The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1908-04-17

our faith. There is a manifest pro-
gress also. In the first the bNnd man
| is lead OF others 10 Jesus. In the
second they follow after Him of their
own eager volition, and in the third
Jesus has them brought 10 Him. In
each is an advance of faith, and faith
is the medium alone through which
We may receive divine things.
We have in the first scene the great
truth of the guiding presence of Je-
sus. We read: He took the blind
man by the hand and led him"
Tender and beautiful is this minis.
| try, Jesus Himself leading the blind
Can you catch the significance? Can
you see the leveling force OF the Cos.
| pei? "All We are brethren" Yes
and Jesus proves II by taking the
hand of the blind.
Can You also realize the positive
directness OF Christian service? Bear
We one another's burdens" is the IN
! junction, and We have Jesus taking
the blind man and leading him. He
! for the time is eyes for him.
Your Christianity is halting, my
|, brother, If YOU have not in your life
! that first hand ministry, which feels
| the inflrmities Of another and touches
] MIN NHeIe MS neeu is.
There is here also the perfecting
| service of Jesus. His dealing with
this man is a process. He leads him
by the hand. He moistens his eyes.
He places His hands over them, asks
then "Seest aught?" Yes, but faint.
ly." Places hands over eyes again,
their sight comes clearly.
SO He deals with you and me. Our
| a - -.
| and hopeful. still is inadequate. But
how patient and forbearing is He
with our weakness and hesitancy.
| Renewed and closer contact OF fellow.
ship clears the spiritual vision.
Let Him keep in touch with YOU
whilst you yield your Will, life and
love to Him. He will finally perfect
your vision and you will see Jesus
even as He sees you.
In that second picture we have a
startling manifestation of the all suf.
ficient power Of Jesus. His question
is: Believe ye that ! am able to do
this?"
A great faith grasps this and holds
II tenaciously. Those two blind men
followed Him along that weary way.
They kept on until they came to Him
Their sightless eyes striving to look
into His eyes? Can you hear their
answer: Yea, Lord, yea, Lord, we
believe that Thou art able" Accord
ing TO your faith" is His answer and
they see Him-Jesus.
Do you desire the triumph of a
great faith. a faith that sees Jesus?
Then you, too, must believe that He
is able" You do believe It? Yes.
to be sure you do--in a way. But do
you believe it with all your soul by a
faith that grips your life? Do you
believe it with faith that impels
you, as it did those sightless ones
along the roadway, weary roadway
OF your life, through the thronging
crowds whose carelessness and indif-
ference besets you on every hand,
right on into the very presence OF
Jesus Himself?
You have been trying TO do things
for yourself. Hadn't you better let
Him do them, for He is able? Some
things He alone can do for you; trust
Him. Commit your way unto Him
for remember According TO your
faith will il be done unto you"
In this third scene we have pre-
eminently the compassionate person
ality of Jesus. We read: Jesus had
compassion" In fact all through this
scene it Is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, and
therefore faith, faith, faith. First,
we have Jesus of Nazareth passeth
by. Remember He is always passing
by, in the great throngs to-day, as
then.
DO you feel your great need OF
Him? Cry out to Him. Bartimaeus
did that and his companion. Are
you being oppressed, hindered, dis
couraged by the very ones from whom
you have reason to expect? Cry out
yet much the more-those two by the
wayside did that. They received
sight and then followed after Jesus.
Do that, Just that, the way will open.
Secondly, we read Jesus stood still.
He always will, provided the right
note is in your cry. Remember He was
in the midst Of multitude going TO
Jerusalem - perhaps they will crown
Him King. Yes, palm branches will
they strew In His way and cry: "Ho-
sanna i'm the highest. blessed is the
King that cometh In the name OF the
Lord" and yet-He hears that cry.
Remember lie is on His way to
Jerusalem 10 accomplish His decease.
As that conference upon the Mount
OF TRANSFORMATION revealed the weird
shadow OF the cross already Is creep
ing over Him-and yet He hears that
cry!
what is in that cry? Need? Yes.
Suffering? Yes. But He finds that
everywhere. There Is something
more in #. Jesus have mercy" IS
Il? No. Jesus, Son OF David, have
mercy" This one had faith in Jesus,
not merely as a great rabbi. but he
had faith In Him suDremely as the
promised dcliyerer Of Israel, the Mes
siah. II meant Jcsus-ThOu Christ
have mercv. No wonder He heard
and stopped and called them TO Him.
Thirdly, Jesus has compassion. lie
always has. Let there be the cry OF
conscious need. wfi . believes i'm
piicifIv i1 Him ac redecming Saviour
then alw3vs has he great compass
sion. II is always "the old, old story
OF Jesus and His love"
NV brother man let Him be such