Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-02-15
Jesus at the Pool
of Bethesda o D
Sunday School Lesson Tor RsS. -. 1905
Prepared by the Highway and
Byway" Preacher.
Copyright. 1904. by J. N. Edson.I

GOLDEN TExT.-"A great multitude
followed Him. because they saw His
miracles" John S:2
TIME.-Ths spring of A. d. 70; two or
three months after last lesson.
PLACE.-Jerusaiem
REM1NDER.-Once more let us re-
quest that you keep in mind John 20:sl. az
you study and teach this lesson.
The Lesson Outline.
THEME.-Doing Good on the Sabbath
Day.
1.-The Needy Multitude. vs. IL
1.-THE Impotent Man Healed We. SD. L.
% Desperate Case, v Q.
CD Jesus Saw Him. V. 8.
80 Jesus Question. V. o.
90 The Reply of Dawning Faith. VI
(5) The Healing. Vi. 8. ..
20 Confessing Jesus vs. LIS.
C) The Cleansing from Sin. V. IL
llI.-Jesus' Critics. vs. 1913 10
Comparing Scripture with Scripture.
l. The Needy Multitude, VS.. IL
Jesus had gone again to Jerusalem TO at
tend the feast, and, as usual. the place
Of greatest need was the place where
He was to be found. At this pool of
Bethesda there was great multitude
of impotent folk, the blind, halt and
withered, gathered The one man healed
SO occupies our thought that We for
get the multitudes that were not SO
blessed. Surely 1t was not because Of
lack of power or Willingness on Jesus
part to heal, but because the necessary
faith was lacking. What sad proper
tion-one out of a multitude, when all
might have been healed. And this pro-
portion continues to-day.
III. The Impotent Man Healed. %
A Desperate Case, V. "a chronic case
Of 38 years standing. No physician
would undertake to cure such case,
but Jesus delights to have the worst
cases come to Him. There is nothing
too hard for Him.-Gen. 1914; Jer
80: II. 81; Heb. 1925.
ca Jesus Saw Him, V. 6.-There was
something in this man which attracted
Jesus above all the others. 1t was the
possibilities OF a faith that could claim
healing. AS Jesus looks upon us what
Is It that He sees. Is He unable TO
commit Himself" with all His blessing
unto us. because of what He sees in us
of unbelief and self-will2-J0hn 2:24, 25.
60 Jesus Question, v. 6.-"Wilt thou
be made whole?" A question which He
10 asking every soul. and He Is being
turned away with the answer: Not
now" Like Felix's remark to Paul.
people are saying: Go thy way this
time; when l have q more convenient
season. l will call for thee" Souls i'm
potent because Of sin are refusing to be
healed. They love darkness rather than
light because their deeds are evil
John 3:19.
ca The Reply of Dawning Faith, v.
Ills reply implies his longing to be
healed and his vague hope that Jesus
will help him into the pool. This little
faith Jesus honors, and does better for
him than he could ask or think.-Eph.
1920.
80 The Healing, vs.. 8. 9.-Jesus' COM
mand: Rise, take up thy bed, and walk"
met with prompt obedience. Though he
had not walked for 38 years, still ut
Jesus word he attempts 1t, and ''imme-
diately" he was made whole, and took
Up his bed and walked.
(S) Confessing Jesus, v. IL, 15.-This
mans going carrying HIS couch on the
Sabbath day aroused the opposition of
the Jews, and got him into trouble. The
one who obeys Jesus must expect such
experiences q Tim. g.: 12). But he was
prompt in confessing Jesus and was con-
fident that He who could heal Him had
authority over the Sabbath day. And
after his second interview with Jesus and
he had learned who II was who had re-
stored him TO health he was eager TO
tell about Him. What an example for
us. When we come to know Jesus as
the one who has blessed us. how eager
we ought to be to confess Him (Rom
1910; Matt. 1892, 33).
Cd The Cleansing from Sin, V. ia
But greater service than the healing
was the cleansing from sin. Jesus
work is never complete until there Is
repentance and cleansing from sin IL
may be implied from Jesus words that
this mans condition had been the di-
rect result of sin. Compare the prob
able similar condition in the case of
the palsied man in Matt 9:2-7 In this
latter case the forgiveness of sin pre-
ceded the healing. Note in the mira
cles Of healing how often Jesus for
gave sin and urged its forsaking.
III. Jesus Critics, VS.. 1913. 15-It
was the Sabbath day A good day for q
good deed. But man restored to
health, and made a useful member of
society. was overshadowed in the minds
of the carping critics by the question
OF Sabbath day law and observance.
They cared more for the outward observ-
snce than they did for the man for whom
the Sabbath was made. In striving for
the letter they had killed the spirit
Cor S:6. Here was the beginning
OF controversy which continued all
through Jesus ministry. Note Jesus
arguments on various occasions: Mark
2:27. 2S Matt. 1912; Luke 1915 How
few Christians follow the ideals laid
down by Jesus in regard to the day OF
rest
The Golden Text
And a great multitude followed Him,
because they saw His miracles" There