Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-02-15

l. Jes y az me lea has vs. 49, II y
Some think that when John is telling some
event which follows Immediately after the
last thing narrated, he uses the expression
latter this thing" (chap. 2:l2), but that
when there has been an interval of time
he uses the expression latter these things"
"A feast" There has been much differ
ence of opinion as to what feast this was,
but it is the opinion now Of the best writ
sheep gate (R. W We know from Neh.
81, 80; l2:39 that there was a sheep gate;
so called probably from sheep for sacrifice
being sold there. 1t was near the temple.
The Hebrew tongue. Hebrew here
means Aramaic, the language spoken at
the time, not the old Hebrew of the Scrip
lures. Bethesda" This name does not
occur elsewhere. It means "house Of mer-
cy." The site is not identified with GER
tainty. The traditional spot is near Castle
Antonio. But DR.. Robinson thinks "the
fountain of the Virgin" an intermittent
spring in the southeast of the city, near
the pool of Siiaom, was Bethesda. FIVE
porches." These porches were probably
covered arcades, colonades or verandas:
open at one side to the air. but protected
against the sun or rain overhead. In a hot
country like Palestine such buildings are
very necessary. 3. "Multitude." The sick
congregated here in great numbers.
II. Jesus heals an lmDotent man Tvs.
5-9). 5. can intirmity." The original i'm
plies rather a loss of power than a positive
disease. probably it was a nervous disease
OF paralytic type. Thirty and eight
wears" The duration of the illness is
mentioned. either to show how inveterate
and difficult it was to heal, or rather. ac-
cording to verse 6. to explain the deep
compassion with which Jesus was affected
on behoiding the unhappy man. From
verse IA we may infer that his disease was
the result of the sins of his youth.
6, KNEW" The word knew in the
original indicates one OF those instantan-
came known to Jesus according as the task
Of the moment demanded. Verse IA will
show that the whole life of the sufferer is
present to the eye Of Jesus. as that of the
Samaritan woman was in chapter 4. Saith
unto him" Usually Christ waited until
He was asked before He relieved the SUI
fering, but in this and a few other cases
He healed without being asked. He read
the mans past life and present condition
of mind, and saw that he was in a state
to receive spiritual good from the healing.
"Wilt thou?" Why does He ask a ques-
ton to which the answer was so obvious?
Probably in order to rouse the sick man
out of his lethargy and dependency.
7. mo man" He was friendless as well
as sick. "1s troubled" This spring, prob
ably the fountain of the Virgin, is inter
mittent to this day. and various travellers
have seen it suddenly rise from five inches
to a foot in five minutes. Whedon thinks
that the moving of the waters arose from
an underground connection of the pool
with the city water works. The occasional
and intermittent disturbance of the water
is not to be understood as a regular occur
renee, but as something sudden and quick
ly passing away. Hence the man waiting
and complaint. Put me INTO the pool"
Literally, Sin order to throw me into the
pool; perhaps implying that the gush OF
water did not last long, and there was no
time to be lost in quiet carrying. "Nhlie
[ am coming" Thus picturing the extreme
haste and rapidity with which the favor
able opportunity was seized. There was a
rush and scramble for the one chance.
s. Rise" etc. Commands like these
AS in the case of the paralytic Mark 2:9l,
Christ made no enquiry as to the mans
faith. Christ knew that he had faith, and
the mans attempting to rise and carry his
bed after thirty-eight years of impotencv
was an open confession of faith. BED"
Probably only a mat or rug, still common
in the East. 8. "And walked" With the
command was given the, power Of ODE
dience. So the sinner who is hidden to
commit himself to Christ need not wait
for any compulsion. As he makes the eff
fort he will find divine power within HIM
self. ''Sabbath." The seventh day Of the
week, the Jewish Sabbath.
III. Persecution of the Jews Tvs. 1913.
10. Not lawful" jeremiah had com
manded, "Take heed to yourselves. and
bear no burden on the Sabbath day ne:
2D, and the Jews interpreted this as for
bidding the carrying of the lightest weight.
But Jeremiah's meaning is made clear by
Neh. 1875: Threading wine presses on the
Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lad
ing asses" etc. 'To forbid this man from
carrying his bed was like %forbidding a mod
ern man to move a camp stool or a chair"
II. "He-said." PROFESSIONALLY the
words seem to say that one who could do
such a wonder as healing me must certain
He had been authorized by one endorsed
as sent from God. And this was indeed
the very ground which Christ Himself
took. u. "Who is the man" Or. W
They ignore the miracle, and attack the
command. They ask not, "Who cured
thee. and therefore must have divine au-
thority?" but, "Who told thee to break
the Sabbath. and therefore could not have
it," 10. "Knew not" (R. W Jesus had
who was healed had probably never seen
Him. Conveyed himself away" Better,
withdrew. Literally, Slipped aside" be.
came suddenly lost to sight. "a multi
tude," etc. This may be understood as
explaining either why he withdrew-to
avoid the crowd, or the manner in which
he w~ithdrew-by disappearing in the
crowd. Either explanation makes good
sense.
". Jesus gives advice and warning ",
AZ. IA. "Afterward." Probably soon af
terward; in a day or so. "Findeth him
Jesus had His eye on the man; His work
with him was not yet finished; this meet.
ing was not accidental. Gin the temple"
A good place for the man to be. "Sir nc
more" God asks this of every sinner
And yet there are those who insist that j:
is impossible to live without sin in this
life, but if such is the case then Jesus
asked this man to do the impossible. "a
worse thing" A paralysis from which nc
pool can restore and no Saviour will de-
liver; the most terrible catastrophe of the
souls eternal history.
V. The man bears testimony ". l5)
Is. ""Told the jews" etc. In reply to the
inquiry they had made of him a short time
before, partly in obedience to the authori
ties and partly to complete his apology fol
himself. He expected, probably, in the
simplicity of his heart, that the name Of
Him whom so many counted as a prophet
if not as the Messiah Himself, would have
been sufficient to stop the mouths of gain
sayers.