The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-03-09
HEALING TIE BLIND MAN.
national Series for March IL,
1SOO-John Osl-l1.

THE SECTION includes the whole chap
ter-the miracle. and the discourses grow
Ing out Of II.
TlME.-A Sabbath ". l4) in October, A.
ID. 20: probably soon after our last lesson.
at the Feast OF Taberna cles referred to In
i:2.
PLACE. E.-Jerusalem. near one Of the
gates Of the temple. or of the city.
COMMENT ON LESSON TEXT.
|. a Man Born Blind.-l. AS Jesus
passed by" Perhaps the beggar stood
near one OF the gates Of the temple.
Beggars were allowed to resort there.
Comp. v. and Acts 3:2.) blind from
BIRTH" This man was helpless and
hopeless. Such blindness was incura-
BILE. There was not a physician in the
land who would undertake TO heal this
man.
II. Discussion on the Mystery of
Providence. Q. Disciples asked:"
They had learned TO refer their prob
lens to Him. They recognized His wis
dom. "Who did sln:" The questioners
supposed the calamity must have di-
rect connection with some specific sin.
This was common view Comp. the
book Of Job.) This mani" They prob
ably held the view that an unborn abe
was capable Of sinful emotions.
3. "Neither:" Jesus corrects their
erroneous opinions concerning the re-
la,ion OF calamity to sin and takes the
question TO Il higher plane. and shows
them that through human suffering the
purposes OF God may be brought into
more glorious manifestations.
4. 81 mustwork: r. ". We" Jesus
remind. His disciples Of the response
bility resting upon Him and them.
His whole ministry was an exemplifica-
ton of this thought. while tits day"
The time and opportunity for the
specific work referred to had beginning
ana end, like the day which is marked
by the rising and the setting Of the sun.
THE night cometh:" The end of the
rime of opportunity. Death brought
this TO Him.
III. The Blind Man Restored to Sight.
&c. "Made clay Of the spit,le:" Both
spittle and clay were supposed to be
good for sore eyes. Jesus used means.
but the healing was none the less mi
raculous. Means were not essential to
the cure. but were perhaps for the
strengthening of the faith of the man.
7. go wash" The man was tested
by this command as Naaman was tes tod
centuries before. 1t is His habit to
command us well as bless. Pool Of
Siloam:" From this pool water was
brought daily for the libation during
the feast OF Tabernacles. Thereby the
pool was connected with the Messianic
hopes of the people. Comp. Isa. 1889,
which the people chanted during the
libation. "Sent:" Perhaps the pool
was so called from the springing up or
sending forth of the water, or from the
thought that il was Gods gift sent TO
the people. At this feast Jesus fire.
quently affirmed that He was sent. "He
went:" Prompt obedience, though the
visit to the waters might have seemed
useless. Game SEEING" Obedience
based on faith was instantly rewarded,
w. Discussion Arising from This
Cures. "Is not this?" With seeing
eyes his appearance would be changed.
perhaps greatly. How the neighbors
must have wondered as they discovered
that the blind man could now see! Un-
fortunately their wonder was not rev.
erent and religious; they were bigots
always.
0. "Some said:" Believed, but could
not explain. "Others said:" Could not
explain, and therefore did not believe.
"He said:" Knew, though he could not
explain.
10. "How?" A natural question.
They had never seen the like before.
II. "A man who is called jesus" r. ",
1.-THE man that is called Jesus" What
he mea Mt to say was that the remarka-
BILE man Of whom all had heard had
done this. Went washed
. received" A simple report Of
n supernatural experience. He be-
lieved, obeyed, and was blessed. His
faith was rudimentary. yet it developed
soon. Comp. VS.. II. a3. 3s.) He
obeyed at the first, and at the last wor-
SHIPPED. Obedience is fundamental in
Besides being essential.
it leads to blessings.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
This blind man was type ~ Of the
sinner; (2) Of the Jewish nation; (3) Of
every nation that refuses to put right
eousness before all outward prosperity.
Notice that facts are the unanswera-
BILE argument in favor of Christianity.
The lives made better. the souls changed
from evil to good, the moral effects of
revivals. the changes which Christianity
las wroughtin the world. the map Of the
world to-day. showing everywhere the
superiority Of Christian nations-these
are arguments which infidelity cannot
answer.
Fine Old In6ian Names.
l.