The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-03-09
HEALING THE BLIND MAN.
sunday school Lesson N the Inter.
national Series for March n
lODO-JOhn Osl-1l.

JEcT-christ Healing the Blind
Man. ~ hsz
GOLDEN rExr.-one thing 4 know.
that whereas was blind, nov see.-John
S:25
THE SECTION includes the whole chap
ter-the miracle, and the discourses grow.
Ing ou, OF It
TIME-A sabbath ". ~ In October, A.
d %: probably soon after our last lesson,
at the Feast Of Tabernacles referred to in
7.2
PLACE.-Jerusalem. near one Of the
gates OF the temple, or Of the city.
COMMENT ON LESSON TEXT.
l. a Man Born Blind. "As Jesus
passed by:" Perhaps the beggar stood
near one of the gates of the temple.
Beggars were allowed to resort there.
Comp. v. s 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. = 2. "Disciples Asked"
They had learned to refer their prob
lens to Him. They recognized His wis
dom. "Who did sins" 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 babe
was capable of sinful emotions.
8. Neither" Jesus corrects their
erroneous opinions concerning the re-
lation of calamity to sin and takes the
question to higher plane, and shows
them that through human suffering the
purposes of God may be brought into
more glorious manifestations.
4. Il must work: r. ". We" Jesus
reminds His disciples of the RESPONSE
bility resting upon Him and them.
His whole ministry was an exemplitica-
ton of this thought. while it. is day."
The time and opportunity for the
specific work referred to had beginning
and end. like the day which is marked
by the rising and the setting Of the sun.
1.-THE night cometh:" The end OF the
time of opportunity. Death brough,
this 10 Him. ........
III. The Blind Man Restored to Sight.
%. MADE clay of the spittle:" 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.
z. "Go wash" The man was tested
by this command as Naaman was tested
centuries before. 1t is His habit to
command as well as bless. "Pool of
Siloam:" From this pool water was
brought daily for the libatton 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
was so called from the springing up or
sending forth of the water. or from the
thought that it was Gods gift sent to
the people. At this feast Jesus fire.
quently affirmed that He was sent. "He
vents" Prompt obedience though the
visit to the waters might have seemed
useless. "Came seeing:" Obedience
based on faith was instantly rewarded,
". Discussion Arising from This
eyes his appearance would be changed.
perhaps greatly. How the neighbors
must have wondered as they discovered
that the blind man could now see! I'm
fortunately their wonder was not rev.
erent and religious; they were bigots
always.
9'"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.
IL. "A man who 10 called Jesus:" R. ",
'"rhe man that is called Jesus" Whist
he meant to say was that the remarka-
bic man Of whom all had heard had
done this. went washed
received:" A simple report OF
a supernatural experience. He be-
lieved, obeyed, and was blessed. His
faith was rudimentary, yet it developed
soon. Comp. VS.. II, 33. 3s.) He
obeyed at the first, and at the last wor-
SHIPPED. Obedience is fundamental in
discipleship. Besides being essential.
1t leads to blessings.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
This blind man was type (l) 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
Aas wroughtin the world. the map Of the
world to-day. showing everywhere the
superiority Of Christian nations-these
are arguments which inadeiity cannot
answer.
Fins OLD In0ian Names.