquiring how 1t came
| about.
II. He answered and said, 4 man that
is called Jesus made clay, and amounted
mine ewes, and said unto ME, Go to the poo
| of Sloan and wash, and went nj washed,
and I received sight, This is his testimony,
simple. full. straightfor ward. The man
called Jesus did it all, and he, the blind man
simply obeyed.
out, and when He had found hin +. salt
unto him, Dost thou believe on = son 10 o.
| Godso The intervening verses tel no" tns
people brought him to the Pharn aeS. a2a
how he testified before them concern ing tn;
miracle wrought upon him. The fanrisee:
would not believe he had ever been ollno
Until his PARENTS testified. Then they refused
to ac knowledge Jesus as good man, and
WHEN be who had been blind insisted that
,Jes,I, must be of God because He had wrought
an unhearl Of work, the Pharisees cast him
URs.
p; He answered and said. Who is He,
Lord, that might believe on Him" The
nr,atest question that can be asked OF any
mortal is tnat which Jesus asked this man IN
I the last verse, or Pilates question, "" nat
Shall l do with jesus IT all were as READY
as this man how blessed it would &c! Inc
vast multitude in Christendom know OF Him,
| hut will not accap. Him, while among tne
/ hundreds of millions OF hsathendom VINO
ueyer heard of Him there are many who
would ACCEPT Him if they knew OF Him, VINO
are accepting Him when they DO hear OF
| Him. unl sorrow because their parents
never heard Of Him, that they, too, might
be.ieve. ,..
81. "And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast
| both Seen him, and it is he that talSetn VIII
thee" The woman of Samarla said, :,
know that Messiah cometh, who Is caiieu
| Christ i -: :: Jesus srith unto her, tna!
sneak unto thee am He" dv, 25, 2N. AND
Immediately she went otr to the city with the
1idinys SO Jesus now reveals Himsat TO
this man rs the nee] Of his unsatlstied soui;
even as after the resurrection He revealed
Himself to weeping Mary, the sorrowtu! TWO
the perplexei women. the fearful diSciPles,
doubling Thomas, tn, hungry ana dlsap'
pointed fishermen. and in every case Years
doubts. fears and perpleSities all vanlsne''
alu there was JOY u..a naare and plenty.
IS. AMI he said, Lord, l believe. Ano
be worshipet Him" Happy man; LOT as
believer ne at once received all the riches OF
Co.'s grace in Jesus Christ. | do not Gsa;, say
he at once enjoyed all the riches OF 0 Got, T.
grace. but he became possessor and began 70
enjoy Consider the possessions o. oiII WI
can truly say, Lord. | believe y. tGu,I ,rorl,
he has eternal life. is child Of Col has the
for-iveness m of sins, has peac, with God, is
| - i;sr hnir Win i,hrist is a king and priest