The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-08
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY II.

tary on the bays Lesson.
I. Jesus received as a prophet Tvs. 49,
45). 43. After two days" The two
days mentioned in verse 10. "Galilee."
The centre of life and activity in Palestine
at that time. 1t contained 10000 0O OF peo-
pie. There was a large foreign population,
and the Jews were more ready to receive
the gospel than in the south. A. HIS
W country" It would seem that az this
time Jesus regarded Jerusalem and Jul
dea, in q very important sense, as His
country" not simply His birthplace, but
the place of His Fathers house and king
dom, it being the metropolis Of the Jews.
They had already manifested hostile feel.
ings toward Him, and therefore He turned
His footsteps northward John 3:25l. This
proverb which Jesus here uttered He re-
peated at Nazareth and was there rejected
by His own kinsmen. His Gown country
then, meant Nazareth, where He had
grown up. Read Luke 4:24; Mark 6:2;
Matt. 1857. 10. Into Galilee." The
country of Galilee. He had accomplished
His journey from Judea. His stop in Sa-
maria was for two days only. Received
Him" This does not mean that none re-
jected Him. but where He went He was
welcomed. His first miracle there. nearly
a year before, was still in their memory,
and it was only a few weeks after that
NhSh hooS GAIL SSdaSt hASA ShSs 1880
/. the Passover, and there witnessed other
miracles and a display Of His authority in
cleansing the temple.
II. The nobleman's request Tvs. 46, Az.
46. again into Cana" Where His disci-
pies witnessed the first display of His pow
er, and where their faith in Him as the
Messiah was confirmed. Very likely He
was again entertained in the home of Ma
thanael. "a certain nobleman:n Literally
Sa.a L. - tLo l..x5 uarol Anf,-
pas was king at this time and this man
was probably some high officer of Herod's
court. Some think he was Chuza, Herod's
steward or chamberlain, whose wife, Joan
ma, ministered to Jesus luke 8:3). The
miraculous healing of the nobieman's son
resembles the healing of the centurion's
servant Matt. SIS and Luke ~, but
must not be COMPOUNDED with it.. "Son was
sick" Very sick with a fever ". 52).
Disease and death come alike to high and
low. There is misery in palaces as well as
in novels. "Capernaum." A city on the
northwest coast of the sea of Galilee.
Soon after this Jesus made Capernaum
His home.
AZ. "When He heard" Probably
through the reports OF those who had been
at the Passover, if he had not himself wit
messed the miracles there. Capernaum
was not more than twenty miles from
Cana, and the news would quickly spread
that Jesus was again come to Gahlee.
"Went unto-besought." Here we see his
tender affection for his son; he spared no
pains to get help for him. We also see his
great respect for our Lord; he came him.
self, when he might have sent a servant,
and he besought Him. when, as a man in
have ordered His attendance. The great
est men, when they come to God, must be-
come beggars. Point OF death" Times
of sorrow and deepest need lead us to
Christ. When 90 earthly power can aid
US we turn to the One who has all power
and love.
III. Jesus demands faith Tvs. $3.50.
48. Except We see." Not only did they
demand miracles, but miracles performed
in a striking manner. How totally unlike
the Samaritans, from whom our Lord had
of His teachings without demanding. Won
ders. This nobleman came purely ab-
sorbed in his%@ying son, anxious for the
bodily miracle, but thoughtless of the d.
vine claims of the Saviour of sinners. 1t
is this selfshness of spirit that Jesus now
rebukes. The words of this verse are, as it
were, an ejaculation, a thinking aloud Of
Jesus. He sees that to awaken this mar
He must more than heal his son: He must
to that sign add an additional wonder.
He must so heal him as to arouse the man
This discussion Of faith was as loss of time
to him. He cannot stop to answer the re.
Duke, to argue the case or to defend his
character. 1t is his son alone that fills his
thoughts. But his earnestness shows a be-
lief in Christ's power which will soon
cause him to acknowledge his childs Sa-
viour as divine.
so. GO thy way" This would be 4
great test to the mans faith, but he was
ready for it. Thy son liveth." The heal.
ing is granted, but without Jesus leaving
Cana. Until now the father. had believed
on the testimony of others. Now his faith
sonal contact which he had just had with
the Lord Himself. THE man believed"
This is an instance of the power of Jesus
to convince the mind; to soothe doubts;
to confirm faith, and to meet our desires.
Had our Lord gone with him, as he
| wished, his unbelief could not have been
fully removed. God always bestows His
gifts in that way in which His glory is best
promoted and our eternal interest secured;
believed in Christ's power to heal, now he
believes in His word and acts accordingly.
". Faith rewarded Tvs. 5l-54). 81.
naum. Met him." While the father
was descending the hilisides with trust and
peace, they were ascending them with glad
news" THY son liveth." Meaning the
same that Jesus meant when He used the
same w%ords-that he would recover from
this sickness, with the prospect Of length
ened life. So. Then encuired he" His
faith was rewarded. He had believed the
word and received its fulfllment. 1t was
his delight to consider the works Of God,
and to note the beauty and harmony be-
tween His word and His work. AT the
seventh hour" Definite time, definite
work. This was either / o'clock p. m, ac-
cording to the Jewish reckoning. or 7
{ o'clock p. M. according to one Roman
reckoning. The latter explains best why
the nob,eman did not 60 horne the same
So. "The father knew" Everything
was clear to his understanding. 1t was
while he was beseeching the Saviour that
his prayer was answered. though at the
time he knew it not. Mortals can tell
more of what they have experienced than
they can claim by faith. The diligent com
pairing of the works OF Christ with His
words will be of great use to confirm our
faith. As the word OF God. well studied,
will help us to understand His provldences.
so the providence Of God, we'll observed,
will help us to understand His word.
"Himself-who,e house. Believed in the
mention OF ''household faith" 81. Seq
ond miracle" Not the second miracle
Jesus had wrought (chap. 81; V. 45). but
The second in Galilee.