The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-18
Sunday School Lesson for August 19.
The r1am Born Blind.
JOHN, XI II.
BY REV. J. e. GILBERT, d. D. LID,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education
JOHN, IX:I II.

the glory Of His character, and lie must not
disappoint them. His deeds were credentials
(John V: 36). He calls attention TO the further
fact that His term was short. Six months only
remained before the crucihNion. As men work
during the day and cannot work at night, so
lie must occupy His time, that at the end lie
may report His work well done (John xvii: ~.
These consideration so pressed Him that lie
said: 81 must work" lie was impelled, as
in boyhood Q.uke ii: 4O, by a holy zeal (John
ii: ~, which continued TO the last (Phil ii: -,
which the apostles afterward copied (Acts iv: 2O)
and commended (Eph. v; l6i Col. iv: 81.
METHOD (Verses and 7).-IIow did Jesus
cure the blind man2 He spit (old English spat)
on the ground, made clay, annointed 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-spitting,
touching and spcakng-on two other occasions
Mark vii: Ss; viii: 23-25). The bathing was
ordered by the prophet in the cure of Naaman
0I Kings v: lO). But why this methodl Jesus
had power to cure without means (Mark X: So,
without speech, touch, ointment, or pool. There
was no medicinal value in any appliances Why
brings any instrumental Perhaps il would he
well 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 TO his
infrmity and helped him TO believe. Others
with more FEASIBILITY argued that there was a
| system Of charms and incantatons, imported
| from India I'll Kings v: III, in popular at
| that time, and that Jesus desired to distinguish
| His acts from them. Another key TO the mean.
| ing might be found in the pool. Sloan was
fountain near the eastern wall Of Jerusalem,
| from which a stream flowed 10 supply the pool
! OF Bethesda Dohn v; p. IL was the Kings
| pool (Neh. II: IA; iii; l5), having been highly
esteemed and beauthed by David. The waters
| flowed from Mount Zion, and signihed the throne
and kingdom OF David, and pointed to Messiah,
as the rabbis assert. Evidently the sacred writ
| ers had Sloan in mind psalm XVI; A. xviii: (:
| 23; Isa viii: 6; Zech. xiii y, and used il as
an emblem Of the healing and cleansing power
Of Christ. Hence the tradition concerning Beth.
esda (John v; ~. BY sending the blind man
| there, Jesus recognized and fulhlled prophetic
symbol, and interpreted popular impression. II
any fail to appreciate this point, let them reject
it,
| OUTCOME Verses 8 to lD.-What followed
the cure2 The neigbors wondered, questioned
the mans identity, secured his statement, asked
concerning the method and heard his descrip-
| ion. The change in the man must have been
| very great (Ruth /: 80. When one sense fails
the other senses perform extra service He who
has no eyes depends on his ears for information
OF the outside world and becomes cautious,
| thoughtful, and detected. The opening OF the
| eyes brings cheertulness, activity and freedom.
II is not surprising therefore, that the story OF
| the cure should quickly spread through the COM