The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-11
Sunday School Lesson for March H.
Christ Healing the BLIND Nam.
JOHN TX, ILL.
BY J. e. GILBERT, D. D., LII D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education.
JOHN TX, Lii.

sent into the world. This was the Mes
sianic idea (Mal., iii:1; Matt, xi:10). He
was here as a messenger or agent, the
representative of the Father John,
v:30). AS such He had been charged
with doing the works of God (John,
iv:3D, which constituted the secret
spring of His being. Those works had
been determined in the councils of the
Divine mind John, v:19; Heb, KID
and they had been specifically men
toned in the prophecy Usa., xlii:O. Not
to do the works would be to violate
His commission. Besides. He declares
Himself to be the light Of the world, n
fact several times repeated John /.
49, Matt, iv:6). And this also had
been predicted Qsa., xlii:6). The force
OF the remark was two-fold. Because
He was the light He must shine by His
wisdom and power, so that men might
see. And because He was the light men
were looking constantly, even on that
occasion, for the glory of His charac-
ter and He must not disappont them.
His deeds We're credentials John, V:36).
He calls attention to the further fact
that His term was short Six months
! only remained before the crucifixion.
! AS men work during the day and cam
not work at night so He must occupy
| His time, that at the end He NAV re-
| port His work well done Oohn, Xvii:D.
! These considerations so pressed Him
that He said, II must work" He was
! impelled, as in boyhood duke, HAD,
| by holy zeal (John. ii:1O, which con-
tinued to the last (Phil., ii:S), which
the apostles afterward copied (Acts,
iv:2O) and commended (Eph., WIG; Col,
| iv:5).
! METHOD.-(Verses6 6 and O-How did
Jesus cure the blind man? He spit
| (old English, spaD on the ground, made
clay anointed the eyes and sent him
| to wash in the pool of Sloan. The man
went, washed. and came seeing. Jesus
pursued nearly the same method-spit-
ting, touching, and speaking-on two
other occasions mark, vii3S; Viii:23-
25). The bathing was ordered by the
prophet in the cure of Naaman( e
Kings, v:10). But why this method 4?
Jesus had power to cure without means
| Mark, X;52) without speech, touch,
ointment, or pool There was no
medicinal value in any appliance. Why
bring any instruments? Perhaps il
would he we'll to answer that it pleased
Jesus to do so. Some have suggested
that this method was an educational
process for the mans good, that, as
faith was desired, this condescended tC
his infirmity and helped him to believe
Others, with more plausibility, argue
that there was a system of charms and
incantations, imported from India {.
Kings. v:1D, in popular use at that
time, and that Jesus desired to dstin.
guish His acts from them. Another
key to the meaning might be found in
the pool. Sloan was a fountain neal
the eastern wall of Jerusalem from
which a stream flowed to supply the
pool Of Bethesda Uohn, v:2). 1t was
the kings pool (Neh., ii:14; iii:15), hav.
ing been highly esteemed and beauti.
fled by David. The waters flowed from
Mount Zion, and signifed the throne
and kingdom of David and pointed tC
Messiah, as the rabbs assert Evident
ly the sacred writers had Sloan IL
mind psalm Xlvi:d; lXvii:26: lisa.
Niii:6: Zech., Xiii:D, and used it as al