Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-02-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON VI, FIRST QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, FEB. s.
Text of the Lesson, John Nv, 43-54.
Memory y rises, 40-51-Golden Text.
John ~. S:s-Commentary Prepared
by the Rev. ID. NJ. SteGrns.


Memory rises. 40-51-Golden Text.
John ~. .s-Commentary Prepared
by the Rev. ID. NJ. SteGrns.
copyright. 1898. by D. NJ. Stearnsl
43. "Now after two days He departed
thence and went into Galilee." The Sa-
marftans, hearing the woman IS testimony.
came unto Him to hear Him for them
selves. Many believed because of what
she told them, and through their entreaty
He abode there two days, and many more
believed because of His own word oversees
39-42) Thus souls were saved, united to
Him, made partakers of His redemption
and His glory, and there was joy in heaven
as well as in Samaria duke XIV, z, 10)
Untold blessing came to them through this
Jew, and because of Him they forgot their
differences.
A. "For Jesus Himself testified that
prophet hath no honor in his own ooun-
try" His own country was Nazareth,
and, though He taught in their synagogue,
they only wondered at him and called
Him the carpenters son and were offend
cd at Him. SO He did not many mighty
(Math. xiii, 54-5S). We need not think 1t
strange If sometimes those nearest to us
do not think much of us. If we'll known
in heaven, we can be content to be un-
known on earth, and the consciousness of
His approval, whose we are and whom we
serve, Is everything (Acts xvii, 80; II
Tim. Ii, 15).
As "Then when He was come into GAL
lice the Galileeans received Him, having
seen all the things that He did at Jerusa-
lem at the feast, for they also went unto
the feast" At the feast Of Jerusalem He
had cleansed the temple and wrought
many miracles (chapter IL, II, 23). At
one time He said, The works that I do
bear witness of me that the Father hath
sent Me (John v, 36), and He also said,
The Father who dwelleth In Me He doeth
the works xiv, 10) We are commanded
to let our light so shine that others may
see our good works and glorify our Father
which is in heaven.
46. $50 Jesus came again into Cana Of
Galilee, where He made the water wine,
and there was q certain nobleman whose
son was sick at Capernaum." At the mar
riage He supplied their need, He delivered
from difficulty, He manifested His glory.
He Is the same yesterday, today and for
ever (Heb. xiii, 81, and we are assured
that He will supply all our need, and de-
liver from all difficulties, and preserve US
unto His kingdom (Phil.' Nv, 10; II Tim.
Nv, 1S).
AZ. "When he heard that Jesus was come
out Of JudHa into Galilee. he went unto
Him and besought Him that He would
come down and heal his son, for he was
at the point of DEATH" He heard that
Jesus was come, therefore some one must
have been telling. How necessary it Is
that we should be ever telling that Jesus
has come and suffered and died and risen
again, and by His life and death and res
direction provided eternal redemption for
all who will receive Him, and that He
will come again to give immortal bodies
to all His people and to set up His king
dom on the earth
48. "Then said Jesus unto him, Except
ye see signs and wonders ye will not be-
lieve." Faith needs to be tried, for by
trial faith Is strengthened. Jesus never
said an unkind or an unnecessary word,
and therefore there was cause why He
should thus speak to this nobleman. They
were ever saying, Shew US a sign. What
sign shewest Thou Math. xii, 80; John ii,
1S) and there may have been desire for
such even in this mans heart. for the
Lord knew what was in man.
49, 1.-THE nobleman saith unto Him,
Sir, come down ere my child die" When
1t Is great emergency and the soul is
very much in earnest, our words are apt
to be few and to the point. Perhaps as
the man journeyed he tolerated doubtful
thoughts, but by our Lords remarks he
RECEIVERS himself, and now comes this cry
of faith, believing that If Jesus will only
come his boy will live. 1t was a fathers
heart cry for his son. See one much more
pitiful in II Sam. xviii, 33, because 1t was
too late. What did our Father in Heaven
feel as He gave up His only begotten Son
for us?
co. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way,
thy son liveth. And the man believed the
word that Jesus had spoken unto him,
and he went his way" The same voice
which said, Let there DO light, and there
was light; the same word that made the
heavens and all their host; the One to
whom nothing Is hard or wonderful (Gen
i. 3; Ps. xxxiii, 6; Jer. xxi, ~ said to
this man these comforting words, and the
man rests upon them In quietness and
confidence and goes his way expecting to
find his son living and not dying. There
are joy and peace In believing, but there is
no steadfastness apart from 1t from. Nv.
Ii; ii Chron. Xxx, 30; lisa. vii, 81.
81. And as he was now going down
his servants met him and told him, say
ing, Thy son liveth." And so it came to
pass as Jesus said. When Paul was told
by the angel in the storm ut sea. after all
hope was given up, that all would be
saved, he stood forth and said, Be of good
cheer, for ! believe God that 1t shall DO
"a A.
to pass (Acts xvii, 20, Az. When Mary
believed the message of Gabriel, 1T is writ
ten of her, blessed Is she that believed
for there shall boa performance of those
things which were told her from the
Lord" duke /, 45).
62. Then inquired he of them the hour
when he began to amend. And they said
unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour
tho fever left him." We may imagine the |
anxious watchers after the father left home |
and how they would reckon the time till |
his return, bringing with him the great |
prophet. They would say, Now he is ut |
Cana, now he is perhaps talking to Him,
now If he has found Him no ought to be |
leaving for home, and all the time they |
would DO watching the sick boy, perhaps |
unable to lift his head, and not caring to |
open his eyes, and they were longing for |
Jesus to come.
81. $50 the father knew that 1t was at |
the same hour In the which Jesus said unto
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