The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
February .. 1soo-John iv. 1874.


Galilee a populous, commercial and COM
parativey unconventional district. 1t was more
in touch with the great world of art and traffic
An infusion of foreign elements in its popula-
ton and its distance from the seat of national
ecclesiasticism had liberalizing influence. All
tended to make it a favorable field for Jesus
ministry. Here He spent most of His time,
worked most of His miracles, preached most of
His sermons.
One obstacle stood in His way. He was himself
a Galilean. He diagnosed the when he said
a prophet is not honored in his own country.
Familiarity with him breeds contempt of him.
But Jesus had forestalled this by His brief career
at Jerusalem. His honor was exotic trans
planted from Judea to Galilee. The Galilean pill
grims brought His fame back with them. So He
was received
At the very scene of His first miracle came an
importunate appeal for the working of another.
a fathers heart wrung by anguish. forgetful of
rank and station, makes it's pitiful appeal. What
recks it if he Is kings officer to Herod Antipas?
Shall he stand upon any ceremony while his son
lies at the point of death?
Thus early in His career Jesus announces a
fundamental principle which shall guide Him in
the of miraculous power His signs and
ders are not wrought to extort faith from others.
On the contrary, 1t shall be faith that EFFORTS
them from Him. This faith the nobleman shows
in his journey of twenty miles and in the Ian
guage of his appeal. The strength of his faith is
further manifest in the way it endures
expected and severe test. Healing in absentia
was not much dreamed Of Yet, when Jesus
spoke the word the believed and went"
There was no dubious hesitation, or further APP
peal for Jesus presence.
But on the morrow the nobleman's faith was
destined to sweep out in wider circle TO M
brace the Miracle Worker in a new and diviner
office. When, by comparison of hours, it
discovered that the moment of the childs
covery identical with that in which Jesus
uttered the word of power: Thy son liveth,'
then the nobleman believed His divine nature and
Messiahship In this faith his whole house
shared. So we have the lovely spectacle of the
first converted family
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
F'irst-The miraculous character of this deed
cannot be discounted. This is not an instance
of the inspiration of hope into the patient by
the healer's presence. Jesus twenty miles
away. For The same reason the infusion of nerv-
Gus power by personal contact impossible.
Second--The nobleman thought Jesus presence
indispensable to the healing. But when put to it
his faith stood the test. When the word was
spoken he believed il efficient.
Thrd-rhe instantaneous. The father
expected the child TO begin to amend and that re-
covery would be gradual. But it was more than
a turn for the better. The fever left him. What
Jesus does is well done.
Fourth-Jesus miracles were never mere Won
ders; they signs well. Symbols of
heavenly truth; parallels in action.
Fifth-No sense of spiritual need brought the
nobleman to Jesus-a fathers heart impelled him.
He came for bodily healing. But it was the
means by which greater need was discovered
1t paved the way to its supply