The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-02-02

NJ 0CLD0N TEAT.-JooOo oo10 Ito ~
THE SECTION inclu1sg oniy the lessoA,
with q giance over Christ's ministry
through miracles Of mercy.
TIME.-A D. - early IN January. Or
late IN the previous Decsmbsr. sosn aftsr
tho last lesson.
PLACE.-Cana, . village among the hills
Of Galiles; and Capernaum. . city - TO 3
miles 20 the nostheast. on the shore Of the
Sec Of oaliiee.
EXPLANATORY.
I. A Good Foundation for Faith
Vs. 4a-45. ~. "Now after two dayss"
The two days mentioned In v. 20.
which Jesus spent at Sychar preaching
to the Samaritans. went into 0alilee:"
Continuing His journey with His dis
ciples, which had been interrupted by
theincident 1T Sy char. Jesus left Judea
for Galilee because deepening opposi-
tion was developing in Judea, where He
was born, of whose lineage He was, and
where He would naturally be at home
as the Messiah. But "Jesus Himself
testified" from his own experience.
"that a prophet hath no honor in his
own country" And therefore He went
to Galilee, till by His teachings and His
works there He could prove to Judca
that He was indeed the prophet.
As. "The Galileeans Received Him:"
The reason is Immediately given. "Hav-
ing seen all the things that He did at
Jerusalem at the feast" which the Gal
ileans were accustomed to attend. The
feast must be that referred to in 2:l3-
rs and Chap. 3:l-22. And many things.
doubtless, were done at that time which
are not recorded t2:23).
II. The Need of Faith.-V. 46. $50
Jesus came again into Cana
where He made the water wine" 1Chap.
2:1-11): Because. having once been
welcomed there as n friend or relative.
and having shown forth His glory. His
true character. by a miracle. He would
now be likely TO receive favorable
hearing and make more disciples. We
may RENE ember that here was the home
OF one of His disciples. Nathaniel BAR
tholomew) (John 2l:2). "A certain mo-
bleman:" He was some high officer.
civil or military. Of Herod's court.
"Whose son was sick."and very low.
at the point Of death with fever ~.
52). slta Ho8 q. IN . h syi ,,5
LII. Faith Using Means. ". ~.
"When he heard that Jesus was comet"
He had Just one hope left. and knowing
that Jesus had wrought cures for 9TH
ers, he hoped that He might be both
able and willing to help him In his
trouble. "Besought Him that He would
come down:" Thinking that Jesus
must 60 and see the boy in order to
cure him. .tt
Nv. Little Faith Stepping Stone to
Larger Faith.-v. 4s. Except ye see
signs and wonders:" These two words
mark the two chief aspects Of mir
acles; signs. the spiritual aspect,where-
| by they suggest some deeper truth than
meets the eye, Of which they are in
come sense symbols and pledges; and
wonders, the external aspect, whereby
their strangeness arrests attention.
"Ye:" A general statement, suggest
| ed by the circumstances. "Will not be-
lieve:" Jesus saw that His miracles
had impressed the people more deeply
than the teachings they were intended
to convey. @ Rs sN
| ". The Earnestness Of Faith.-v. 40
"Sir, come down ere my child dies" He
had no strength to reply or explain;
he would be hindered by no seeming re-
buke. He showed that he was not wait
ing to see wonders. but could trust
Jesus to heal his SON. s'asF-Fai
vi. Faith Rewarded.--Vs. 50-54. so
go thy way; thy son liveth:" Here ID
the reward of his faith. and the means
to larger faith. A. we soon see. "And
the man believed the word that Jesus
had spoken:" Here was . step higher
In his faith. He not only believed in
general In the power Of Jesus to heal
but be believed for himself and acted
upon his belief. "And he went his
way." He left Jesus. and either started
Immediately for home. or went some
where for the night. and left for home
the next morning. which Is the more
probable.
So. SAT the seventh hours" Either
one o'clock. according to the Jewish
reckoning. or seven O'Clock. according
to one Roman reckoning. ''The fevel
left him." showing sudden and de
cisive change. a oe
SO. "Himself believed and his who'll
house:" Household. family. He be
lieved what? Believed on Jesus as hi
Saviour. Before he had believed abou
Him. now he believed on Him. They al
became disciples. This new increas
of his, faith was the result OF this mir
acle. It confirmed and enlarged hi
faith, so that he received the teaching
and love of Christ deep in his heart.
81. Second miracle:" Not the sec
ond miracle Jesus had wrought ". 49,
but the second in Galilee.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Let US be careful not to dishonor tn
prophets in our own country : tn
saints in our own households. the goo
in our own church, the talent in ou
own families.