Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-02-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY -.
Subject: Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda,
John ", l.l5-Golden Text, John VIZ,
2-Memory Verses, 8. documentary
on the Day'a Lesson.

Subject: Jesus at the POOL OF BetnesdaI
John W. l.15-Golden Text. John VIZ.
2-Memory versos, 8. Documentary
on the Days Lesson.
/. Jesus at the feast Tvs. LAY. |. "Af
ter this" "Aftcr these things" r. V.
Some think that when John is telling some
event which follows immedia tely after the
last thing narrated, he uses the expression
after this thing" (chap. 2:l2), but that
when there has been an interval OF tune
he uses the expression "aftcr these things
ence of opinion as to what feast this was,
but it is the opinion now Of the best writ
crs that it was the Passover, 2. "By the
sheep gate" Or. W We know from Neh
81, 80; l2;39 that there was 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
occur elsewhere 1t means "housc Of mer.
.y" The site is not identified with Ger.
lainty. The traditional spot is near Castle
Antonia. But DR.. Robinson thinks the
fountain of the Virgin" an intermittent
spring in the southeast of the city, near
the pool of Siaom, was bethesda. Five
porches." These porches were probably
1o"ered arcades. colonades or verandas:
open at one side to the air; but protected
against the sun or RAIN overhead. In hot
country like Palestine such buildings are
very necessary. 3. Multitude" The sick
rongregated here in great numbers.
III. Jesus heals an impotcnt man Tvs
5,9). s. can infrmi;y." The original i'm,
plies rather loss OF power than a posltlVe
disease; probably it was a nervous disease
Of pardlytic type. 'lnirty and eight
years. The duration OF the illness IS
mentioned. either to snow, now lnveterale
and difficult 1t was to heal, or rather, ac'
cording to verse &, to explain the oeer
compassion with whicl, Jesus was atfGcted
on beholding the unhappy man. FROM
verse u we may infer That his disease was
the result of the sins OF his youth.
6. Knew The word knew IN tho
original indicates one OF those lnstantsn'
eous perceptions by which the truth be-
came known to Jesus according as the task
of the moment demanded. verse IL VIII
show that the whole life OF tile sufferer IS
present to The eye OF Jesus as mat oI tne
unto him" Z sually Christ waited until
He was asked before He relieved The sui"
fcrlng, but in this and few other cases
He healed without beng asked tie read
the mans past life and present condition
Of mind, and saw that he was IN state
to receive spiritual good from the healing
wilt thou why does lie ask quesoo
ton to which the answer was SO OBVIOUS:
Probably in order TO rouse the sick man
7. 'No man." He was frendeSs as we''
as sick. SIS 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. Nhedon 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 regular occur
renee, but as somethlng sudden aud quck'
ly passing away. Hence the mans waiting
and complaint. Put me INTO the poo1,
Literally, Gin order, to throw me INTO tfs
pool perhaps implying That the gush OF
water did not last long, aud there was, was n"
time to be lost III quiet carrying. Mie
am coming" Thus picturlng. the extreme
haste and rapldlty with Wh'cn n, the laVof'
able opportunity was seized lhere was
rush and scramble tor the one cnance;
s "Rise." etc, Commands like these
would test the man faith and obedlence.
As in the case of the para'Htlc Mark 2:9,'
Christ made no enquiry as to the mans
faith. Christ knew that he had ta!th, aha
the mans attempting to rise and carry hls
bsd alter thirty'eight years OF 'inPnppDcuTcsx,
was an open confession ot TAIN; Deo.
Probably only mat or rug stiIl ,cErh common tn
in the East. .. AND walked. WIN Ine
command was gwen the power oi ooe,
dlence. 50 the SINNER VINO IS oanaen ~
for any compulsion,. As he makes the et'
fort he will find divine power wltnin nm. I'm.
self. Sabbath, The seventh day OF the
week, the Jewish Sabbath ,o,,,
III. Persecution OF the Jews Nvs, lo'lo'.
10. 'Not Lawful! Jeremiah mad com,
manded, lake hced TO EoaThseiIyeS;;, I;, Te! GHt
beaF no burden on tiic oapp'Iu oI uas t,o f..
IN and the jews interpreied! thls s;dIt as fGt'
bidding the carrying OF the llgntest Welsht.
But Jeremlah,s meaning Is mace c'eat by bbS
Neh. 1915: Threading WINE presses on tne
Sabbath, and bringing in She9ves, and lad
ing asses" etc, TO iorb!d th,S man ron
carrying his bed was like torbidding mo"'
ern man to move, camp stool or a cna't;;
IL. "He-said." Unquestionaoly, tne
words seem to say that one who could 40
such wonder as healing me must certain
" have the right to tell me WnaV 10 90;
He had been authorlzed by one enaoTse93
0s sent from God. And thls was lnoeen
the very ground when ChrlSe n't'Sei,
took. l2. "Who IS the man lkii ~
They ignore the miracle, and attack ths
command They ask not. WHO cured
tncc, ana therefore must nave divine au.
thor,ty?" but, ''Who told thee to break
the Sabbath. and therefore could not have
it?" l3. "Knew not" (R. W Jesus lad
been in Jerusalem but little, and the man
who was healed had probably never seen
Him. "Convcyed himself away" Better,
withdrew. Literally, "slipped aside" be-
came suddenly lost to SIGHT a nuiti-