Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-08-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON X, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. 2.

Text of the Lesson, Luke xviii, 30, (.
xix, 1O-Memory Verses, ~, 43-GoId.
en- Text, Luke xix, 10-Commentary
Prepared by Rev. ID. NJ. stearns.
, Copyright 1906, by American Press Association
1t is probable that following the
lesson of last week there came the
parable of the laborers found only in
! Matt. Xxx, 1-16, then the third predic
ton of His death found in the three
first gospels, after which the request OF
James and John to occupy the highest
places In the kingdom, found in Mat
thew and Mark, then the story of the
blind men, one of whom was healed as
He entered Jericho and two as He left
the city. Matthew and Mark both say
"as they departed or went out Of
Jericho" and the former mentions two
blind men, while Mark mentions but
one and calls him Bartlmaeus. There
is neither contradiction nor discrepancy
in this, for Matthew's two includes
Marks one.
In our lesson the man seems to have
been healed with just word, whereas
in the case Of the two in Matthew He
touched their eyes Matt. Xxx, 94). In
John tx Jesus put clay on the mans
eyes and sent him to wash in Sloan,
while in Mark viii He took him by the
hand and led him out of the town and
spit on his eyes and put His hands
upon him, but he did not see clearly
till Jesus put His hands on him the
second time. We must not think that
there is but one way to be healed, nor
that the use of means is at all incOn-
sistent with the prayer Of faith. That
God may be glOrified is the first and
highest thought always, whether we
are in health or sickness, whether we
live or die. The sickness of Lazarus
was for the glory of God, and Peter
was told by what death he should
glorify God John XII, 4; xxi, 19). We
have seen the empty, helpless little
children and the poor sin convicted |
publican receive blessing at His hands, |
while the rich ruler went empty away
because he thought more-of his wealth |
than Of eternal life.
In today's lesson we have a poor
blind beggar, empty and helpless
enough, and rich publican willing TO
be emptied The blind beggar hears
the multitude passing and, inquiring
the cause, he is told that Jesus Of
Nazareth was passing by. At once he
is stirred by the thought of his oppor-
tunity for he had doubtless heard of
the Great Healer and longed to meet
Him. Now is the opportunity of his
life, and he realizes 1t, and no one can
stop his cry. Jesus, thou Son Of
David, have mercy on me-" He cared
not for rebukes; he must be heard
This is the importantly that wins, the
earnest, persistent heartfelt cry that
God is sure to hear, and so Jesus stood
and commanded him to be brought.
Listen to the question from the Lord
beggar; "What wilt thou that shall
do unto theeY' Verse Al Note a some
what similar question from the same
Lord to King Solomon Oh Chron. 10, (
but note His word to you and me in
John xiv, 10, IA; XIV, 7. The blind man
had but one burning desire and he {
states it promptly and briefly, Lord, ,
hat | may receive my sight" AS
his prayer is granted, his 6
'aith honOred, he receives his sight {
physically and we would judge spiritu- {
lily also from the words, "rhy faith t
hath saved thee" Verse 42), and from q
he fact that he followed Jesus glorify-
ng God. If we are right, how exceed "
ne abundantly was his prayer an c
weredl He asked sight for the body {
nd received sight for body and soul e
What does your own heart say to the 4
4Ord's What wilt thOuT See Ps. h
xvii, 4; I Pet. iv, II; Gal. /, "a, as sug- \
estions
In Zacchaeus we see another earnest
lau determined to see Jesus, and he
estates not to rum and even climb f
p into q tree that he may get q v
limpSe of the wonder working teach a
r; perhaps he had heard of the heal is
lg of the blind man at the entrance a
} the city and thus had his desire in is
reaSed to see Jesus, to see a man who d
)uld do these supernatural things. II
Ie did not tarry to think of what Il
light be becoming or otherwise In lo
lch one as he in the sight of his OF
Flows. He was doing one thing with b,
] his heart. he was intent on seeing hi
eSuS, and the manner of his doing so fc
'obably never gave him a thought. Ia
is zeal makes us think of the four 81
no broke up the roof of a house to fo
It their friend to Jesus. Such zeal is be
,ver passed by by Him whose eyes run
and fro throughout the whole earth
oking for such people QI Chron. XVI,
; hence when Jesus came to the place tb
G looked up and saw him and spoke m
him. And how the surprised Fac of
aeus must have been thrilled by the hi
)rds. Make haste and come down, de
+ today | must abide at thy house." nc
lis must have been exceeding abun- on
ntly above all he could ask or think NJ
phi. iii, 20). Quickly he descends and w,
ceives Him with joy. This Is his ia
lvation Oohn /, 12). and of course me
> devil is angry because he has lost Pr
other piece of property. and lncltes
! followers to critcise and condemn
! Lord Jesus But what does 1t mat.
=? Another sinner is saved and there tn,
joy in the presence of the angels ele
suppose that no soul ever yet yield
to Christ for salvation or for dis to
leship without great conflict with civ
/, powers of darkness. but there Is De
tory by the Blood of the Lamb Rev.
IL, and any lost soul may have
In Christ. While no works of ours "
! count for anything till we are old
ed, saved soul will always mani thi
t that salvation in good works ac- exc
ding to rph H. 10. and we see at gol
e the evidence of this mans saliva Ma